Former Louisiana Tech defensive line coach Stan Eggen has been hired as defensive line coach for the Cyclones to put the finishing touches Paul Rhoads’ coaching staff.

He has 30 years of collegiate coaching experience with stops at 12 different schools including TCU (’98-’00), Alabama (’01-’02) and Texas A&M (’03-’07) before spending five years at Louisiana Tech.

“This has been a unique hire for me because I wanted to honor the work that was accomplished on the defensive line by our dear friend Curtis Bray,” Rhoads said in a release. “I wanted to make sure that we brought someone in that would mesh with me personally, our staff, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and our players. Stan and I have known each other since 1989. He is a man that will bring the highest character, professionalism and integrity to this transition.”

Eggen’s defensive lines at Louisiana Tech were some of the best in school history, finishing 13th nationally in defending the run with 103.9 yards per game in his first year. In 2013, the Tech defense was the fourth-most improved defense in the nation.

In the 2011 WAC Championship season, Eggen’s defensive line recorded 29 of the team’s 32 sacks and held 12 of 13 teams under their season rushing average. 

Eggen has also been recognized as one of the nation’s top recruiters, earning the title of recruiting coordinator at Louisiana Tech after his first season. Rivals.com has named Eggen as one of the top 20 recruiters in the nation, and was named as one of the nation’s top 10 recruiters by Scout.com.

Over his last three coaching stops, Eggen has coached more than 20 lineman that have signed NFL contracts. He has mentored the likes of the Tennessee Titans’ Antwan Odom, Green Bay Packers’ Johnny Jolly and Buffalo Bills’ Aaron Schobel.

Eggen is from Dilworth, Minn. and earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Moorhead State (Minn.) in 1977 and his master’s degree in education from North Dakota in 1981. He and his wife, Christina, have three daughters, Sloane, Paige and Shelby.