Steve Adams enters his fourth season as defensive coordinator at Norfolk State in 2024. He also coaches linebackers and holds the title of assistant head coach.
NSU forced takeaways in bunches during the 2023 campaign, leading the MEAC with 13 fumble recoveries. Junior cornerback Terron Mallory put together a historic performance against Delaware State, becoming the first Norfolk State player in the program’s Division I era to intercept three passes in a single game.
Mallory was named to the College Football Network HBCU All-America Second Team at the end of the season, while first-year linebacker AJ Richardson earned a spot on the FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team. Five members of the Spartan defense earned All-MEAC accolades as well.
Six of Norfolk State’s nine All-MEAC selections in 2022 came on the defensive side of the ball, led by linebacker Tyler Long’s All-MEAC First Team nod. Leading the conference with 106 (ranking 13th in all of FCS), Long tallied five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
In Adams’ first year with NSU, the Spartans notched their first winning record (6-5) since 2007. The Spartan defense played a key role in the success, leading the MEAC in sacks and interceptions while ranking third in total defense and rushing defense.
Both of Adams’ primary starting linebackers, Long and Marquis Hall, earned second-team All-MEAC accolades last year. Long ranked fourth in the MEAC in tackles, with 78.
Adams joined the Spartans’ staff after two years serving as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Glenville State College in Glenville, W.Va. In his first year at GSC, Adams helped the Pioneers go 7-4 overall and 6-4 in the Mountain East Conference. The Pioneers also picked up wins over Frostburg State and Notre Dame College, which was ranked No. 5 in Division II at the time. The Pioneer defense finished the 2019 season ranked fifth nationally in defensive touchdowns (six), sixth in interceptions (21) and 11th in turnovers gained (29).
Adams helped mentor linebacker Dominic Cizauskas, who was selected as the 2019 MEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Adams came to GSC after spending four seasons with NSU head coach Dawson Odums at Southern University. During his four years at Southern, he held the titles of special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and safeties coach (2015), cornerbacks coach (2016-17) and linebackers coach (2018). In 2016, the Jaguars finished first in the NCAA Division I FCS in turnovers gained, with 32, and fifth in interceptions, with 19. Cornerback Danny Johnson led the nation in interceptions in 2016, earning All-American honors. He currently plays for the Washington Football Team.
In 2017, Southern ranked 19th in the country in defensive touchdowns (three) and 25th in passing yards allowed per game (184.7).
Adams also assisted Southern’s special teams in becoming some of the most productive units in the country. The Jaguars ranked in the top five nationally in punt return yardage three straight years (2016-18), including the No. 1 spot in 2017 and No. 4 ranking in 2018 when Southern won the SWAC West title. Former Jaguar Willie Quinn was a two-time All-American return specialist, earning first-team honors in 2015 when he led the nation with four kickoff return touchdowns and second-team honors in 2016. Quinn graduated with 10 all-time kick or punt return touchdowns, second-most in NCAA history.
Prior to arriving at Southern, Adams spent two seasons at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He served as the Colonels' safeties coach and defensive coordinator in 2014 and was special teams coordinator in 2013.
A two-year stint at Concord University preceded Adams’ time at Nicholls. While at Concord, he served as the Mountain Lions' defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator as well as the special teams coordinator in 2011 and co-special teams coordinator in 2012. In his last season, the Mountain Lions ranked in the nation's top 10 in scoring defense (ninth, 17.2 ppg) and pass defense (seventh, 163.3 ypg), while finishing 13th in the NCAA Division II in total defense (293.9). All four of his starting defensive backs earned all-conference honors.
In 2011, he also helped lead Concord to a conference championship. The defense finished with high marks that season, ranking fifth nationally in turnover margin (+1.4) and sixth in interceptions (22). Three defensive backs earned All-WVIAC honors, with two players also earning all-region accolades.
Before joining Concord, Adams had stints with Purdue University (quality control), University of Louisville (director of football operations/quality control), and Western Kentucky University (assistant defensive backs coach).
Adams was a three-year letterwinner who played strong safety at Western Kentucky. Along with being part of the Hilltoppers team that reached the NCAA Division I-AA national quarterfinals in 1997, Adams earned a spot on WKU's Dean's List and was on the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll from 1998-00. He earned his bachelor’s degree in graphic design from WKU in 2000.
Adams and his wife, Sonnee, have one son, Stetson.
