Tim Steinbach is in his fifth season as SMSU’s defensive coordinator and also his second as assistant head coach. He served as the program’s recruiting coordinator for three seasons before being elevated to assistant head coach in the spring of 2007.
In his four seasons as defensive coordinator, Steinbach has helped lead a defense that has made major improvements in nearly all statistical categories. In 2004, the SMSU defense allowed the fewest points, passing yards and total yards since the 1999 season and also recorded two shutouts, marking the first time since the 1998 season that SMSU had two shutouts in one season.
In 2005, the Mustang defense racked up 30 quarterback sacks, the fourth highest total in school history, while also recording 74 tackles for loss, the fifth highest total in the program’s history. SMSU also had 15 interceptions, the most since the 2000 season and the 11th highest in school history.
The 2006 season saw the SMSU defense limit opponents to just 111.5 yards rushing per game, the fewest allowed since the 2000 season and the fourth lowest in school history. The SMSU pass defense allowed just 180.5 yards per game a season ago ranking second in the NSIC.
In 2007, SMSU safety Tyler Reed earned first team all-region honors becoming the first Mustang defensive player to earn first team all-region honors since 1999.
During his 44-game tenure at SMSU, the Mustang defense has held opponents to under 100 yards rushing 14 times and has held opponents to 108 yards or less in 16 games. The 2006 season saw the SMSU defense hold six of its 11 opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing.
Steinbach, a native of Buffalo, Minn., began his coaching career at Holdingford (Minn.) High School in 1993, before moving to the college ranks in 1994 where he spent two seasons as defensive line coach at Minnesota-Morris. He spent the 1996 and 1997 seasons as an assistant coach at South Dakota State before returning to Minnesota-Morris for the 1998 and 1999 seasons serving as the team’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2000, Steinbach returned to South Dakota State where coached the defensive line and was recruiting coordinator for four seasons before coming to SMSU.
Steinbach played one season at the University of Minnesota Duluth before transferring to St. John’s University where he played running back for two seasons, graduating in 1992 with a degree in management.
He earned his master’s degree in athletic administration from South Dakota State in 1998.
Tim and his wife Christy live in Marshall and have one son, Trey and one daughter, Ashleigh.
