Kevin Steele
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Dillon, South Carolina, U.S. | March 17, 1958
Playing career | |
1976 | Furman |
1978–1979 | Tennessee |
Position(s) | Linebacker |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1980 | Tennessee (SA) |
1980–1981 | Tennessee (GA) |
1982 | Tennessee (OLB) |
1983 | New Mexico State (LB) |
1984–1986 | Oklahoma State (LB/TE) |
1987–1988 | Tennessee (DB) |
1989–1994 | Nebraska (LB) |
1995–1998 | Carolina Panthers (LB) |
1999–2002 | Baylor |
2003–2006 | Florida State (LB) |
2007 | Alabama (DC) |
2008 | Alabama (DHC/ILB) |
2009–2011 | Clemson (DC/LB) |
2013 | Alabama (director player personnel) |
2014 | Alabama (LB) |
2015 | LSU (DC/LB) |
2016–2020 | Auburn (DC) |
2020 | Auburn (interim HC/DC) |
2022 | Miami (FL) (DC) |
2023 | Alabama (DC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 9–37 |
Bowls | 0–1 |
Kevin Steele (born March 17, 1958) is a former American football coach and player. Steele has previously worked as defensive coordinator at Miami, Auburn, LSU, Clemson, and coached inside linebackers at Alabama. From 1999 to 2002, Steele served as the head football coach at Baylor University, compiling a record of 9–36 overall and 1–31 in the Big 12 Conference.
Playing career
Steele played three seasons of collegiate football as a linebacker. He spent his freshman year at Furman University before transferring to Tennessee, where he was a member of Johnny Majors' 1978 and 1979 squads.
Coaching career
Career as an assistant
From 1989 to 1994, Steele coached the linebackers under
Carolina Panthers
In 1995, Steele moved to the NFL as the linebackers coach for the Carolina Panthers. Under head coach Dom Capers, the Panthers reached the NFC Championship Game in their second season (1996).
A well publicized moment occurred during Steele's last year in Carolina. Linebacker Kevin Greene attacked Steele during a heated discussion, grabbing the coach by his clothing. The incident was captured on live television. Steele did not retaliate.[1]
"Football is an emotional, aggressive game," Steele said. "Those guys are out there fighting. Kevin is a good person. We've talked about it and worked it out. That's all I have to say about it."[2]
Head coaching career
Steele succeeded Dave Roberts as the head coach at Baylor University from 1999 to 2002. His record was 9–36 (1–31 in the Big 12 conference).
In Steele's first season (1999), Baylor finished with a 1–10 record (the school's worst since 1969). During the 1999 season, Steele's Baylor team was involved in what ESPN.com called one of the top 10 worst coaching decisions. The decision came when he chose a running play rather than a kneel down with Baylor leading and possessing the ball in the game's final 12 seconds and their opponent, the UNLV Rebels, was out of time outs. The ensuing Baylor fumble and UNLV return for a touchdown gave the Rebels a shocking win.[3]
Steele's second season began with a 2–1 non-conference record but was followed by eight straight Big 12 losses, only one closer than 24 points. A particularly rough stretch in October saw the Bears shut out in three consecutive games (the last of which was a 59–0 loss at Nebraska, where the Huskers led 38–0 after the first quarter). Part of BU's offensive woes were caused by the season ending collarbone injury to heralded offseason JUCO transfer quarterback Greg Cicero, who was injured in the season's second game. Steele's third season in 2001 started with a 2–0 record (including an exciting overtime win over New Mexico), but the Bears won only one more game to finish 3–8.
Steele's fourth season (2002) had a terrible beginning. For opening day, Baylor traveled to Berkeley to play
Return to Alabama
On February 5, 2023, Nick Saban hired Steele as the defensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide. It was Steele’s third stint at Alabama. On January 8, 2024, Steele retired from coaching.[4]
Family
Steele is a native of Dillon, South Carolina. He and his wife, Linda, have a son (Gordon) and a daughter (Caroline). Gordon Steele is the offensive line coach at South Alabama and has also coached at Alabama and Murray State.[5]
Head coaching record
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Baylor Bears (Big 12 Conference) (1999–2002) | |||||||||
1999 | Baylor | 1–10 | 0–8 | 6th (South) | |||||
2000 | Baylor | 2–9 | 0–8 | 6th (South) | |||||
2001 | Baylor | 3–8 | 0–8 | 6th (South) | |||||
2002 | Baylor | 3–9 | 1–7 | 6th (South) | |||||
Baylor: | 9–36 | 1–31 | |||||||
Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2020) | |||||||||
2020 | Auburn | 0–1 | 0–0 | L Citrus | |||||
Auburn: | 0–1 | 0–0 | |||||||
Total: | 9–37 |
References
- ^ Description of incident
- ^ Washingtonpost.com: Greene Attacks Assistant Coach on Carolina Sideline
- ^ "ESPN.com – Page2 – The List: Worst coaching decisions". www.espn.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Alabama, former Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele to retire, per report". AL.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ "Gordon Steele – Football Coach".