Steve Dunlap
Years at Syracuse: 2001-04
College: West Virginia, 1977
High School: Hurricane HS
Born: February 4, 1953, Hurricane, W. Va.
Linebackers coach Steve Dunlap was named defensive coordinator in March, 2004. It is a natural step in his progression at SU. Following the 2001 season, Dunlap was promoted to assistant head coach. That fall, Dunlap’s coaching yielded the emergence of outside linebackers Charles Burton, Jameel Dumas and Scanlon. Under the tutelage of Dunlap, Burton moved from strong safety in 2000 to the starting outside linebacker spot in 2001. Dumas and Scanlon split time as starters, with Dumas registering 67 tackles and Scanlon recording 60 stops. Burton’s play earned him a stint in NFL Europe and with the Arizona Cardinals.
Tutoring the Linebackers
During his tenure as SU’s linebacker coach, Dunlap developed a solid unit that included 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-American Rich Scanlon, Sporting News freshman All-American Kelvin Smith, and Kellen Pruitt. Scanlon, who was a starting outside linebacker in 2002, moved to the middle and earned second-team All-BIG EAST honors after replacing three-time All-BIG EAST selection Clifton Smith. A four-year starter, Smith left SU ranked fifth on the all-time tackles record list.
Defensive Planner
The former West Virginia defensive coordinator spent 17 years as an assistant under legendary Mountaineer coach Don Nehlen, including 10 as the program’s defensive coordinator. During that time span he worked specifically with the inside linebackers (1984-86, 1993-2000), and defensive backs (1987-92). West Virginia had .500-or-better records in 12 of those campaigns and made 10 bowl-game appearances. The Mountaineers won the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl and the 2000 Music City Bowl with Dunlap on the staff.
National Championship Experience
Dunlap coached in a national championship game, the 1993 USF&G Insurance Sugar Bowl, and directed a Mountaineer defense that was ranked first in Division I-A in 1996. He was a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award, presented to the nation’s top Division I-A assistant coach, that season. During his 17-year tenure at WVU, Dunlap mentored 16 All-East and All-BIG EAST selections, including All-American defensive back Bo Orlando.
Wearing The Mountaineer Colors
A three-year letterwinner at inside linebacker for West Virginia, Dunlap played linebacker for current Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden in Morgantown. Dunlap was a member of the 1975 squad that defeated North Carolina State in the Peach Bowl, 13-10. He set school records for season total tackles (190) and tackles in a game (28 vs. Boston College) that still stand. Dunlap ranks ninth in career tackles at WVU with 359 accumulated over a three-year varsity tenure.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1977, Dunlap worked as a graduate assistant and then part-time coach at his alma mater from 1977-81. He was the defensive line coach at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1982-83.
The Dunlap Family
He and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Matthew and Megan.
Dunlap's Coaching History
Navy
Defensive Line (1982-83)
West Virginia University
Defensive Coordinator (1991-2000); Inside linebackers (1984-86, 1993-2000); Defensive Backs (1987-92); Part-time Assistant (1978-81); Graduate Assistant (1976-78)
Syracuse University
Defensive Coordinator (1991-2000); Assistant Head Coach (2002-03); Linebackers (2001-04)
Dunlap's Success Stories Bowl Games
As a player: 1972 and 1975 Peach
As a coach: 1981 Peach; 1984 Bluebonnet; 1987 Sun; 1989 Fiesta; 1989 Gator; 1993 Sugar; 1995 Carquest; 1997 Gator; 1997 Carquest, 1998 Insight.com; 2000 Music City; 2001 Insight.com
Championship Teams
1988, 1993 Lambert Trophy (West Virginia); 1993 BIG EAST Championship (West Virginia)
Players in the Pros
Aaron Beasley, John Browning, Charles Burton, Derrick Christina, Canute Curtis, Charles Emanuel, Charles Fisher, Barrett Green, Chris Haering, Kevin Landolt, Mike Logan, Alvoid Mays, Bo Orlando, Basil Proctor, Bernard Russ, Rich Scanlon, Fred Smalls, Clifton Smith, Matt Smith, Gary Stills, John Thornton, Vann Washington, Darrell Whitmore (Major League Baseball)
