Prior to joining the Syracuse staff, Stanard served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wyoming under head coach Craig Bohl from 2014-16. Stanard also worked for Bohl in 2012 and 2013 as the linebackers coach at North Dakota State. During Stanard's two years with the Bison, NDSU went 29-1 and captured consecutive NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national titles.
Overall, Stanard's postseason experience includes six bowl games and three national playoff appearances (2 FCS, 1 NAIA).
"My family and I are excited and thankful to Coach Babers for this opportunity," Stanard said. "The football tradition at Syracuse is second to none and I very much look forward to assisting Coach Babers in achieving the goals he's set for this program – both on and off the field."
Stanard's Wyoming defenses featured three individuals who earned All-Mountain West honors – defensive end Eddie Yarbrough (2014, 2015), safety Andrew Wingard (2015, 2016) and linebacker Lucas Wacha (2016). Wingard was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America First Team in 2015. In addition, Stanard protégé Logan Wilson led all conference rookies in tackles per game (6.7) and was voted the Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2016.
Last season, Stanard's unit helped Wyoming to a berth in the Mountain West title game and to an appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl versus BYU. The Cowboys ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns and were 10th in the country in takeaways (27). They topped the Mountain West in fumble recoveries (12) and tied for second in the conference in both interceptions (15) and sacks (30).
At NDSU, Stanard's work with the linebackers contributed to the Bison leading the nation in scoring defense in both 2012 and 2013. NDSU allowed 11.5 points per game in 2012 and only 11.3 points per contest the following year. In 2013, Bison also ranked third in the FCS in total defense (255.9 ypg), second in pass efficiency defense (97.59 rating), third in rushing defense (91.3 ypg) and eighth in passing defense (164.6 ypg). That season, Stanard mentored Grant Olson, who was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.
In 2012, not only did the Bison lead the FCS in scoring defense, NDSU was No. 1 in total defense (234.5 ypg) and first downs allowed per game (12.7). They ranked second nationally in passing defense (140.6 ypg) and were fourth against the run (93.9 ypg).
Stanard's experience as a defensive coordinator includes running defenses at five schools in addition to Wyoming. He spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Tulane (2009-11), five years as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Colorado State (2003-07), three years as the defensive coordinator at New Mexico State (2000-02), one season as the defensive coordinator at South Dakota (1996) and five years as the defensive coordinator at Nebraska Wesleyan (1991-95).
In addition to his two decades of experience running defenses, Stanard served as the defensive line coach at Ohio in 2008 for head coach Frank Solich, and coached the defensive ends and outside linebackers from 1997-99 at New Mexico State before being named the Aggies' defensive coordinator in 2000.
Highlights from Stanard's previous stops include Tulane leading Conference USA in pass defense in two out of his three seasons there. At Colorado State, he helped the Rams to two bowl appearances, coached four defenders to All-Mountain West First or Second Team honors, and another 24 to All-MW Honorable Mention recognition. Stanard's 2006 CSU defense finished in the top four of the Mountain West in six statistical categories and was the only team in the conference with three defenders among the league's top individual tacklers.
At New Mexico State, Stanard mentored linebackers Dwayne Taylor and Jimmy Cottrell. Taylor was a three-time all-conference selection and concluded his career with 364 tackles, including 40 for a loss. Taylor went on to play in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes. Cottrell set a Western Athletic Conference single-season record in 2005 with 179 tackles. He went on to earn honorable mention All-America honors from SI.com and became the first player in New Mexico State history to lead the program in tackles all four seasons.
Stanard began his college coaching career in 1988 as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, under legendary head coach Tom Osborne. A linebacker for the Huskers from 1986-87, Nebraska earned seven bowl bids during his time in Lincoln as a student-athlete and coach.
After a three-stint with the Huskers, Stanard received his first full-time job in 1991 coaching at Nebraska Wesleyan. He served as the school's defensive coordinator, head coach and as an assistant athletic director during his five years there.
Stanard earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1989 and received a master's degree in business administration from the school in 1995.
Stanard and his wife, Jennifer, have four children – Austin, Paige, Max and Madison.
Steve Standard
Syracuse University