Steve Gardiner enters his first year as the linebacker coach for the Lakers. Gardiner most recently completed his second year at Gardner-Webb 2025 as the linebacker/special team's coach. GWU finished the 2025 season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference.
Gardiner mentored Cahari Haynes who earned OVC/Big South honors and led Gardner-Webb in tackles with 78, while also recording 11.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 quarterback sacks.
Prior to Gardner-Webb, Gardiner was at Tiffin in 2023 as the special team's coordinator and linebacker's coach. Gardiner mentored three All-GMAC performers in his inaugural season with the Dragons. Marshawn Mankins was a First-Team All-GMAC selection, while Zeke Brown and Barry Brown each earned Second-Team All-GMAC honors.
""As we re-structured the staff after this season, we looked at adding the fourth coach on defense to get Coach Louis the opportunity to oversee the entire defense and work with all thee levels of the defense," said Wooster. "When we decided that was the move, it was clear that Coach Gardiner was the guy to lead the linebacking unit. His experiences as a LB and GA at MSU, playing and coaching in one of the best defenses in the Big Ten, then adding both LB and special teams experience in the GLIAC, GMAC, and FCS make him the perfect fit for our staff. The special teams he led and coordinated were sound and aggressive creating great field position. Coach Gardiner will make an immediate impact and add massive value for GVSU Football as a mentor, coach, recruiter, and coordinator.
The Tiffin defense finished first in the GMAC and eighth in the nation in scoring defense and finished first in the nation in turnovers gained. The Dragon defense led the conference in total defense, passing defense and passing efficiency defense.
Tiffin special teams finished the regular season ranked first in the nation in kickoff return defense under Gardiner. In addition, the Dragon special teams' finished first in the GMAC in punt returns and kickoff return defense, second in the GMAC in punt return defense and kickoff returns.
Gardiner was with the Wayne State University football staff as linebackers coach in the spring of 2021 and mentored two All-GLIAC performers in his inaugural season with the Warriors. Julius Wilkerson finished second in the GLIAC with 104 tackles to earn First-Team All-GLIAC recognition, while Brandon Tuck-Hayden finished third in the GLIAC in tackles per game (9.3) and received Honorable Mention All-GLIAC accolades. In 2022, Wilkerson and Matt Buschman earned All-GLIAC honors. Wilkerson was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman) by the National Football Foundation. In addition, Wilkerson was a national finalist for the John Wooden Citizenship Cup after being tabbed as the GLIAC's Jack H. McAvoy Award winner, which is presented annually to a GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
Gardiner spent six seasons with the Michigan State Spartans. He began as a graduate assistant coach with the running backs in 2014, followed by two seasons (2015 and 2016) as a graduate assistant coach with the linebackers. Gardiner also helped coordinate special teams all three years as a graduate assistant. He spent his final three years (2017-18-19) in East Lansing as a defensive analyst.
During his time with MSU, the Spartans were the Big Ten Champions (2015) and participated in the College Football Playoffs. The year before (2014), Michigan State was seventh nationally in scoring offense and 11th in total offense. In his three years as a defensive analyst, MSU was top-20 nationally in total defense all three seasons, including twice in the top 10.
Gardiner began his coaching career in 2013 as a graduate assistant working with linebackers and safeties at Grand Valley State. GVSU went 12-3 and advanced to the national semifinals.
A four-year letterwinner under head coach Mark Dantonio, Gardiner recorded 43 tackles in 44 career games for the Spartans from 2009-12. He registered a career-high 21 tackles during MSU's Big Ten Championship season in 2010, including 13 on special teams. Gardiner tallied 17 stops in 13 games, including three starts, in 2011 as MSU tied a then-school record with 11 victories and defeated No. 18 Georgia in the Outback Bowl.
He received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Package Engineering from Michigan State University in 2012, and a Master's of Science in Kinesiology in 2016 from Michigan State University.
