Steve Dunlap

Steve Dunlap
Biographical details
Born (1953-02-04) February 4, 1953
Hurricane, West Virginia, U.S.
EducationWest Virginia University
Playing career
1973–1975West Virginia
PositionLinebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978–1981West Virginia (GA/part-time assistant)
1982–1983Navy (DL)
1984–1986West Virginia (ILB)
1987–1990West Virginia (DB)
1991–1992West Virginia (DC/DB)
1993–2000West Virginia (DC/ILB)
2001Syracuse (LB)
2002–2003Syracuse (AHC/LB)
2004Syracuse (DC/LB)
2005–2006NC State (DC/LB)
2007Marshall (DC/LB)
2008–2009West Virginia (AHC/S)
2010–2011West Virginia (AHC/S/defensive ST)
2012West Virginia (ST/OLB)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Steve Dunlap (born February 4, 1953) is an American former college football player and coach.[1] A native of Hurricane, West Virginia, he played linebacker at West Virginia University from 1973 to 1975. Dunlap recorded 359 career tackles and set school records in 1974 with 190 tackles in a season and 28 tackles in a game against Boston College. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.[2]

Dunlap's 35-year coaching career included positions at West Virginia, Navy, Syracuse, NC State, and Marshall. He served as West Virginia's defensive coordinator from 1991 through 2000 and later held the same position at Syracuse, NC State, and Marshall. The 1996 West Virginia defense led NCAA Division I-A in total defense, allowing 223.4 yards per game, and Dunlap was a finalist for the inaugural Broyles Award.[3] He returned to West Virginia in 2008 and coached safeties and defensive special teams before serving as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2012.[2]

Early life and playing career

Dunlap was born in Hurricane, West Virginia, and attended Hurricane High School.[1] He played inside linebacker at West Virginia University under head coach Bobby Bowden from 1973 to 1975, earning three varsity letters. Dunlap recorded 359 career tackles, then a West Virginia school record, including 182 solo tackles and three interceptions.[2]

In 1974, Dunlap made 190 tackles, including 94 solo tackles. His season included a school-record 28 tackles against Boston College on November 2. The single-season and single-game totals remained West Virginia records when he was inducted into the university's sports hall of fame in 2019.[2][3] As a senior in 1975, Dunlap recorded 155 tackles and was the Mountaineers' second-leading tackler. West Virginia finished the season 9–3 and defeated NC State, 13–10, in the 1975 Peach Bowl. Dunlap later earned a bachelor's degree from West Virginia.[2]

Coaching career

Dunlap began his coaching career at West Virginia, where he worked as a graduate assistant and part-time assistant through 1981. He spent the 1982 and 1983 seasons as the defensive line coach at Navy before returning to West Virginia as a full-time assistant under head coach Don Nehlen in 1984. Dunlap coached the inside linebackers from 1984 through 1986 and the defensive backs from 1987 through 1992. He became defensive coordinator in 1991 and held that position through 2000, also coaching the inside linebackers from 1993 through 2000.[1][4]

West Virginia played for national championships in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and 1994 Sugar Bowl during Dunlap's first full-time tenure. The 1993 Mountaineers won the Big East Conference and completed an undefeated regular season before playing Florida in the Sugar Bowl.[4] In 1996, West Virginia led NCAA Division I-A in total defense, allowing 223.4 yards per game. The Mountaineers also ranked second nationally in rushing defense at 65.9 yards per game and fourth in scoring defense at 13 points per game. Dunlap was a finalist for the inaugural Broyles Award, which recognizes the nation's leading assistant coach.[3]

Dunlap joined Syracuse as linebackers coach in 2001 and was promoted to assistant head coach following the season. He served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach in 2002 and 2003 before becoming defensive coordinator in 2004.[1][5]

In 2005, Dunlap became defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at NC State. The 2005 Wolfpack ranked eighth nationally in total defense, allowing 298.6 yards per game. Three members of that defense, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson, and John McCargo, were selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, with Williams taken first overall.[6] Dunlap spent the 2007 season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Marshall.[6]

Dunlap returned to West Virginia in 2008 as assistant head coach and safeties coach. He remained in those positions through 2011, also overseeing defensive special teams during his final two seasons. In 2012, he served as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.[2] West Virginia dismissed Dunlap from its coaching staff in January 2013.[7] He subsequently worked for the Mountaineer Athletic Club in 2013 and 2014, assisting with football donor relations and athletics operations.[2]

Over his coaching career, Dunlap coached in 21 bowl games, including 18 at West Virginia. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Steve Dunlap". Syracuse University Athletics. Syracuse University.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Steve Dunlap (2019)". WVU Sports Hall of Fame. West Virginia University Athletics.
  3. 1 2 3 Hertzel, Bob (June 26, 2019). "Steve Dunlap's journey to the WVU Hall of Fame". WV News.
  4. 1 2 "Dunlap Named Defensive Coordinator". NC State Athletics. North Carolina State University. February 21, 2005.
  5. ↑ Staff Reports (March 15, 2004). "Syracuse coaches shuffled around". The Daily Orange.
  6. 1 2 "Steve Dunlap Joins the Thundering Herd Football Staff". Marshall Athletics. Marshall University. January 25, 2007.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Allan (January 5, 2013). "Dunlap out as staff shakeup continues". West Virginia MetroNews.
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