might look like it, but 30 years (in Studesville's case), after playing Defensive Back in College:
Coaching career
Studesville began his coaching career in 1991 being the Assistant Graduate Coach for the University of Arizona. In 1992 Studesville became the video coordinator for the University of North Carolina where he would work with the secondary coach until the end of the 1993 season. in 1994 Studesville became the defensive coordinator for Wingate University where his defense would allow only 15.7 points a game and help the bulldogs have an 8-2 record in the regular season and make it to the third round of the playoffs. In 1995, Studesville became the defensive coordinator for Kent State University where he would remain the defensive coordinator until the end of the 1996 season. In 1997, Studesville became an NFL coach for the
Chicago Bears as a quality control coach. He would remain in Chicago until the end of the 2000 season.
2001-2003
In 2001, Studesville was hired as the
New York Giants running backs coach. There, he guided running back
Tiki Barber to three consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons and paved the way for Barber to become one of the best offensive weapons for the Giants in the coming years. In 2002, Barber recorded 1,554 rushing yards which was not only a career high for the running back, but the second-most total in Giants franchise history.
2004–2009
After a coaching change with the Giants in 2004 he joined the
Buffalo Bills coaching staff as the running backs coach under offensive coordinator
Tom Clements. The Bills would finish the season 9-7, their last winning record until the 2014 season, by scoring 24.6 points a game, with Bills running backs 13th in the NFL in rushing.
[3] Studesville is largely given credit for the emergence of
Willis McGahee, who, after recovering from a catastrophic knee injury sustained in college, gained 1297 yards from scrimmage. In 2005, the running game was the main highlight of an otherwise stagnant team led by journeyman
Kelly Holcomb and 2nd year quarterback
J. P. Losman, as the Bills finished 5-11 while McGahee gained 1,425 yards from scrimmage.
[4] In 2006, Mularkey was fired and
Dick Jauron was brought on to replace him; Jauron would keep Studesville as the team's running backs coach under offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild. After a pedestrian year for the Bills rushing attack spearheaded by Willis McGahee and
Anthony Thomas in 2006 (the same year that Division III Coe College product
Fred Jackson was recruited to the Bills by its then-general manager and fellow alum
Marv Levy and remained on the practice squad that season), in 2007, the Bills drafted
Marshawn Lynch who gained 1299 yards in his rookie season
[5] under Studesville's tutelage. 2007 also saw Fred Jackson's call-up from the practice squad and emergence as a threat, as he played in 8 games and gained nearly 500 yards from scrimmage while maintaining a special teams role as well. 2008, under new offensive coordinator
Turk Schonert, the Bills offense experienced a renewed commitment to its running backs and Studesville pupils Lynch and Jackson combined for 2,224 yards from scrimmage.
[6] 2009 brought about an unsettled year for the Bills offense, as Turk Schonert was fired midway through training camp with former Bills quarterback and quarterbacks coach
Alex Van Pelt being appointed in his stead. Studesville's charges saw a reversal of fortunes, as Lynch experienced injuries and off-the-field troubles leading to a suspension,
[7] and Fred Jackson led the way with 1,433 yards from scrimmage as they combined for a total of 2,062 between Jackson and Lynch. Head coach Dick Jauron was fired midway through the season and replaced by interim head coach
Perry Fewell for the remainder of the season. The entire Bills staff was let go following the 2009 season.
2010–2019
In January 2010, Studesville was hired by the
Denver Broncos as the running backs coach.
[8]
On December 6, 2010, then-Broncos head coach
Josh McDaniels was fired by owner
Pat Bowlen and Studesville was named the interim head coach in his place.
[9] However, the choice of Studesville to replace McDaniels was viewed by some as a surprise. Studesville held the interim head coaching position for the final four games of the 2010 season, during which the team went 1-3, and Studesville started rookie
Tim Tebow in weeks 15-17. Studesville recorded his first win as a head coach on December 26, 2010, when the Broncos defeated the
Houston Texans 24-23. He remained on the Broncos coaching staff during the tenures of
John Fox and
Gary Kubiak.
On February 7, 2016, Studesville was part of the Broncos coaching staff that won
Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the
Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.
[10]
On January 1, 2018, Studesville was released by the Denver Broncos.
[11]
Studesville had retained his position as running backs coach under four different head coaches: Josh McDaniels, John Fox, Gary Kubiak, and Vance Joseph.
On January 17, 2018, the
Miami Dolphins hired Studesville as running backs coach.
[12] The team announced on February 8, 2019, that they were retaining Studesville as the team's running backs coach despite the firing of Adam Gase as head coach and the hiring of Brian Flores in that role.
[13] Studesville received an additional title of co-offensive coordinator on March 11, 2021.
[14]
