Head Coach Steve Kazor

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Steve Kazor Head Coach, Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Coach Maury Waugh Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach Chris Laidlaw Wide Receivers Coach, Recruiting Coordinator Jeremy Gold Defensive Line Coach Bob Schroeder Offensive Line Coach Wally Chambers Offensive Line Assistant Coach Jim Flasck Defensive Line Assistant Coach Rick Marsack Tight Ends Coach Brendan Farrell (GA) Running Backs Coach

Entering his third season guiding the fortunes of the Wayne State University football program is Steve Kazor. The 18th coach in the 84-year history of the sport at WSU, he was named head coach prior to the 2000 season. Kazor came to WSU with an abundance of football experience.

Kazor came to Wayne State after serving two seasons (1998-99) as head coach at McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas.

In his first year with the Bulldogs, he led MC to a 5-5 mark while averaging over 33 points a game. In 1999, McPherson compiled a 7-3 mark and averaged 35 points a game. Both seasons, the Bulldogs were second in the country is passing. His final year at McPherson, Kazor’s offense was ranked sixth in the nation, while the defense was rated 15th.

Before taking the helm at McPherson, Kazor spent the previous three seasons (1994-96) as an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions. He worked with the tight ends, offensive line and special teams.

In 1994, the Lions led the NFL in kickoff returns and tied the all-time single season record for touchdowns. Kazor helped develop one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, which featured future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. Kazor was directly involved in all pass routes, blocking schemes and attack reads for the offense. Detroit qualified for the playoffs in both 1994 and 1995. During his tenure with the Lions, Detroit had a 24-24 regular-season record.

In 1993, Kazor took an Iowa Wesleyan squad that was 2-9 the previous season, and led the Tigers to an 8-3 season. After starting out the campaign with a 2-3 record, IWC won its last six games outscoring its opponents 208-59.

In his lone season at the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa school, Kazor coached four All-Americans and running back Clarence Cheatham equalled the school record for longest run from scrimmage (87 yards). For his efforts, Kazor was nominated for Regional Coach of the Year.

Kazor began his coaching career at Westminster College (Utah) in 1970 where he served as defensive coordinator. He spent the next two seasons as head coach at Camden Military Academy. Kazor then was named head coach and offensive coordinator at the College of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas. In 1973, Emporia had a 5-6 record. However, the school had economic problems and was forced to close the following year.

From 1974-80, Kazor added to his impressive resume. In 1974, he was the defensive line coach at the University of Texas at Arlington. The following season, Kazor was the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Colorado State in Fort Collins. During his tenure at CSU, he recruited seven All-Americans.

In 1976, he was the defensive coordinator at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. The Thunderbirds defense was ranked 13th in the nation.

The next two seasons Kazor was a secondary assistant at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1978, the Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in the nation and played in the Cotton Bowl for the National Championship.

From 1979-80, he served as linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso. While at UTEP, he instituted a nationwide recruiting network and signed 15 student-athletes. Nine of the 15 signed professional contracts following their collegiate playing careers.

Following the 1980 campaign, Kazor signed on with the Dallas Cowboys where he served as administrative assistant to vice president Gil Brandt and head coach Tom Landry.

He worked with the Chicago Bears from 1982-92 under head coach Mike Ditka. His duties included special teams coach, defensive assistant, tight ends coach and assistant to the head coach.

The Bears returned to the NFL elite in 1984. They advanced to the NFC Championship game (losing to San Francisco) and Walter Payton broke Jim Brown's all-time NFL rushing record. The loss in the '84 title game set the stage for the 1985 season in which the Bears posted shutouts in both playoff games before ripping the Patriots, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX. The Bears won the NFC Central division each of the next three seasons, but could never get past the NFC title game.

In 1985, the Bears won the first 12 games of season en route to posting 15-1 regular season mark, tying the most regular season wins by a team in NFL history. Chicago claims second straight NFC Central title as club record nine players are selected to Pro Bowl.

Bears finish five-year period (1984-88) with 62 wins-most by any NFL team ever in such a span.

Kazor, who was born on February 24, 1950 in Arnold, Pennsylvania, graduated from Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, before enrolling at Westminster College. He was a four-year starter at WC as a nose tackle and running back and graduated with a degree in industrial relations.

He received his master’s degree in education from Emporia State. Kazor, and his wife, Colleen, have two children, Lance and Kyle.