Marvin Sanders
Assistant Coach, Secondary
Former Nebraska defensive back and assistant coach Marvin Sanders is in his second season as the secondary coach on Bo Pelini’s Cornhusker staff. Sanders has 16 years of experience in the college ranks, including previously serving as the NU defensive backs coach in 2003.
In 2008, Sanders developed a young Nebraska secondary that helped the Huskers rank second in the Big 12 Conference in total defense. In a conference loaded that included five of the nation's top eight passing offenses, the Husker secondary rose to the occasion, ranking second in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 233.4 yards per game. Seven Husker opponents in 2008 ranked in the nation’s top 20 in passing offense.
Sanders' first opportunity as a Nebraska assistant was a memorable season for the Blackshirts. NU set a school record with 47 takeaways in 2003, keying a 10-3 season, which culminated with a trip to the Alamo Bowl. The Blackshirt defense set a school and Big 12 record with 32 interceptions and led the nation in pass efficiency defense, while finishing second in the country in scoring defense.
Following his one season with the Huskers, Sanders was an assistant for three seasons at North Carolina. In his first season at UNC, Sanders was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach and helped the Tar Heels reach the Continental Tire Bowl and post a 5-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Sanders was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in his final two seasons with the Tar Heels.
Sanders had an accomplished record as a collegiate assistant before he joined the Nebraska staff in 2003. He came to Lincoln after a two-year stint as the secondary coach on Sonny Lubick’s Colorado State staff. The Rams posted a 17-9 record during Sanders’ two seasons in Fort Collins. In 2002, CSU posted a 10-4 record and won the Mountain West title to earn a trip to the Liberty Bowl, while the Rams played in the New Orleans Bowl in 2001.
Before his two seasons at CSU, Sanders spent one season at New Mexico State, where he coached defensive ends and outside linebackers for Head Coach Tony Samuel.
Sanders’ first stint as an assistant coach in the state of Nebraska came from 1995 to 1999 when he spent five seasons on Pat Behrns’ staff at Nebraska-Omaha. Sanders was the Mavericks’ secondary coach for all five seasons and was the team's defensive coordinator for his final three years in Omaha. UNO won two North Central Conference titles and appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs twice during Sanders’ tenure. The UNO defense finished eighth nationally against the run in 1998 and set the school single-season sack record in 1999.
A native of Markham, Ill., a Chicago suburb, Sanders was the secondary coach at Minnesota-Morris in 1994, where he also served as sports information director. Sanders coached at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1992 and 1993.
Sanders earned three letters as a defensive back at Nebraska from 1987 to 1989, playing for Tom Osborne and secondary coach George Darlington. Sanders started the first seven games of his senior season at free safety, before suffering a shoulder injury. Sanders finished 1989 with 26 tackles and two interceptions in nine games and earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight honors for the Fiesta Bowl squad.
Sanders received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1990. He is married to the former Susan M. Hyland of Omaha. They have a daughter, Chandler Marie, and a son, Payton.
