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Steve Dunlap

b. 1954

American football player and coach

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About Steve Dunlap

Born 1954. Steve Dunlap is an American head coach.

Steve Dunlap (born February 4, 1953) is an American former college football player and coach. A native of Hurricane, West Virginia, he played linebacker at West Virginia University from 1973 to 1975. Dunlap recorded 359 career tackles and set school records in 1974 with 190 tackles in a season and 28 tackles in a game against Boston College. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Dunlap's 35-year coaching career included positions at West Virginia, Navy, Syracuse, NC State, and Marshall. He served as West Virginia's defensive coordinator from 1991 through 2000 and later held the same position at Syracuse, NC State, and Marshall. The 1996 West Virginia defense led NCAA Division I-A in total defense, allowing 223.4 yards per game, and Dunlap was a finalist for the inaugural Broyles Award. He returned to West Virginia in 2008 and coached safeties and defensive special teams before serving as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2012.

West Virginia played for national championships in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and 1994 Sugar Bowl during Dunlap's first full-time tenure. The 1993 Mountaineers won the Big East Conference and completed an undefeated regular season before playing Florida in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2005, Dunlap became defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at NC State. The 2005 Wolfpack ranked eighth nationally in total defense, allowing 298.6 yards per game. Three members of that defense, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson, and John McCargo, were selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, with Williams taken first overall. Dunlap spent the 2007 season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Marshall. He subsequently worked for the Mountaineer Athletic Club in 2013 and 2014, assisting with football donor relations and athletics operations.

Over his coaching career, Dunlap coached in 21 bowl games, including 18 at West Virginia. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
West Virginia University

People in Steve Dunlap's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Steve Dunlap's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Steve Dunlap?

American football player and coach

When was Steve Dunlap born?

Steve Dunlap was born on 4 February 1954 in Hurricane.

What is Steve Dunlap's occupation?

Steve Dunlap is a head coach.

What nationality is Steve Dunlap?

Steve Dunlap is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Steve Dunlap

· Wikidata: Q7612436

· DBpedia: Steve Dunlap

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Steve Dunlap. https://biography.guide/steve-dunlap/

MLA: "Steve Dunlap." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/steve-dunlap/.

Chicago: "Steve Dunlap." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/steve-dunlap/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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