About this speaker
Steve Cushing was named the defensive coordinator for the SUNY Cortland football program in the spring of 2022. Cushing was promoted to the defensive coordinator position after serving as the team's linebackers coach in 2021. He works with the team's linebackers in addition to his coordinator role.
In 2021, Cushing coached an All-American and three All-Empire 8 selections, and the Red Dragons ranked fourth nationally in Division III in scoring defense (10.5 points/game), fifth in total defense (213.8 yards/game), and third in defensive touchdowns (5) on the way to winning the Empire 8 title and finishing with an 11-1 record. In 2022, Cortland allowed 13.5 points per game in six league games en route to its second straight Empire 8 crown. The Red Dragon defense featured an All-American and seven all-league selections.
Prior to his arrival at Cortland, Cushing served as an assistant coach at Wilkes University for two seasons, where he coached safeties and also held roles as the team's defensive pass-game coordinator and co-recruiting coordinator. The Colonels went 8-3 during the 2019 season for their highest win total in 13 years and made their first postseason appearance since 2010.
Cushing played four years at Misericordia University as a safety and outside linebacker while being named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll. He spent the summer of 2018 as a coach at Goshen High School, where he assisted with on-field running drills for linebackers, running backs and special teams. Cushing also has experience with Youth Football in Warwick and Goshen, developing and implementing practice plans and defensive schemes and teaching proper tackling techniques.
Cushing graduated from Misericordia in 2018 with a degree in business with a specialization in marketing.