Slippery Rock University Athletics

QUICK BIO
Shawn Lutz was named the 16th head coach in SRU football history on Dec. 18, 2015 after spending 20 years as an assistant coach at The Rock. In the eight seasons SRU has played since he was named head coach, Lutz has guided the program to five PSAC West titles, six trips to the NCAA Division II Playoffs and an overall record of 82-21, the best in the PSAC over that stretch.
 
Lutz is a three-time PSAC West Coach of the Year and was named the 2019 Don Hansen Football Gazette Division II National Coach of the Year. Slippery Rock has made two trips to the national semifinals under Lutz’s guidance in 2019 and 2023.
 
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• 82-21 as a head coach (.796 winning percentage)
• Ranks 10th among active head coaches across all divisions of the NCAA, and third in Division II, in winning percentage (minimum 100 games coached)
• Averaging 10.3 wins per season as head coach
• Averaging 11.2. wins per season over the last six seasons (2018-24)
• 2018, 2019 and 2023 PSAC West Coach of the Year
• 2019 Don Hansen Gazette DII National Coach of the Year
• PSAC West Champions in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
• NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• NCAA Quarterfinals in 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024
• NCAA Semifinals in 2019, 2024
• Harlon Hill Trophy Winner (Roland Rivers III) in 2019
• Three Campbell Trophy Finalists (Marcus Martin, Henry Litwin, Brayden Long)
• Needed just 100 games at The Rock to reach 80 wins. Only one other head coach had more wins in their first 100 games at a PSAC school
• Only two other coaches in PSAC history have a higher overall career winning percentage among those who have coached at least 100 games
• 20 seasons as an assistant coach at SRU
• Member of SRU coaching staff for 13 PSAC West titles and seven PSAC titles
• Former tight end at West Virginia University
 
SEASON-BY-SEASON BREAKDOWN
2024
• SRU went 12-2 overall for its ninth 10-win season in program history
• SRU made its sixth straight NCAA Playoff Appearance, the second-longest active streak in DII
• Won Super Region 1 with playoff victories over New Haven, Kutztown and California to advance to the national semifinals before losing to eventual national champions Ferris State
• Ranked third in the year-end AFCA Top 25 poll
• The Rock was 5-1 in the PSAC West, earning a winning record in conference competition for a seventh consecutive season
• Quarterback Brayden Long named a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, finishing sixth in the voting, as well as being a Campbell Trophy finalist
• Defensive End Todd Hill named PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year
• SRU landed 12 athletes on the All-PSAC West Team including six first team honorees
• Hill was named a national Upshaw Award finalist, finishing third in the voting
• Hill, offensive tackle Joe Cooper and cornerback Josh Stokes were named AP All-Americans, extending SRU's streak with an AP All-American to nine straight seasons
• A total of six different players earned at least one All-America recognition
• Four SRU players were named to Academic All-America honors including Long who earned Academic All-America Team Member of the Year recognition

2023
• SRU went 12-2 overall for its eighth 10-win season in program history
• SRU won its fifth straight PSAC West title with 7-0 PSAC West record
• SRU made its fifth straight NCAA Playoff Appearance, the second-longest active streak in DII
• SRU won two games in the NCAA Playoffs, first defeating East Stroudsburg at home in the opening round and then traveling to the No. 1 seed in Super Region One and defeating Tiffin in the second round.
• SRU was one of only 12 teams to be ranked in every DII national poll of the 2023 season
• SRU led the PSAC West with 13 All-PSAC honorees
• Quarterback Brayden Long was named the PSAC West and Super Region One Offensive Player of the Year
• WR Kyle Sheets, OL Yuriy Hryckowian and DB Josh Stokes were named AP All-Americans, extending SRU's streak with an AP All-American to eighth straight seasons
• Hryckowian was named a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award and finished third in the voting
• Long was named a national finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy and finished fifth in the voting
• A total of seven different players earned at least one All-America recognition
• Four SRU players were named to Academic All-America honors

2022
• SRU went 10-3 overall for its seventh 10-win season in program history
• SRU won its fourth straight PSAC West title with 6-1 PSAC West record
• SRU made its fourth straight NCAA Playoff Appearance, the third-longest active streak in DII
• SRU went 530 miles on the road and defeated No. 3 seed Assumption in the opening round of the NCAA Playoffs
• SRU was one of only 12 teams to be ranked in every DII national poll of the 2022 season
• SRU led the PSAC West with 14 All-PSAC honorees
• Defensive end D.J. Adediwura was named the Super Region One Defensive Player of the Year
• Adediwura was named a first team AP All-American, extending SRU's streak with an AP All-American to seven straight seasons
• Adediwura was named a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award
• QB Noah Grover was named to Academic All-America honors, becoming the first SRU QB to earn the award

2021
• SRU went 9-3 for a 12th straight winning season
• SRU won third straight PSAC West title with 6-1 PSAC West record
• SRU made third straight NCAA Playoff appearance (No. 6 seed)
• SRU finished the year ranked No. 21 in final Division II rankings
• SRU had 10 All-PSAC honorees
• SRU had five players earn All-America honors
• Henry Litwin named Harlon Hill Trophy finalist
• Henry Litwin named only DII Campbell Trophy finalist
• Henry Litwin named Academic All-America of the Year
• Chad Kuhn named Gene Upshaw Award finalist

2020
• SRU did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19

2019
• SRU went 13-1 for the best record in program history
• SRU won second straight PSAC West title with 7-0 record
• SRU won outright PSAC title and earned No. 1 seed in playoffs
• SRU finished regular season with a perfect 11-0 record
• SRU advanced to and hosted the NCAA Division II Semifinals
• SRU finished the year ranked No. 6 in final Division II rankings
• Roland Rivers III named Harlon Hill Trophy winner as DII Player of the Year, becoming the first SRU player to ever win the award
• Roland Rivers III named Maxwell Club Brian Westbrook Award winner
• Chris Larsen named Gene Upshaw Award finalists
• Henry Litwin shattered single-season receiving records
• Roland Rivers III shattered single-season passing records
• SRU had 14 players named to All-PSAC honors
• SRU had five players named All-Americans
• Lutz was named PSAC West Coach of the Year
• Lutz was named DII National Coach of the Year by Don Hansen Football Gazette

2018
• SRU went 11-3 for the 10th straight winning season
• SRU won the PSAC West with a perfect 7-0 record
• SRU qualified for NCAA Playoffs as No. 7 seed
• SRU reached national quarterfinals after winning two road playoff games, including knocking off undefeated No. 2 seed LIU Post on the road
• SRU finished the year ranked No. 12 in final DII rankings
• SRU had 10 players named to All-PSAC honors
• SRU had five players named to All-America honors
• Wes Hills broke single-season rushing record
• Wes Hills signed by Detroit Lions and played in 2019 NFL season
• Lutz was named PSAC West Coach of the Year

2017
• SRU went 8-3 for its ninth straight winning season
• SRU ranked fifth in nation in passing offense (335.4 ypg) and 11th in scoring (40.2 ppg)
• SRU had 10 players named to All-PSAC honors
• SRU had three All-Americans
• SRU had three players reach at least an NFL minicamp, including Marcus Martin, Ian Park and Marcus Johnson
• Marcus Martin set all-time NCAA sack record for all divisions
• Marcus Martin named PSAC Defensive Player of the Year for third straight year
• Marcus Martin named Gene Upshaw DII Lineman of the Year winner
• Marcus Martin named only DII finalist for Campbell Trophy

2016
• Lutz’ first season as head coach
• SRU went 7-4 in a season plagued by injuries to key players
• SRU posted its eighth straight winning season
• SRU ranked sixth in the nation in rush defense (82.5 ypg) and ninth in interceptions (21)
• SRU had eight players earn All-PSAC honors
• Marcus Martin named PSAC Defensive Player of the Year
• One player (Martin) named All-America

THE ROCK IN THE CLASSROOM
• Slippery Rock has had three national finalists for the William Campbell Trophy (academic Heisman) under Lutz with Marcus Martin in 2017, Henry Litwin in 2021 and Brayden Long in 2024
• No other school in the PSAC has ever had a Campbell Trophy finalist
• SRU is one of only eight schools in DII with multiple Campbell finalists
• Litwin became the first SRU athlete in any sport and the first football player from any PSAC school to be named the CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year award winner in 2021
• SRU has had 17 CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans and 31 Academic All-District honorees during Lutz’ head coaching tenure
• Long was named the 2024 CSC Division II Football Academic All-America Team Member of the Year
• SRU has had six PSAC Fall Top 10 honorees during Lutz’ head coaching tenure

CAREER PATH
•  Lutz began his coaching career as graduate assistant at SRU in 1996
•  Worked with tight ends and offensive linemen in early career
•  Spent 10 seasons as defensive line coach at SRU
•  Took over as defensive coordinator at SRU in 2006
•  Served as defensive coordinator until being named head coach in 2015
•  As an assistant, coached nine defensive linemen to All-America honors
•  Coached a defense that routinely ranked in the top 15 in Division II in multiple categories
•  Also served as recruiting coordinator early in career

COACHING TIMELINE
• 1996-97: Slippery Rock (graduate assistant – offensive linemen)
•  1998: Slippery Rock (assistant coach - tight ends/tackles)
•  1999-09: Slippery Rock (assistant coach – defensive line)
•  2006-12: Slippery Rock (defensive coordinator / defensive line)
•  2012-15: Slippery Rock (associate head coach / defensive coordinator)
•  2015-Present: Slippery Rock (head coach)

PLAYING CAREER
•  Lettered three years in football at West Virginia University
•  Played tight end on two Bowl teams
•  Member of Big East title team that played in the Sugar Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 6 in Division I

PERSONAL
• Native of Massillon, Ohio
•  Earned undergraduate degree in secondary education/social studies from WVU in 1996
•  Earned master’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock in 2003
•  Family includes wife, April, and their six combined children: Logan, Gavin, Easton, Gianna, Jason and Ryan
•  Oldest son Logan played tight end at Duquesne University.
•  Middle son Gavin is currently a defensive back on the SRU football team.

HEAD COACHING RECORD

Year	W	L	Win %	NOTES
2016	7	4	.636
2017	8	3	.727
2018	11	3	.786	PSAC West Champions, NCAA Quarterfinals
2019	13	1	.929	PSAC West Champions, PSAC Champions, NCAA Semifinals
2020	Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021	9	3	.750	PSAC West Champions, NCAA 1st Round
2022	10	3	.769	PSAC West co-Champions, NCAA 2nd Round
2023	12	2	.857	PSAC West Champions, NCAA 3rd Round
2024	12	2	.857	NCAA Semifinals
2025	6	4	.600	-
Career	88	25	.779	-