Marvin Sanders was named the Chanticleer's defensive coordinator on December 8, 2017.
Sanders was on staff with former CCU head coach Joe Moglia at Nebraska and was hired by Moglia with the Omaha Nighthawks. Sanders, who was the defensive coordinator at North Carolina for three seasons (2004-06), brings over 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to the Chanticleer program.
After working with Moglia at the Nighthawks, Sanders was hired as defensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic University in December of 2011. However, he left that post in February of 2012 to be the defensive backs coach at Southern California. In his one year with the Trojans, USC ranked ninth in the NCAA in both interceptions (19) and turnovers gained (32) while jumping 20 spots to 41st nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Following his one-year stint at Southern California, Sanders went on to be the head football coach at Los Angeles' Loyola High School (2013-16).
In his first year in leading the Chants’ defense in 2018, Sanders took over a very young unit with just five upperclassmen on the two-deep. Despite the lack of experience, the Chants defense improved in points allowed per game, passing yards per game, first downs allowed and in red zone defense from the 2017 season. Sophomore defensive end Jeffrey Gunter was named first-team All-Sun Belt, the first-ever first-team All-Sun Belt selection in the program’s history, while redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Tarron Jackson garnered third-team accolades and linebacker Silas Kelly received honorable mention honors.
At Nebraska, Sanders helped the Cornhuskers rank among the nation's best defenses in his four total seasons (2003; 2008-10) as the secondary coach -- the final two as the assistant head coach on defense. The Huskers led the nation in pass efficiency twice (2003 and 2008) while ranking third in 2010. Nebraska's 32 interceptions in 2003 -- thanks to an NCAA-best 10 by Josh Bullocks that season -- ranks among the NCAA all-time top five.
The defense ranked among the NCAA top 20 in scoring defense (first in 2009, second in 2003 and ninth in 2010), fewest passing yards allowed (fifth in 2010, 11th in 2003 and 18th in 2009), passes intercepted (first in 2003, seventh in 2009 and 11th in 2010) and total defense (seventh in 2008, 11th in both 2003 and 2010).
Bullocks became just the second Nebraska sophomore to earn All-America honors and ended 2003 as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2009 as he garnered first-team All-America honors.
Between stints at Nebraska, Sanders was at North Carolina (2004-06) and was initially hired as the co-defensive coordinator/secondary coach before being elevated to defensive coordinator for years two and three with the Tar Heels. After a 2-10 season and the UNC defense ranking in the 100's for most defensive categories prior to Sanders' arrival, North Carolina improved to 6-6 in 2004. Then in his first year as defensive coordinator, the Tar Heels climbed to 42nd nationally in total defense in 2005 while ranking 48th in pass defense in 2006.
Sanders also served as the secondary coach at Colorado State for two seasons (2001-02). The Rams posted a 17-9 record during Sanders' two seasons in Fort Collins, including winning the 2002 Mountain West title and earning a pair of bowl trips.
Other coaching stops included one season as defensive ends/outside linebackers coach at New Mexico State (2000), five seasons at Nebraska-Omaha (1995-99, including the final three as defensive coordinator), one season as defensive backs coach at Minnesota-Morris (1994) and two seasons at defensive backs coach at Nebraska Wesleyan (1992-93).
A native of Chicago, Ill., Sanders received his bachelor's degree in business administration at Nebraska in 1990. During his four-years playing for Tom Osborne and the Cornhuskers, Nebraska played in four bowls, including the Sugar Bowl, 1987 and 1989 Fiesta Bowls and the 1988 Orange Bowl. Sanders earned honorable mention All-Big Eight honors his senior season.
He and his wife, Susan, have a daughter, Chandler Marie, and a son, Payton.
Marvin Sanders' Coaching History
1992-93: Nebraska Wesleyan (Defensive Backs)
1994: Minnesota-Morris (Defensive Backs)
1995-96: Nebraska-Omaha (Defensive Backs)
1997-99: Nebraska-Omaha (Defensive Coordinator)
2000: New Mexico State (Defensive Ends/Linebackers)
2001-02: Colorado State (Defensive Backs)
2003: Nebraska (Defensive Backs)
2004-06: North Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
2008-11: Nebraska (Defensive Backs)
2011: Florida Atlantic (Defensive Coordinator)
2012: Southern California (Defensive Backs)
2013-16: Loyola (Calif.) HS (Head Coach)
2018-present: Coastal Carolina (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs)
