Oklahoma State University Athletics
Van Malone Named To Football Coaching Staff
February 17, 2012 | Cowboy Football
Feb. 17, 2012
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy announced the addition of Van Malone to the Cowboys coaching staff today. Malone previously served as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Tulsa from 2010-11.
Forcing turnovers was a recurring theme during Malone's time in Tulsa. In 2010, the Tulsa defense ranked first nationally in interceptions with 24, while the Hurricane was the NCAA's second-ranked team for turnover margin and third for turnovers gained. In 2011, Tulsa was 12th nationally with 18 passes intercepted and 25th with 28 turnovers gained despite facing elite quarterbacks such as Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, Boise State's Kellen Moore, Houston's Case Keenum and Oklahoma's Landry Jones.
"Van Malone is a proven coach in this part of the country and will be a good fit on our staff," Gundy said. "We're excited that he is going to join us."
With Malone on staff, Tulsa compiled a 13-3 record in Conference USA.
"I'm real excited to be part of Mike Gundy's staff at Oklahoma State," Malone said. "I've had relationships with some of OSU's coaches over the years and to now join them is special for me because I know I'm going to be around good people.
"Listening to Coach Gundy talk about his vision and his commitment to building it the right way got me locked in and made it clear that this is a great fit for me to try and help continue what has already been started," Malone said.
Prior to his appointment at Tulsa, Malone spent four seasons at Texas A&M as a defensive secondary coach. He coached the cornerbacks in his first two years (2006-07) and spent his final two seasons (2008-09) coaching the safeties.
Between his time at Texas A&M and Tulsa, Malone has faced Oklahoma State six times.
"It's always been tough to coach against OSU - especially as a defensive coach - because of the innovative offense and the explosive playmakers that OSU has had," Malone said. "I've recruited head-to-head against OSU through the years and I'm excited about being able to visit with guys knowing that a lot of them are interested in coming and that they want to be Cowboys."
Malone coached defensive backs at the University of North Texas during the 2005 season and also assisted coaching the special teams. Before that, Malone served as the cornerback coach and worked with the special teams at Western Michigan in 2004. In 2003, Malone served a NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Detroit Lions and also worked with wide receivers at North Dakota State University.
Malone played five seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the second round, the 57th player selection overall, by the Detroit Lions in 1994. He played in every game as a rookie and was a standout special teams player earning Special Teams Player of the Week on six different occasions. His special teams play earned him a nomination for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995.
The Lions reached the NFL playoffs in both 1994 and 1995. In 1996, Malone started every game and was named the special teams captain and was awarded a game ball three times. After the 1997 season, Malone signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals and retired after the 1998 season due to injury.
During his time with the Lions, Malone also served as a marketing intern with Reebok International and also provided post-game analysis and commentary for Fox Television Sports as a co-host in Detroit (Fox2). He was a True Value NFL Man of the Year and was called on by the club to speak to many organizations.
Beginning in 1997, Malone was a youth camp director and football coordinator at the Texas Sports Development Academy in San Antonio, Texas. He also co-founded and headed up the "New Beginnings", a non-profit charity organization in Houston.
Malone began coaching in the high school ranks at his alma mater, Houston Waltrip High School from 1999-2002. He also coached at Conroe High School from 2002-03. He earned the Houston High School Coaches Association "Assistant Coach of the Year" in 2000 and was also honored by the Houston Police Department with the "Lifesaver of the Year" Award.
Malone was a four-year letterman (1990-93) at the University of Texas, earning third-team All-America honors and All-SWC accolades as a defensive back his senior season. He was honored as a Longhorn team captain in 1993 and was awarded the Darrell Royal Award for tenacity in 1993 as well. Malone played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic and the Hula Bowl following his senior campaign. As a freshman in 1990, Malone earned The Sporting News Freshman All-America mention as Texas won the Southwest Conference Championship.
A native of Houston who majored in education/sports management while at Texas, Malone completed his undergraduate work through the NFL's degree completion program and earned his degree in social science from the University of Houston in 2002.
Malone continues to serve on the National Minority Issues Committee and the Professional Development Committee of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He is a lifetime member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, was a member of the Houston Coaches Association (1998-2003) and the Houston Area Minority Coaches Association (1998-2003). He is a member of the National Black Coaches Association and the National Federation of High School Coaches Association.
Malone and his wife, Nedra, have three sons: Van, Vaughn, and Vincent.
Malone At A Glance 2012-present Oklahoma State Responsibilities TBA 2010-11 Tulsa Secondary/Recruiting Coord. 2006-09 Texas A&M Corners/Safeties 2005 North Texas Defensive Backs/Special Teams 2004 Western Michigan Cornerbacks/Special Teams 2003 North Dakota State Wide Receivers 2003 Detroit Lions Minority Coaching Fellowship
Bowl Games As A Coach 2011 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Tulsa) 2010 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl (Tulsa) 2009 Independence Bowl (Texas A&M) 2007 Alamo Bowl (Texas A&M) 2006 Holiday Bowl (Texas A&M)
