Sammy Lawanson

Biography

Sammy Lawanson is in his first year as defensive coorindator and safeties coach at Cal Poly. Lawanson brings over 25 years of coaching experience at the FBS, FCS, professional, and high school levels and returns for his second stint at Cal Poly. He started his coaching career as running backs coach of the Mustangs in 1999. He most recently spent three years (2022-24) as the co-defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach at Bowling Green. During Lawanson's first season as co-defensive coordinator in 2023, the Falcons led the nation in takeaways (28), and finished No. 4 in the nation with 17 interceptions, No. 7 with 11 fumbles recovered, No. 12 in passing yards allowed (179.8) and No. 31 in the nation with 33 sacks. The Falcons also were ranked No. 25 nationally in total defense (326.1) and had the nation's sixth-best improvement on defense in the nation at 93.5 yards per game compared to 2022. As the outside linebackers coach Lawanson oversaw third-team All-MAC linebacker Cashius Howell's monster season. Howell finished No. 1 in the MAC and No. 16 in the nation with 9.5 sacks. During his first year at BGSU in 2022, Lawanson oversaw an outside linebackers unit that notched 11 sacks alone, which was more than one FBS squad had as a team (Colorado). Headlining the group was Demetrius Hardamon who notched six sacks, which ranked No. 8 in the MAC overall and No. 3 among linebackers. Prior to Bowling Green, Lawanson spent two years at Northern Arizona. Under Lawanson at NAU, An