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MOSCOW, Idaho – After a thorough and national search, the Idaho Vandal Football program and Head Coach Thomas Ford Jr. have announced the hiring of Lee Stalker as the team’s new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. The hire was finalized on Tuesday.
Stalker will be formally introduced along with new offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker at a press conference in the P1FCU Kibbie Dome on a later date. The time and date of the press conference will be made public as it becomes available.
“I’m fired up to have Coach Stalker join the Vandal family,” Ford stated. “He’s a brilliant defensive mind who has spent the last three years at Iowa State – a place that is known for its defensive excellence. In his last season as a play caller at Valdosta State, the defense only gave up 16 points a game in a very tough conference. He brings a scheme that is multiple, allowing opportunities for a lot of different players to contribute, and will have carryover with a lot of the things we did well on defense in 2025. He is an excellent teacher, evaluator of talent, and will bring an exciting brand of defense to Moscow!”
Stalker joins the Vandals with nearly a decade and a half of coaching experience. Most recently, he had a three-year stint at Iowa State, where he worked coaching the defense. In his three years, the Cyclones had five defensive players who received All-Big XII accolades, and seven student-athletes received Academic All-Conference selections.
In 2025, the Cyclones only allowed 20 points per contest, ranking 26th in all FBS. They also finished with a top 50 rush defense, only giving up 138 yards per game. The season prior, Iowa State finished with an 11-3 record – the best in Cyclone Football history – ranked 15th in the nation and appeared in the Big XII championship game as well as the Pop Tarts Bowl. The Cyclone defense led the conference in pass defense (161 ypg) and ranked fourth in scoring defense (21 ppg).
During his first year in Ames, Iowa State was the most improved team in FBS, increasing its win total by five from 2022 to 2023. The Cyclones were second in the Big XII in total defense (363 ypg) and rush defense (134 ypg), only giving up 22 points per game en route to a berth in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
“I am extremely excited to accept this position at the University of Idaho and join Coach Ford and the Vandal Family,” Stalker said. “I want to thank Coach Ford for his confidence in me, and I’m eager to make an immediate impact leading the Vandals’ defense. My family and I look forward to the transition to Moscow.”
Before his time in Ames, Stalker spent two seasons at his alma mater, Kent State. While there, he coached the outside linebackers in 2021 and was the linebackers coach in 2022. In his first year with the Flashes, Kent State won the MAC East championship and appeared in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. His squad ranked in the top five in FBS with a +13-turnover margin, and they were in the top 10 in takeaway margin at +25.
From 2019-2020, Stalker was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Valdosta State. During his stay in Georgia, VSU was the best team in a very good Division II conference, winning the Gulf South Conference championship with a 10-1 (8-0) record. His defense was the No. 1-ranked defense in the GSC and only allowed 18 points per game.
He has extensive experience, developing recruiting relationships in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. He’s also built
As a player at Kent State, he played defensive line and was a three-year letter winner for the Flashes and was named team captain in 2011. He graduated from Kent State in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture & Environmental Design, minoring in Sports Administration.
STALKER COACHING TIMELINE
2026: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach | Idaho
2023-25: Assistant Defensive Line Coach, Assistant Linebackers Coach, Assistant Director of Player Personnel | Iowa State
2021-22: Outside Linebackers Coach, Linebackers Coach | Kent State
2019-20: Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers Coach | Valdosta State
2014-18: Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach | Tiffin University
2013: Linebackers Coach | Oberlin College
2012: Assistant Coach | Butler High School
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