Football
- Title:
- Outside Linebackers Coach
- Email:
- football@kent.edu
- Phone:
- 330-672-3350
 Stalker joined Coach Sean Lewis' staff as the outside linebacker’s coach in May of 2021 and currently serves as the Linebackers Coach for the Golden Flashes.
Stalker was promoted to his current position following the 2021 MAC East championship season and a Famous Idaho Potato bowl appearance.
The 2021 season went well for Stalker, as he helped engineer a breakout season for linebacker A.J. Musolino. Musolino led the team in tackles for loss with 10.5 and was second in total tackles with 92. He also recorded three sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery, showing he could make a difference in a multitude of ways. Linebacker Mandela Lawrence-Burke also made an impact under Stalker, ranking third on the team with 85 total tackles. Lawrence-Burke also recorded three tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.
Stalker returns to Kent State where he was a three-year letter winner and two-year starter for the Golden Flashes from 2007-2011. He was voted team captain for his senior season and was nominated for the national Burlsworth Trophy; an award given annually to the best college football player who started his career as a walk-on.
He rejoins the Flashes after serving as the defensive coordinator for Division-II power Valdosta State University. In 2019, Valdosta State’s defense was ranked atop the Gulf South Conference – one of Division II’s most competitive leagues - en route to an undefeated conference championship (8-0) and a berth in the NCAA playoffs for the Blazers. Following the season Stalker saw three of his defensive players be selected All-Region and four selected All-Conference.
Stalker’s defense ranked 23rd nationally and atop the GSC in scoring defense allowing just 18.5 points per game. In addition, the defense ranked 32nd nationally in total defense allowing just 311 yards per game and held teams to a 111.71 passing efficiency for 33rd nationally out of 166 NCAA Division II programs. The defense finished ranked 40th in pass defense allowing 187 yards per game and held teams to 124 yards per game on the ground good for 44th nationally.
Prior to his success at Valdosta State, Stalker spent five seasons at Tiffin University, serving as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. He helped rebuild the Tiffin program and reach its highest American Football Coaches Association ranking in 2018 at No. 15. In his last three seasons with Tiffin, he aided in three consecutive winning seasons including the program’s first since 2006.
In 2017, the Dragon’s defense led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in tackles for loss (8.7 per game) and sacks (3.0 per game), ranking 8th and 19th nationally in all of Division II. In addition, the defense ranked 20th in third down conversions (31%) and held opposing offenses to convert only 30% of their fourth downs ranking them 14th nationally. Stalker’s mentorship made drastic improvements to the Dragon’s defensive line unit as he took over in 2014 and developed a group who would go on to average twenty sacks and forty tackles for loss per season. During that time, he mentored eight All-Conference selections, including Willie Mays who went on to play for the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
After beginning his coaching career in 2012 at his alma mater Butler High School (Butler, Pennsylvania), he then spent the 2013 season at Oberlin College where he served as the linebacker’s coach and head strength coach for the Yeomen. During that lone season he mentored two All-Conference selections.
Lee and his wife Tricia have a daughter, Kaia and a son, Tatum. Â
Lee Stalker’s Coaching Timeline:
2022: Linebackers, Kent State
2021: Outside Linebackers, Kent State
2019-20: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers, Valdosta State
2018: Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line, Tiffin
2014-17: Defensive Line, Tiffin
2013: Linebackers, Oberlin
2012: Defensive Line, Butler High School
