The University of Akron Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach | Defensive Coordinator | Tackles
- Email:
- stroud@uakron.edu
- Phone:
- (330) 972-7466
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Todd Stroud is in his seventh season on the Akron staff and his first as the Zips’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator. For the second time during his UA tenure, he has expanded his duties under Terry Bowden’s leadership. Stroud was previously the Zips’ assistant head coach, defensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator.
Throughout his career, Stroud has tutored numerous NFL Draft selections and developed nationwide recruiting ties. During the 2006 NFL Draft, three of Stroud’s North Carolina State linemen– Mario Williams, Manny Lawson, and John McCargo– who led the nation in total defense, were first round selections. Williams was the No. 1 overall pick.
Additionally, he served 20-plus seasons in a role as a strength coach and served as the program’s director of strength and conditioning for four seasons (2012-15).
In 2017, the Zips (7-7 overall, 6-2 MAC) soared to first place in the MAC East with huge victories over Ohio and Kent State to claim the division title and a spot in the MAC Championship game for the second time in program history and first time since 2005. Akron also advanced to an FBS bowl for the second time in three years, another program first. The Zips won their third consecutive Wagon Wheel (and fourth in last five years) over rival Kent State.
In the final NCAA rankings, Akron was No. 7 in interceptions (19), No. 8 in defensive touchdowns (4), No. 19 in turnover margin (0.71), and No. 36 in red zone defense (0.800). Individually, junior DB Jordan George was No. 11 in interceptions (5), while junior LB Ulysees Gilbert III was ranked No. 15 in total tackles (10.0).
Three Zips earned All-MAC recognition with junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III capturing first-team honors for the second consecutive year. Sophomore defensive back Alvin Davis, Jr., garnered second-team All-MAC honors, while redshirt junior defensive end Jamal Davis II was a third-team All-MAC honoree. Junior linebacker Nathan Bischof and sophomore linebacker John Lako earned Academic All-MAC accolades.
In 2016, UA recorded a 5-7 overall record, finishing just one play away from back-to-back bowl appearances. The Zips won their second consecutive Wagon Wheel over rival Kent State. The defense recorded 16 sacks, eight interceptions, and six fumble recoveries.
Senior defensive end Daumantas Venckus was awarded Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MAC honors. Venckus was nationally ranked in the final NCAA stats– No. 26 in fumbles recovered (2). In the spring, defensive lineman Jamal Marcus (Cleveland) signed a rookie free agent contract.
In 2015, the Zips’ defense dominated MAC play. Akron’s rushing defense (92.9) led the conference while ranking third nationally. The Zips’ front four, nicknamed the Fantastic Four, were a force of strength, highlighted by second-team All-MAC honoree and senior nose tackle Cody Grice, a starter in every game of his collegiate career (a school record 49 starts). Grice was a second-team All-MAC pick, while senior lineman Rodney Coe and junior lineman Jamal Marcus were third-team All-MAC selections.
The 2014 defensive line was a dominating force in the MAC, helping UA finish the season ranked in the top-40 nationally in eight defensive categories. Two linemen earned All-MAC accolades, including junior nose tackle Cody Grice earning first-team All-MAC and senior defensive lineman Nordly Capi earning second-team honors. Grice ranked 10th nationally with three fumble recoveries.
In all, the defensive line tallied 194 tackles (108 solo), 13.0 sacks, 34.5 tackles for a loss, four recovered fumbles and three forced fumbles.
During the summer, three defensive players from the 2014 squad signed with NFL teams, including defensive linemen Nordly Capi (Jacksonville) and Nmesoma Okafor (Cincinnati).
In 2013, the defensive line saw a resurgence as one of the top groups in the Mid-American Conference. As a group, the Zips finished 39th in the nation in sacks per game (2.33), while senior Nico Caponi, a third-team All-MAC honoree, ranked 39th in the nation with 0.7 sacks per game. In all, the Akron defensive line accounted for 37.5 tackles for a loss, 21.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
In 2012, Caponi earned Academic Honorable Mention from the MAC after posting 29 tackles and two sacks. Defensive end J.D. Griggs signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prior to his current stint at UA, Stroud spent two years at Colorado State where he coached the defensive line in 2011, and was the tight ends/fullbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in 2010.
He arrived at CSU after three seasons (2007-09) as head coach for strength and conditioning at his alma mater Florida State.
Stroud was assistant head coach/defensive line coach at NC State from 2004-06, working under then Wolfpack head coach and former Akron associate head coach Chuck Amato.
Five of his NC State players were selected in NFL drafts. Three of those linemen went in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
The 1993 Auburn team he trained and conditioned went 11-0 and finished ranked fourth in the final Associated Press poll under head coach Terry Bowden. In his six seasons at Samford (also coached by Bowden), he aided the program in reaching consecutive Division I-AA playoff appearances, including the national semifinals in 1991.
He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Florida State (1985) and a master’s degree in athletics administration from Alabama-Birmingham (1988). He started at nose guard for FSU from 1983-85 and was captain of the 1985 squad.
Stroud, 55 (born Dec. 17, 1963), and his wife Marianne have been married for 30 years. They have four children– daughters Jessica, Alexandra, and Chelsea, and son Stone.
Stroud’s Year-By-Year Coaching Experience
1986 – UCF (defensive line)
1986 – Florida State (weight room assistant)
1987-93 – Samford (defensive line | strength and conditioning)
1993 – Auburn (head coach strength and conditioning)
1994-96 – Western Alabama (head coach) (6-25 record)
1997-99 – Memphis (head coach strength and conditioning)
1999-04 – NC State (director of strength and conditioning)
2004-06 – NC State (associate head coach | defensive line)
2007-09 – Florida State (head coach strength and conditioning)
2010 – Colorado State (tight ends | fullbacks | recruiting coordinator)
2011 – Colorado State (defensive line)
2012-15 – Akron (defensive line)
2016-17 – Akron (assistant head coach | defensive line)
2018 to present – Akron (associate head coach | defensive coordinator | tackles)
