Steven Koch joined the Bulls staff in July of 2022 as a Special Teams Analyst.
Koch came to USF from his alma mater, Dickinson State University, where he spent the previous 2 seasons as the Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach.
In July of 2020, Koch returned to Dickinson State, this time serving as the Special Teams Coordinator and flipping sides of the ball to work with the Tight Ends/Fullbacks. His first season as Special Teams Coordinator the Blue Hawks saw tremendous improvement within their special teams units. As a team they finished 12th in the NAIA in punt return yards (206), 25th in punt return avg. (10.8 YPG). Isaiah Kludt finished the year being named 1st Team All-NSAA Specialist finishing with 180 punt return yards (9th NAIA, 1st NSAA) and 10.6 punt return yards average per game (15th NAIA, 1st NSAA). Alec Lovegren finished the season with 272 kickoff return yards, 33rd in the NAIA. Jeremiah Paine ended the year with a Net Punt Average of 34.6 (37th NAIA, 2nd NSAA). Paine was named 2nd Team All-NSAA Punter.
During the 2021 season, the Blue Hawks showed continuous improvement on special teams. The Blue Hawks were 4th in the NAIA in punt return average (20.3), 6th in punt return yards (284), 34th in Net Punt Average (37.5). Isaiah Kludt was named 2nd Team All-NSAA Specialist finishing the year with 284 punt return yards. Jeremiah Paine finished the season with a Net Punt Average of 38.5 yards per game (16th NAIA, 2nd NSAA). Paine was named 2nd Team All-NSAA for the 2nd straight season. Koch also mentored Jace Johnson who finished the season 19th in the NAIA in points scored, being named 1st Team-All NSAA. Johnson went 6/9 on FG’s and 47/51 on PAT’s. The tight end position for the Blue Hawks also saw improvement as Galen Brantley III was named NSAA Honorable Mention.
Prior to his second stint at Dickinson State, Koch served as the Outside Linebackers Coach at Chadron State College in 2019. While at Chadron State, Koch was heavily involved with Special Teams. During his time at Chadron State he helped mentor Noah Kerchal, who was 1st on the team in sacks (14th in RMAC, 1st in TFL’s (8th in RMAC), 2nd in tackles (14th in RMAC), and 2nd in fumbles recovered (11th RMAC). During his time at Chadron State College, Koch graduated with a Master’s of Science in Organizational Management, earning a 4.0 GPA.
Koch served a short stint through the spring of 2019 on Coach Mel Tucker’s staff at the University of Colorado. He served as a Defensive Intern for the Outside Linebackers, working with Coach Brian Michalowski.
His coaching career began at Dickinson State in 2018, serving as the Outside Linebackers Coach. The Blue Hawks advanced to the National Quarterfinals that season, earning their 1st road playoff win in school history the week before. The Blue Hawks would end up losing to Coach Matt Drinkall’s Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes. That season he helped mentor All-NSAA Outside Linebacker, Jalen Hendrickson.
In 2018, Koch graduated from Dickinson State University with a Bachelor of Science in University Studies. Koch played linebacker for the Blue Hawks from 2014 to 2017. He helped lead the program to 3 NSAA Championships and 3 straight trips to the NAIA National Playoffs. These 3 NSAA Championships were the first 3 of Head Coach Pete Stanton’s current run of 8 straight NSAA Championships and trips to the NAIA Playoffs.
Timeline
2018 – Dickinson State University – Outside Linebackers
2019 – University of Colorado – Defensive Intern/Outside Linebackers
2019 – Chadron State College – Outside Linebackers
