Steve Szabo Explained

Steve Szabo
Birth Date:11 September 1943
Player Positions:Fullback, defensive back (football)
Midfielder (lacrosse)
Overall Record:15–15–1
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1961–1964
Player Team2:Navy
Player Sport3:Lacrosse
Player Years4:1963–1965
Player Team4:Navy
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1969
Coach Team2:Johns Hopkins (DC/DB)
Coach Years3:1970
Coach Team3:Toledo (freshmen)
Coach Years4:1971–1973
Coach Team4:Iowa (ST/LB)
Coach Years5:1974–1976
Coach Team5:Syracuse (DL)
Coach Years6:1977–1978
Coach Team6:Iowa State (DL/K)
Coach Years7:1979–1981
Coach Team7:Ohio State (DL/K)
Coach Years8:1982–1984
Coach Team8:Western Michigan (asst. HC / OC)
Coach Years9:1985–1987
Coach Team9:Edinboro
Coach Years10:1988
Coach Team10:Northern Iowa (DL)
Coach Years11:1989–1990
Coach Team11:Colorado State (DC/LB)
Coach Years12:1991–1993
Coach Team12:Boston College (DC/LB)
Coach Years13:1994–2002
Coach Team13:Jacksonville Jaguars (LB)
Coach Years14:2003
Coach Team14:New England Patriots (volunteer)
Coach Years15:2004–2005
Coach Team15:Buffalo Bills (DB)
Coach Years16:2006–2007
Coach Team16:Michigan (LB)
Coach Years17:2008
Coach Team17:Colgate (DC/LB)
Coach Years18:2009
Coach Team18:Eastern Michigan (assoc. HC/LB)
Coach Years19:2011
Coach Team19:Illinois State (DC/LB)

Steve Szabo (born September 11, 1943) is a former American football player and coach. He played football and lacrosse for the United States Naval Academy from 1961 to 1965. After four years of military service, Szabo held coaching positions with 18 collegiate and professional football teams from 1969 to 2011. He served as the head football coach at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 1987, compiling a record of 15–15–1.

Early years

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Szabo graduated from Mendel High School in Chicago. He subsequently attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1965. While attending the Naval Academy, Szabo played college football from 1961 to 1964 and played as a midfielder on Navy's national championship lacrosse teams from 1963 to 1965.[1] [2] He played as fullback and defensive back on the same Navy football teams with Roger Staubach.[3] [4] After graduating from the Naval Academy, Szabo served four years in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico and served one year in South Vietnam.

Coaching career

Between 1969 and 2011, Szabo held coaching positions with 18 collegiate and professional football teams. These include Johns Hopkins Blue Jays (defensive coordinator and defensive backfield, 1969), Toledo Rockets (freshman coach and chief scout, 1970),[5] [6] Iowa Hawkeyes (special teams and linebackers, 1971–1973), Syracuse Orange (defensive line, 1974–1976),[7] [8] Iowa State Cyclones (defensive line and kickers, 1977–1978),[9] Ohio State Buckeyes (defensive line and kickers, 1979–1981),[10] Western Michigan Broncos (assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, 1982–1984), Edinboro Fighting Scots (head coach, 1985–1987),[11] Northern Iowa Panthers (defensive line, 1988), Colorado State Rams (defensive coordinator and linebackers, 1989–1990),[12] Boston College Eagles (defensive coordinator and linebackers, 1991–1993),[13] [14] [15] Jacksonville Jaguars (linebackers, 1994–2002), New England Patriots (volunteer assistant, 2003),[16] Buffalo Bills (defensive backs, 2004–2005),[17] Michigan Wolverines (linebackers, 2006–2007),[18] Colgate Raiders (defensive coordinator and linebackers, 2008),[19] Eastern Michigan Eagles (associate head coach and linebackers, 2009), and Illinois State Redbirds (defensive coordinator and linebackers, 2011),[20] [21] Szabo resigned his position at Illinois State in June 2011 for personal reasons.[22]

Notes and References

  1. News: New Talent for Tar Ten: Navy Lacrosse team Sets Home Opener Tomorrow. The Baltimore Sun. April 2, 1965. https://archive.today/20130131160538/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1720002022.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+02,+1965&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=NEW+TALENT+FOR+TAR+TEN&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013.
  2. News: Unbeaten Middies Defeat Army, 9-4. The New York Times. May 31, 1964.
  3. News: Navy Routs Cornell, 41-0, As Staubach Leads Attack. The New York Times. October 14, 1962.
  4. News: Navy's Football Captain Is Sure Midshipmen Can Defeat Texas. Allison Danzig. Allison Danzig. The New York Times. December 28, 1963. ("Steve Szabo, another fullback, was moved to defensive halfback to relieve the shortage created by the loss of Moore and Hanson.")
  5. News: TU Grid Frosh To Open. Toledo Blade. September 21, 1970.
  6. News: Iowa Expected To Hire Szabo. Toledo Blade. January 9, 1971.
  7. News: Szabo To Syracuse. Toledo Blade. December 17, 1973.
  8. News: Szabo Joins Maloney On Syracuse Staff. Schenectady Gazette. December 19, 1973.
  9. News: Ex-Lauterbur aide Szabo added to Iowa State staff. The Telegraph-Herald. January 25, 1977.
  10. News: Bruce fires three Ohio State coaches. Kingman Daily Miner. January 7, 1982. (Szabo along with Nick Saban and Dennis Fryzel fired by Earl Bruce)
  11. News: untitled. Reading Eagle. November 27, 1987. 19.
  12. News: Szabo Leaves CSU for Boston College. Rocky Mountain News. January 18, 1991.
  13. News: Szabo to lead BC defense. Boston Globe. January 19, 1991. https://archive.today/20130208164807/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/59124889.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+19,+1991&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Szabo+to+lead+BC+defense&pqatl=google. dead. February 8, 2013.
  14. News: Navy Players-Turned-Coaches Match Wits. December 31, 1993. B-9. The Roanoke Times.
  15. News: Next: Staff defection? BC assistants may follow. Boston Globe. February 22, 1994. 27. https://archive.today/20130131161050/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/61922448.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+22,+1994&author=Michael+Vega,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Next:+Staff+defection%3F+BC+assistants+may+follow&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013.
  16. News: Don't Mess Around With Belichick. The Buffalo News. September 29, 2004.
  17. News: Szabo's experience benefits Bills. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, N.Y.). Leo Roth. August 19, 2004. D.9. https://archive.today/20130131151555/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/democratandchronicle/access/1804485201.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+19,+2004&author=Leo+Roth&pub=Rochester+Democrat+and+Chronicle&desc=Szabo's+experience+benefits+Bills&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013.
  18. Web site: Carr Announces Assistant Football Coaches. University of Michigan. February 14, 2006.
  19. Web site: Szabo Named Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach. March 5, 2008. Colgate Raiders.
  20. News: Szabo joins Redbirds football staff. Daily Herald. February 4, 2011.
  21. Web site: Steve Szabo Bio. Illinois State University Athletics. dead. https://archive.today/20130124220500/http://www.goredbirds.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/szabo_steve00.html. 2013-01-24.
  22. News: Illinois State assistant resigns. Journal Star. June 27, 2011.