Grand Valley State head football coach Scott Wooster announced the hiring of former Laker great Jacob Studdard to coach running backs and coordinate special teams for the Lakers. Studdard most recently coached the safeties and coordinated special teams play at Hope College. 
 
"I am extremely excited to welcome back Jacob Studdard to be our special teams coordinator and running back coach," said Wooster. "Coach Studdard was an outstanding player for GVSU and is growing into an even better coach.  The combination of his love of GVSU Football, his energy, his ability to connect and build relationships, and his hunger to grow as a football coach will be tremendous addition in our journey," added Wooster.  
 
A native of Southfield, Michigan, Studdard served as a defensive graduate assistant coach at Grand Valley State from 2019 - 2021. He also assisted on special teams as GVSU posted a 10-2 overall record and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2021.

As a college student-athlete, Studdard played in 51 games for Grand Valley State from 2015 to 2018 after transferring from Youngstown State University (Ohio). The defensive back totaled 137 tackles and four interceptions during his career. Studdard helped the Lakers go 42-9 during his career with NCAA playoff appearances in 2015, 2016 and 2018, winning the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 2016.Studdard was named a First-Team All-GLIAC defensive back in 2018 after registering 36 tackles, three interceptions and 13 pass breakups. He tallied 44 stops and picked off a pass in 2017. 
 
"I am excited to be back at Grand Valley State as a part of a program that was so influential on my life as a player and a person," said Studdard. "The program and culture at GVSU exemplify what college football is all about and I am looking forward to working with an outstanding coaching staff and building relationships with our student-athletes that will last a lifetime," added Studdard.  

Studdard holds a master's degree in communication from GVSU and a bachelor's degree in communication studies from GVSU.