Fresno State Football

Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer headed back to Canada

Fresno State defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer is returning to the Canadian Football League after one season with the Bulldogs. Steinauer has accepted a position as assistant head coach with the Hamiltton Tiger-Cats. Under his direction, Fresno State improved to second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring and total defense last season, up from seventh and sixth.
Fresno State defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer is returning to the Canadian Football League after one season with the Bulldogs. Steinauer has accepted a position as assistant head coach with the Hamiltton Tiger-Cats. Under his direction, Fresno State improved to second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring and total defense last season, up from seventh and sixth. ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

Fresno State defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer, who helped engineer one of the biggest turnarounds in college football history, is leaving after one season with the Bulldogs to return to the Canadian Football League.

Steinauer announced the move on Twitter on Thursday morning, thanking Bulldogs fans. He has accepted a position as assistant head coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“How are you doing Red Wave, Orlondo Steinauer here, your defensive coordinator. I just want to take this time to announce to you that I will be returning to the CFL next season. More importantly than that, I would like to thank all the supporters, the alumni, the administration, the community, everybody involved with Fresno State football. Thank you for accepting me and my family. We had a special season. It was exciting. I feel like we brought the pride and tradition back and obviously Jeff Tedford being here and the whole staff coming back we look forward to great things for Bulldog football,” Steinauer said.

Tedford was not immediately available. Fresno State will start spring practices on March 12.

The Bulldogs last season ranked second in the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense and total defense, allowing 17.9 points and 320.6 points per game, and Steinauer was one of 56 nominees for the Frank Broyles Award that honors the top assistant in college football. In 2016 in the Mountain West, Fresno State was seventh (30.9 ppg) and sixth (415.1 ypg).

Robert Kuwada: @rkuwada

This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer headed back to Canada."

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