WVU Sports Hall of Fame
Steve Dunlap lettered three years as a linebacker from 1973-75, playing for coach Bobby Bowden. He helped lead the Mountaineers to a 19-15 record, including a 9-3 mark in 1975 and a 13-10 win over NC State in the Peach Bowl.
The native of Hurricane, West Virginia, compiled 359 total tackles, a school record at the time, including 182 solo stops, three interceptions and one tackle for loss. He set the school records for most tackles in a season (190) and tackles in a game (28). He currently is tied for second on the single game solo tackle chart with 16 solo stops and is third on the single-season assisted tackle chart (96). He is fifth on assisted tackles, 10th on WVU career tackles chart and 17th on the unassisted tackles list.
In 1974, Dunlap recorded 190 tackles (94 solo), including 28 against Boston College on Nov. 2, 1974 – both still school records. For the season, Dunlap had two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups and one tackle for loss. As a senior in 1975, he was the second-leading WVU tackler with 155 stops.
Following his playing days, Dunlap embarked on a 35-year coaching career. He started as a graduate assistant at West Virginia (1978-81) before serving as defensive line coach at Navy (1982-83). He then returned to WVU as a full-time assistant with the linebackers (1984-86), defensive backs (1987-92);inside linebackers (1993-2000) and defensive coordinator (1991-2000);at Syracuse from 2001-2004; linebackers (2001-04), assistant head coach (2002-03) and defensive coordinator (2004); defensive coordinator at NC State (2005-06) and Marshall (2007); returned to West Virginia as the assistant head coach and safeties coach from 2008-11, linebackers and special teams coordinator, 2012);worked for the Mountaineer Athletic Club in 2013-14 in the area of cultivating football donors and assisting with operations.
The 1996 squad led the nation in total defense at 223.4 yards per game, No. 2 in rushing defense (65.9 yards per game) and turnover margin, No. 4 in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and No. 5 in pass efficiency defense. The 1994 squad set a then-school record for fewest points allowed in a 13-game season. While at NC State, three of his players were selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
He coached in 21 bowl games, including 18 at West Virginia, which included two national championship games (the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and the 1993 Sugar Bowl).
The Mountaineer defense took top national honors in 1996, and Dunlap was honored for his coaching ability in 1996,when he was named a finalist for the inaugural Frank Broyles Award, awarded annually to the nation's top assistant coach.
Dunlap coached 13 professional players, two All-Americans and 30 All-Conference/All-East Players.
Dunlap earned his bachelor's degree from WVU in 1977. He and his wife, Wendy, have two children, Matthew and Megan.
