Steve Stanard, a former defensive coordinator at Colorado State, was officially named Ohio's new defensive line coach yesterday.
Stanard spent the past five seasons as defensive coordinator/linebacker coach at Colorado State and will replace former defensive line coach Carl Pelini, who became Nebraska's defensive coordinator/defensive line coach after his brother, Bo, took over as the Cornhuskers' head coach.
I'm awful excited to coach with these guys
Stanard said. I can't stress enough the opportunity coach (Frank) Solich has given me here.
While at Colorado State, Stanard coached four players to All-Mountain West Conference honors, including three defensive linemen. His defenses finished at the top of the MWC in pass defense in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, his team finished in the top four in scoring defense, pass defense, pass defense efficiency, sacks, opponent first downs and opponent third-down conversions.
I'm not going to come into this thing with an ego Stanard said. I know what needs to get done from the defensive line.Before his coaching stint with the Rams, Stanard coached at New Mexico State, where he was a defensive end coach from 1997-99 and a defensive coordinator from 2000-02. During his time at New Mexico State, Stanard coached with current Ohio special teams coordinator/linebackers coach Ross Els and offensive line coach Keven Lightner.
Stanard played under coach Solich at Nebraska and was a student assistant coach, as well as a graduate assistant from 1988-89.
I know what page to be on right from the get go Stanard said. There's going to be a lot of continuity
and the learning curve is going to be pretty flat.
Stanard brings veteran leadership to a defense that fell from the third-best total defense in the Mid-American Conference in 2006 to sixth in 2007.
His biggest objective is to fill the void left by defensive tackle Landon Cohen, who was fifth on the team in tackles, and nose guard Brett Sykes, who started every game for the Bobcats. He inherits defensive end Jameson Hartke, who is currently tied for fifth place on Ohio's all-time sack list.
Stanard said that he brings a passion to the game that should translate well with his players.
I'm really looking forward to working for them
Stanard said. I'm an intense guy
and the bottom line is that if they know you care about them
and they know you have their best interest at heart
they'll work hard.
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