General

Arkansas State University Names Steve Roberts to Serve as Head Football Coach: Former Northwestern State and South Arkansas leader takes over the Indians

courtesy of ASU sports information - Gina Bowman, Director

JONESBORO, ARK. Steve Roberts, who led Northwestern (La.) State University to an 8-4 record and a national ranking in Division I-AA in 2001, will return to his home state of Arkansas to serve as the head football coach at Arkansas State University.

The 37-year-old Roberts, who is ASUs 26th head football coach, was introduced by new Director of Athletics Paul Griffin Friday morning at an announcement ceremony at the Fowler Center rotunda on the ASU campus.

A native of Little Rock, Roberts family and a host of friends around the state were on hand for the announcement.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to be at Arkansas State," said Roberts. "I am looking forward to working with Paul Griffin and the people at ASU and hoping to fulfill the vision we all share to help the football program to grow, not only on and off the field, but in the classroom."

"It feels good to come home to Arkansas. My wife and I are both from Arkansas and our daughter was born in Arkansas. Its really special to be able to come back to your home to do a job you love. I feel very fortunate."

Roberts has spent the last two seasons at NSU where he and his staff and team took on a tough schedule which included a 27-24 overtime upset at Texas Christian. While at NSU, which is located in Natchitoches, Roberts was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award.

"We are very proud to have Steve Roberts as the head football coach at Arkansas State," said Griffin. "We wanted to identify an individual with integrity, great character, and the energy and head-coaching experience to take a football program and turn it into a successful one. Steve Roberts has these credentials."

"Also, equally important, Steve knows Arkansas. He went to school and coached in the state of Arkansas. His family lives in Arkansas and he is known in the states sports community. He is a good fit for our university and our community."

He took his team to the NCAA I-AA playoffs before losing, 28-19, to No.1-ranked Montana. The Demons produced 11 All-Southland Conference picks, and his team was nationally ranked in several offensive, defensive and special teams categories. His first team in 2000 finished the year with a 6-5 record.

"Paul Griffin has moved quickly and successfully to identify a head coach who has experience in that capacity," commented Dr. Les Wyatt, ASU President. "I am pleased that he has found a quality individual who brings many assets to Arkansas State, including familiarity with his native state of Arkansas."

Prior to going to NSU, Roberts served as the head coach and defensive coordinator at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia from 1994-99.

While there, his 1997 team won the Gulf South Championship, earning him Gulf South Coach of the Year honors. The Muleriders finished with a cumulative record of 26-5 from 1997-99, including 9-1 in 1999, 8-2 in 1998 and 9-2 in 1997.

During that span, his teams enjoyed top conference rankings in scoring offense, scoring defense, total offense and total defense.

At SAU, he also served as the defensive secondary coach and recruiting coordinator from 1990-94 before being named head coach. Academically, his program ranked first in Academic Achievements in the Gulf South Conference three seasons.

Roberts graduated from Robinson High School in Little Rock. A 1987 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, Roberts received his masters from SAU in 1989. He and his wife, Sherri, have one daughterAbby (7).