Kansas State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Linebackers
A veteran coach with ties to the Midwest and more than 30 years of coaching experience, Steve Stanard is in his sixth season at Kansas State in 2025 as the program’s linebackers coach.
During his time in Manhattan, Stanard (pronounced STAN-urd) has coached nine Wildcat linebackers to All-Big 12 honors with at least one honoree in every season on staff.
The success of Stanard’s linebackers has been a key cog in the Wildcats’ successful change in defensive philosophy prior to the 2021 season when K-State moved to a 3-3-5 alignment. Since the switch, the Wildcats have averaged 21.8 points allowed per game – a span of 53 games – to rank 24th nationally, 17th among Power 4 teams and third among current Big 12 teams. K-State has allowed fewer than 24.0 points per game each of the last four seasons, the first time doing so since 1991 through 2003.
In terms of turnovers, the Wildcats tallied 62 over the last three seasons to tie for 13th among Power 4 programs and rank first among current Big 12 schools. Over the last three years K-State linebackers have forced 10 fumbles, recovered six fumbles and picked off six passes.
The 2024 season saw Stanard coach true sophomore Austin Romaine to All-Big 12 Second Team honors after he led the Wildcats with 96 tackles, the most by a Wildcat since 2017. Romaine ranked ninth in the Big 12 with 7.38 tackles per game, while he tied for fifth in forced fumbles per game (0.23).
With Romaine leading the charge, Stanard’s linebackers helped K-State finish in the top 30 nationally in three defensive categories as they ranked fourth in fourth down defense at 32.1% (first in Big 12), 25th in sacks per game at 2.69 (second in Big 12) and 28th in rushing yards allowed per game at 118.7 (second in Big 12). The Wildcats’ rushing defense ranking and mark was the best since 2007 (13th nationally at 117.7), and they did not allow a 200-yard rushing game for the first time since 2016 as K-State was one of only two Big 12 teams to lay that claim in 2024.
Three of Stanard’s linebackers earned All-Big 12 honors in 2023, led by second-team honoree Austin Moore, who also picked up votes for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award as he tied for team-high honors with 63 tackles and led the squad with 12.5 tackles for loss. Desmond Purnell earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades as he tied for 19th in the nation and second in the Big 12 in fumble recoveries. Romaine earned votes for the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award after being pressed into starting duties toward the end of the season.
K-State linebackers helped the Wildcats put together another stellar campaign in 2023, one in which the defense finished the season ranked in the top 30 nationally in eight categories, placing 11th in third-down defense (30.2%), 16th in fumbles recovered (10), 18th in pass efficiency defense (118.63), 20th in turnovers gained (23), 25th in interceptions (13), 26th in scoring defense (21.0), 28th in first downs allowed (225) and 30th in red zone defense (89.2%). Although the Wildcats allowed points in nearly 90% of their opponents’ red zone attempts, only 39.4% of those resulted in touchdowns, which was the second-best mark in the nation.
Stanard helped K-State capture the 2022 Big 12 Championship by tutoring a dynamic group of linebackers who helped lead one of the best defenses in the nation. K-State finished in the top 30 nationally in five categories, ranking 10th in interceptions (16), 14th in total turnovers (24), 18th in fourth down defense (39.4%), 27th in third down defense (34.0%) and 29th in scoring defense (21.9). Of the 16 interceptions by the Wildcats in 2022, five came from linebackers to stand as the most by the unit since 1998.
The Wildcats’ 24 turnovers gained and 16 passes intercepted were both their highest since 2016, while K-State’s No. 10 national ranking in interceptions was the best since the 2003 squad also ranked 10th. Additionally, Kansas State’s pass efficiency defense of 123.36 was its best mark since 2013 (114.82).
Two of Stanard’s pupils earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades in Moore and Daniel Green, the former of which led the Wildcats with 87 tackles.
The 2021 season also saw Stanard coach two All-Big 12 Honorable Mention picks as Green (89) and senior Cody Fletcher (75) ranked first and second on the team in tackles. Green, who ranked 22nd in the nation and fourth in the Big 12 in solo tackles per game (5.3), also led the Wildcats with 16.0 tackles for loss. His 6.85 tackles per game ranked eighth in the Big 12 and was the highest ranking by a Wildcat since 2017.
Thanks in part to the linebacking duo, the Wildcats saw their points allowed per game average go from 32.2 in 2020 to 21.0 in 2021 – K-State’s best mark since 2003 – to rank 23rd in the nation and fourth in the Big 12. The defense allowed its fewest yards per game since 2009 (344.7) to rank third in the Big 12, while the Wildcats’ surrendered only 129.5 rushing yards per game to stand as their best mark in four years. Additionally, K-State racked up 90 tackles for loss on the year – the most since 2006 – to rank 10th in school history.
In his first year in Manhattan, Stanard saw three of his linebackers rank in the top five on the team in tackles, and the Wildcats ranked 24th nationally in sacks to stand as K-State’s best mark in five seasons. One of his linebackers, Elijah Sullivan, earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades.
Stanard, who has 20-seasons worth of experience as a defensive coordinator, came to K-State after spending the previous three years as the defensive ends coach at Syracuse. He began his coaching career at Nebraska following his playing days with the Huskers, and he crossed paths with head coach Chris Klieman at North Dakota State in 2012 and 2013 when Stanard tutored the Bison linebackers.
Over his final two seasons tutoring the Orange edge rushers, Stanard helped Syracuse produce 56 takeaways (2.2 per game) as it held a plus-22 turnover margin during that span. Stanard guided the careers of Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman, who developed into one of the ACC’s most productive tandems during that time. Robinson logged 32.5 career tackles for loss and finished his career seventh in program history with 17.5 sacks, while Coleman registered 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.
In 2019, Stanard helped the Orange rank No. 12 nationally in turnovers gained (25) and No. 11 in fumbles recovered (12), while Robinson garnered All-ACC Honorable Mention accolades. In 2018, Syracuse ranked in the top 10 nationally in five statistical categories, including sacks per game (6th – 3.31). Robinson developed into an All-ACC Second Team performer and combined with Coleman to produce 20 sacks – the most of any ACC duo. Both players led the conference and tied for eighth nationally in sacks per game (0.83).
Overall, Stanard’s unit was responsible for 29 of Syracuse’s school-record 43 sacks in 2018 to help the Orange to a 10-3 record and the 2018 Camping World Bowl victory.
Prior to joining the Syracuse staff, Stanard served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wyoming from 2014 to 2016. In 2015, Stanard protégé Logan Wilson led all conference rookies in tackles per game (6.7) and was voted the 2016 Mountain West Freshman of the Year. Wilson went on to be selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by Cincinnati. Stanard’s unit helped Wyoming to a berth in the 2016 Mountain West title game and to an appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl as the Cowboys ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns and were 10th in the country in takeaways (27).
Stanard went to Wyoming from NDSU as he helped the Bison earn a 29-1 record and capture consecutive FCS national titles. His work with the linebackers contributed to the Bison boasting the nation’s top-ranked scoring defense in both 2012 (11.5 points per game) and 2013 (11.3 points per game). In 2013, Stanard coached Grant Olson, who was named an All-American by the Associated Press.
Stanard’s experience as a defensive coordinator includes running defenses at six schools. In addition to his three years running the Wyoming defense, 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).
While at Tulane, Stanard’s defense led Conference USA in passing defense in two out of his three seasons there. At Colorado State, he helped guide the Rams to two bowl appearances, coached four defenders to All-Mountain West First or Second Team honors, and another 24 to honorable mention all-conference recognition.
Stanard also served as the defensive line coach at Ohio in 2008, while he coached the defensive ends and outside linebackers at New Mexico State from 1997 to 1999 before being named the Aggies’ defensive coordinator in 2000.
Stanard began his college coaching career in 1988 as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Nebraska. During his time in Lincoln both on the field and on the sideline, Stanard was a member of seven bowl teams, while he has been a part of 18 total postseason squads as either a player or a coach during his career.
After a three-year stint with the Huskers, Stanard received his first full-time coaching job in 1991 at Nebraska Wesleyan. He served as the school’s defensive coordinator, and later, head coach and assistant athletic director.
Stanard earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1989 and later obtained his M.B.A. from the school in 1995.
Stanard and his wife, Jennifer, have four children – Austin, Paige, Max and Madison.
The Stanard File
| PERSONAL INFORMATION |
|---|
| Year in Coaching: 38th |
| Year at K-State: Sixth |
| Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Spouse: Jennifer |
| Children: Austin, Paige, Max, Madison |
| EDUCATION |
|---|
| Nebraska (1989) Bachelor's in Business Administration Nebraska (1995) MBA |
| PLAYING EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| Nebraska, Defensive End (1984-87) |
| PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| 1988, Nebraska (Student Assistant) |
| 1989-90, Nebraska (Graduate Assistant) |
| 1991-93, Nebraska Wesleyan (Defensive Coord.) |
| 1994-95, Nebraska Wesleyan (Head Coach/Defensive Coord.) |
| 1996, South Dakota (Defensive Coord.) |
| 1997-99, New Mexico State (Defensive Ends/OLB) |
| 2000-02, New Mexico State (Defensive Coord./LB) |
| 2003-07, Colorado State (Defensive Coord./Linebackers) |
| 2008, Ohio (Defensive Line) |
| 2009-11, Tulane (Defensive Coord./Linebackers) |
| 2012-13, North Dakota State (Linebackers) |
| 2014-16, Wyoming (Defensive Coord./Linebackers) |
| 2017-19, Syracuse (Defensive Ends) |
| 2020-25, Kansas State (Linebackers) |
