Stan Eggen begins his fifth season with The University of New Mexico as the defensive line coach. Eggen is in his fourth season in his second stint with UNM, having coached the defensive line in 1997.
In 2018, Aaron Blackwell earned All-Mountain West honors as defensive tackle after registering 29 tackles and 4.0 TFLs on the season. UNM also saw defensive lineman Adebayo Soremekun lead the team with three fumble recoveries, including a 44-yard touchdown return.
Eggen in 2017 coached All-MW selection Garrett Hughes, who went on to be signed by the Buffalo Bills. Hughes was second on the team in sacks in 2017 and recorded a forced fumble and 15 solos. The 2017 line was a key part of UNM allowing under 400 yards per game for the second straight year, the first time UNM turned that trick in nine years.
In his first season back with the Lobos, UNM had a pair of Second Team All-Conference picks in defensive linemen Nik D’Avanzo and Garrett Hughes. UNM recorded 27 sacks on the season, with D’Avanzo and Hughes teaming up for 11.5 sacks for 78 yards.
While with the Iowa State Cyclones, Eggen’s defensive line picked up several accolades in 2015, including Demond Tucker, who was the Big XII Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Tucker was second on the club with 6.0 sacks and with 13.5 TFLs. He also coached Dale Pierson to second team All-Big XII honors (8.5 sacks, 12.5 TFLs) and Demond Tucker to honorable mention honors.
Eggen has coached several players that have gone on to the NFL, most recently Michael Bennett (Seattle), Von Miller (Denver), Red Bryant (Seattle), IK Enemkpali (Buffalo) and Justin Ellis (Oakland). Miller was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
Eggen developed a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the country, earning the title of recruiting coordinator title at Louisiana Tech for his final four seasons. He’s been named as one of the top 20 recruiters in the country multiple times by Rivals.com and was named as one of the top 10 recruiters in the country by Scout.com.
Eggen has had a 36-year career in coaching at the collegiate level, including a previous stop at The University of New Mexico. Eggen coached the defensive line for the Lobos in the 1997 season under Dennis Franchione. That season ended with UNM’s first Bowl appearance in 36 years as UNM faced off with Arizona in the Insight.com Bowl. Eggen was a mainstay of Franchoine’s staffs from New Mexico through TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M, an association that lasted 11 seasons.
Eggen and the Lobos participated in the 1997 Insight.com Bowl. His postseason resume speaks for itself. He has been a part of 12 bowl games. Two of his defensive linemen from the 2007 A&M squad – Red Bryant and Chris Harrington – were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft.
Over his last three coaching stops, Eggen has coached more than a dozen defensive linemen who were selected in the NFL Draft and a total of 20 who signed NFL contracts. He has mentored the likes of the Tennessee Titans’ Antwan Odom, Green Bay Packers’ Johnny Jolly and Buffalo Bills’ Aaron Schobel.
Eggen began his coaching career at the University of North Dakota in 1979-80 after playing free safety at Moorhead State in Minnesota, where he was a three-year starter for the Dragons. He graduated from Moorhead State in 1977 with a bachelor’s in education, and he graduated with his master’s in education from North Dakota in 1981.
| Stan Eggen Profile: | |
| Born | February 23, 1953 |
| Hometown | Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Alma Mater | B.S., Education – Moorhead State, 1977; M.S., Education – North Dakota, 1981 |
| Playing Experience | Moorhead State 1972-76 |
| Family | Wife: Tina; Children: Sloane, Paige and Shelby |
| Coaching Experience: | |
| 2016-present | New Mexico (Defensive Line) |
| 2014-15 | Iowa State (Defensive Line) |
| 2009-13 | Louisiana Tech (Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator) |
| 2008 | Louisiana Tech (Defensive Line) |
| 2003-07 | Texas A&M (Defensive Line) |
| 2001-02 | Alabama (Defensive Line) |
| 1998-00 | TCU (Defensive Line) |
| 1997 | New Mexico (Defensive Line) |
| 1994-96 | UNLV (Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers) |
| 1993 | Nevada (Inside Linebackers) |
| 1991-92 | UNLV (Defensive Ends/Linebackers) |
| 1986-90 | Utah State (Recruiting Coordinator/Inside Linebackers) |
| 1984-85 | Drake (Outside Linebackers) |
| 1982-83 | Memphis (Inside Linebackers) |
| 1981 | Southeast Missouri State (Linebackers) |
| 1979-80 | North Dakota (Defensive Backs Coach) |
| Postseason Coached (corresponding to the season, not the actual year of game): | |
| 2016 | Gildan New Mexico Bowl |
| 2011 | Poinsettia Bowl |
| 2008 | Independence Bowl |
| 2007 | Alamo Bowl |
| 2006 | Alamo Bowl |
| 2005 | Holiday Bowl |
| 2001 | Cotton Bowl |
| 2000 | Independence Bowl |
| 1999 | Mobile Bowl |
| 1998 | Mobile Bowl |
| 1997 | Insight.com Bowl |
| 1994 | Las Vegas Bowl |