Quinn Named SAU Head Football Coach

Magnolia, AR—Steve Quinn, who spent three years with the Southern Arkansas University football program from 1997 through 1999, has been named the 15th head coach of the Muleriders football program dating back to 1913 but the third in the last three years.

The 37-year old Quinn takes over the helm from John Bland, who resigned earlier in the week to take a position as quarterbacks coach on the staff of Ken Hatfield, his former mentor at the University of Arkansas, at Rice University. Bland directed the ‘Riders in 2000 after replacing Steve Roberts, who left SAU for NCAA Division 1-AA Northwestern State University after serving as the ‘Riders head coach for six years.

Quinn returns to SAU from NSU where he served as Roberts’ assistant head coach and tutored the offensive line.

He was at SAU the previous three years as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach when the ‘Riders posted records of 9-2 and a Gulf South Conference championship, 8-2 and 9-1 for a combined 26-5 record over the three-year period. In the process, SAU shattered several school records and dominated GSC offensive statistics.

SAU was ranked 11th nationally in ’97 and 15th in ’98 and ’99. In ’98, the ‘Riders ranked ninth nationally in scoring offense, 18th in rushing offense, led the GSC in scoring and rushing offense and broke six school offensive records. In ’99, SAU led the conference in total offense, rushing offense and ranked 14th nationally in rushing offense. Over the three-year period, Quinn produced eight All-GSC offensive linemen and one All-American.

Before his stint at SAU, Quinn was at Eastern New Mexico from 1994 through 1996 where he served as offensive coordinator while working with the offensive line. In 1993 and ’94, he was at Northwest Missouri State University as an assistant, at Pascagoula, Miss., High School from 1989 through ’92 as offensive coordinator, Baylor University in ’87 and ’88 as a graduate assistant and at his alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University in 1986 as a part-time assistant coach where he worked with defensive ends and linebackers.

Quinn graduated from OBU in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree and received his Master of Education degree from Baylor in 1989. He graduated from Mena High School in 1981.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity and am very grateful to the administration for giving me the opportunity to take over such a great football program,” stated Quinn. Also, I really appreciate the support I was shown from the players, the administration and community while making the decision. It was overwhelming to me and my family. That type of support is very motivating to me to make this program continue to be very successful.”

Quinn and wife Jodi are parents of four children, daughters Hannah and Hillary and sons Nicholas and Troy.

SAU athletic director Jay Adcox said “We are extremely excited to have Steve Quinn and his family rejoin the Magnolia community, Southern Arkansas University and the Mulerider football program, the Gulf South Conference and will certainly add a lot of energy, enthusiasm and competive spirit to lead the program back to the top echelon of NCAA Division II football. Steve Quinn is a leader with great character, a motivator and a tremendous players coach. By hiring Steve Quinn, the continuity of the program, academic commitment and the welfare of the players will be in excellent hands. We are proud to announce the hiring of a coach with the highest of character and integrity, Steve Quinn.”