Steve Sisa - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Steve Sisa

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
Email:
sisasg@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517
Physical Address:
Plecker APC 206 (220 Champions Dr.) / MSC 2201

Steve Sisa is in his second year with the James Madison University football program and his first as the defensive coordinator, working primarily with the outside linebackers.

Last season, Sisa worked with the safeties, coaching All-CAA honoree Dean Marlowe, who had 96 tackles and four interceptions on his way to being picked up by the Carolina Panthers. The 2014 safeties group accounted for six takeaways, two sacks and nine pass breakups.

Prior to his hiring at JMU, Sisa spent two seasons on the coaching staff at Western Carolina as a secondary coach, including the special teams coordinator in his final year.

He also worked with Withers on the staff at North Carolina for two years, serving as his safeties coach in 2011 and in player development in 2010. In 2011, he helped guide UNC to the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Under Sisa's tutelage in 2011, the Tar Heel safeties accounted for six of North Carolina's 14 interceptions and forced five of the 13 fumbles on the year.

Prior to coaching at North Carolina, Sisa served two seasons (2008-09) as a graduate assistant at Southern Mississippi with the Golden Eagles making back-to-back appearances in the New Orleans Bowl during his tenure. Sisa helped tutor the Southern Miss secondary under defensive coordinator Todd Bradford and head coach Larry Fedora. He was also responsible for opponent scouting reports, scout team film study and practice scripts.

A native of Manassas, Va., Sisa got his start at the collegiate ranks as a quality control coach at the University of Illinois in 2007 where he worked primarily with the team's linebackers. Illinois was 9-3 that season and advanced to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1984.

He began his coaching career at Ed White High School in Jacksonville, Fla., under head coach Dan Disch, the former defensive coordinator at UNC. He worked as the secondary coach in 2003 and the defensive coordinator from 2004-06. He also served as the team's NCAA recruiting liaison for prospective student-athletes and was the Shrine Bowl defensive coordinator in 2006.

Sisa is no stranger to the Shenandoah Valley as he played one year as a linebacker at Bridgewater College in 1997. His career was cut short due to a shoulder injury and he transferred to Virginia Tech, where he earned his bachelor's degree in political science in 2001. He also received his master's degree in sports management from Southern Miss in 2009.

Sisa is married to the former Lisa Taylor of Jacksonville, Fla., and the couple has a son, Taylor.