Football Cards Add Stripling to Coaching Staff
February 13, 2001 | Football
Feb. 13, 2001
LOUISVILLE, KY -- University of Louisville head football coach John L. Smith announced today the hiring of Steve Stripling as the Cardinals' new defensive line coach. Stripling replaces Nick Holt who left U of L in January to assume assistant coaching duties at the University of Southern California.
The 48-year-old Stripling comes to U of L after spending four seasons at the University of Minnesota as the Golden Gophers' linebacker coach. He added recruiting coordinator responsibilities prior to the 1999 season.
"We're fortunate to lure a coach of Steve's caliber to join our staff," said Smith. "He is experienced on both sides of the football and will be a great teacher and motivator for our defensive linemen."
Stripling inherits a line that keyed an improved Cardinal defense in 2000. U of L finished the regular season rated fourth among Division I-A programs against the run while piling up a school record 50 sacks.
Stripling's linebackers played a major role in the success of the Golden Gopher defense the past four seasons.
After leading the Big Ten with a new single-season school record 41 sacks in 1997, the Golden Gophers racked up 44 sacks in 1999, setting a new school record. The stingy '99 Minnesota defense also finished fourth in the Big Ten and 22nd in the country in total defense, the program's best effort since 1985.
Stripling aided the growth of several linebackers in recent years, including All-Big Ten honorees Sean Hoffman and Ben Mezera.
Prior to his time in the Twin Cities, Stripling spent 13 seasons (1984-96) on Bill Mallory's staff at Indiana University.
While at IU, Stripling coached four different positions for the Hoosiers.
In 1996, Stripling was Indiana's defensive coordinator/linebackers coach. From 1990-95, he was the defensive line coach and from 1984-89, he worked on the other side of the ball as the offensive line coach. In addition, he coached the placekickers throughout his tenure at Indiana.
During his time in Bloomington, Stripling coached four All-Big Ten guards and centers, three All-Big Ten placekickers, one All-Big Ten linebacker and one All-Big Ten defensive lineman. The Hoosiers played in six bowl games during that time, the 1986 All-American, 1987 & 1990 Peach, 1988 Liberty, 1991 Copper and 1993 Independence.
Prior to joining the Indiana staff, Stripling was the offensive line coach at Northern Illinois from 1980-83. The Huskies captured the Mid-American Conference crown in 1983 to earn a trip to the California Bowl.
He also served as the recruiting coach at North Carolina in 1978-79. The Tar Heels played in the Gator Bowl during his final season in Chapel Hill.
Stripling, who earned his bachelor's (1976) and master's (1978) degrees from the University of Colorado, began his coaching career at CU as a graduate assistant in 1977-78. The Buffs won the 1977 Big Eight title and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl.
An offensive guard during his collegiate career at Colorado, he was a member of CU teams that played in the 1971 & 1975 Bluebonnet Bowls and the 1972 Gator Bowl. He played one season (1976) with the Atlanta Falcons before embarking on his coaching career. In all, he has coached or played in a total of 14 bowl games.
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