Jacob Studdard enters his second year on the Grand Valley State staff working with the running backs and coordinating the Laker special teams units. Studdard most recently coached the safeties and was the special teams coordinator at Hope College in 2022.
The running back unit was one of the tops in the country, averaging 221.2 yards yards per game and 6.0 yards per attempt. The group combined for 3,243 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns. Tariq Reid was a three-time All-GLIAC performer, finishing his career eighth in all-time rushing yards with 2,931 and second in all-time rushing touchdowns with 42. Grand Valley State was the top team in the nation in overall special teams play. GVSU led the nation in combined kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns with four. In addition, GVSU ranked among the national leaders in kickoff (23.4 ypr) and punt return average (16.1 ypr), while also leading the way in kickoff (16.5 ypr) and punt return (4.9 ypr) defense. GVSU was 10-for-13 in field goals and 73-of-76 in point after attempts, while also averaging 40.2 net yards per punt.
A native of Southfield, Michigan, Studdard served as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Grand Valley State from 2019 - 2021. He also assisted on special teams as GVSU posted a 10-2 overall record and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2021.
As a college student-athlete, Studdard played in 51 games for Grand Valley State from 2015 to 2018 after transferring from Youngstown State University (Ohio). The defensive back totaled 137 tackles and four interceptions during his career. Studdard helped the Lakers go 42-9 during his career with NCAA playoff appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2018, winning the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2016.Studdard was named a First-Team All-GLIAC defensive back in 2018 after registering 36 tackles, three interceptions and 13 pass breakups. He tallied 44 stops and picked off a pass in 2017.
"I am excited to be back at Grand Valley State as a part of a program that was so influential on my life as a player and a person," said Studdard. "The program and culture at GVSU exemplify what college football is all about and I am looking forward to working with an outstanding coaching staff and building relationships with our student-athletes that will last a lifetime," added Studdard.
Studdard holds a master's degree in communication from GVSU and a bachelor's degree in communication studies from GVSU.
