Bowl Games as a Coach
2007 New Orleans
1994 Liberty Bowl (Louisville)
1991 Freedom Bowl (Maryland)
1983 Hall of Fame Bowl (Vanderbilt)
Coaching Accomplishments
At FAU
Kurt Van Valkenburgh was among the initial staff and has been instrumental in the construction of the program. A linebacker has led the squad six of the program's seven seasons in tackles. The team's season-ending MVPs have also been dedicated to the linebacker core. Chris Laskowski was the team's MVP in 2002 and co-MVP in 2003, and Shomari Earls walked away with the honor in 2005. The 2003 special teams, a unit Van Valkenburgh also focused upon, were credited with one TD, allowed no scores from a punt or a kick-off, and zero blocked kicks or punts. The 2004 season was more of the same. Special teams scored one TD, forced a safety and blocked four punts. Laskowski earned Defensive MVP honors while Earls garnered both the Defensive and Team MVP award in 2005. With such accolades for the players, honors for Van Valkenburgh were soon to follow. He was named the Top Assistant Coach by the All-American Football Foundation in 2005. Despite the program's most difficult schedule to date and the team's youth, especially among the linebackers, the linebackers continue to champion the defense. Two of the team's top-three tacklers at '07 season's end were linebackers. Newcomer Frantz Joseph also earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors and was awarded the team's Ramon Rickards Memorial Bone Award at the 2006 and the 2007 banquet. Cergile Sincere was also a 2007 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honoree.
Van Valkenburgh's linebackers continue to excel and are the consistent leaders on the field. In 2007, Frantz Joseph shatterd the single-season tackles mark. The junior did so in three fewer games than the previous record holder. Joseph or Sincere also led the Sun Belt Conference in total tackles wire-to-were. Sincere surpassed the previous season's single-season mark, moved to second all-time in tackles and was invited to play in the Hula Bowl.
Van Valkenburgh also oversees the recruiting process as well as many of the day-to-day administrative duties.
At Oklahoma
His defense ended the season ranked 9th against the rush and 15th overall.
At Purdue
His defense established three defensive school records in the secondary and improved from 11th ranked pass defense in the Big-10 to the top five. He coached the no. 2 and no. 3 ranked players in interceptions in the conference. He tutored a defensive back who set the school record for passes broken up.
At Louisville
He helped guide the team to a national ranking while playing one of the most difficult schedules in the country...defeated Michigan State in the Liberty Bowl.
At Maryland
Three of his linebackers were drafted in the NFL (linebackers led the team in sacks for the first time in school history while leading the team in sacks for two consecutive seasons).
At Vanderbilt
He helped to guide the team to its last bowl game, the Hall of Fame Bowl. One of his players, Leonard Coleman, was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Van Valkenburgh was nominated for the Southeastern Conference Assistant Coach of the Year.
At Colgate
He led the team to a 10-1 record, the most victories in the school's history. Paul Lawler led the nation in interceptions.
At SUNY Albany
The team finished undefeated.
Playing Career
Played three seasons as the starting linebacker at Springfield College (Spring, MA).
Prominent Players Coached
At Colgate; Paul Lawler, led the nation in interceptions, drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
At Vanderbilt; Leonard Coleman, first-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts
At Maryland: Sean Scott, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys; O'Brien Alston, drafted by the Indianapolis Colts; Jack Bradford, drafted by the Washington Redskins.
At Louisville; Sam Madison, drafted by the Miami Dolphins; Rico Clark, drafted by the Indianapolis Colts; Tyrus McCloud, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
At Oklahoma; Tyrone Peterson, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
NFL Players (round drafted)
DB Paul Lawler (5th) Buffalo Bills
DB Leonard Coleman (1st) Indianapolis Colts
LB Sean Scott (7th) Dallas Cowboys
LB O'Brien Alston (4th) Indianapolis Colts
LB Jack Bradford (5th) Washington Redskins
DB Sam Madison (34rd) Miami Dolphins
DB Rico Clark (4th) Indianapolis Colts
LB Tyrus McCloud (3rd) Miami Dolphins
LB Tyrone Peters (4th) Baltimore Ravens
LB Chris Laskowski (Free Agent) Indianapolis Colts
Personal Information
Birth date: April 13, 1949
Hometown: Schenectady, NY
Education: 1975 - M.S. in Education, SUNY
Albany; 1971 - B.S. in Physical Education, Springfield College
Marital Status: Wife, Marilyn
Children: Heather, Brock and Melissa
Grandchildren: Dara (11), Isabel (8), Hannah (7), Faith (5), Abigail (4), and Samuel (3)
