STANFORD, Calif. - Diron Reynolds has been named Stanford’s defensive line coach, as announced Friday by Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw.
“We are very excited to have Diron return to Stanford,” said Shaw. “Not only did he work well with Coach Hart a year ago, he is well-versed in our scheme and brings a unique blend of college and NFL experience.”
Reynolds succeeds Randy Hart, who recently announced his retirement following 46 seasons as a college coach. Reynolds served as a defensive assistant under Hart during the 2014 season, when the Cardinal ranked third nationally in total defense and tied for fifth among FBS squads by registering 46.0 sacks.
Reynolds’ pedigree includes more than a decade of coaching in the NFL ranks with Indianapolis, Miami and Minnesota. He most recently was the defensive line coach at Oklahoma in 2015, helping lead the Sooners to the College Football Playoff and an 11-2 record.
As the assistant defensive line coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2009-13, Reynolds helped tutor a group that led the league in sacks with 48.0 in 2009 and tied for the NFL lead with 50.0 in 2011.
During his time with the Vikings, Reynolds helped coach Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, who led the NFL with a career-high 22.0 sacks in 2011 and ranked second in the league with 14.5 sacks in 2009.
Reynolds spent one season as defensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins in 2007, where his pupils included defensive end Jason Taylor.
Reynolds began his NFL tenure working for head coach Tony Dungy and the Indianapolis Colts (2002-06), earning a Super Bowl XLI ring following the 2006 season.
He served as a quality control coach in Indianapolis, but benefitted greatly from his time with defensive line coach John Teerlinck, who tutored a pair of noted pass rushers in defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.
Prior to entering the NFL ranks, Reynolds spent one year coaching defensive tackles at Indiana in 2001.
His first collegiate coaching experience came at his alma mater, Wake Forest, where he served under current Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell as a graduate assistant in 1997-98 and outside linebackers coach from 1999-2000.
Reynolds earned four letters as a linebacker and special teams contributor at Wake Forest from 1990-93, graduating in 1994 with a degree in communication. He also earned a master’s degree in liberal studies from Wake Forest in 1999.
Reynolds began his coaching career in 1995 at Brookland-Cayce High School (S.C.) where he worked as an assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach.
