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Wayne State University Athletics

Scott Kazmierski 2018 head shot

Scott Kazmierski

Updated January 6, 2022
  • Completed his 18th year at WSU in November of 2021
  • Tutored 70 Academic All-GLIAC selections
  • Mentored 25 All-GLIAC honorees (2004-2021)
  • Coached three CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients

Scott Kazmierski concluded his 18th year on the Wayne State football coaching staff in November of 2021 and his 17th as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.

He joined the Warrior football program in the spring of 2004 as running backs coach and moved to his current position in June of 2005.  He added responsibilities as co-defensive coordinator and defensive running game coordinator in the spring of 2017.

During his WSU tenure, Kazmierski has mentored 70 Academic All-GLIAC selections, 25 All-GLIAC honorees, three CoSIDA Academic All-District recipients, three all-region selections, and one All-American (Greg Hasse in 2011).

In 2021, Kazmierski mentored two Honorable Mention All-GLIAC performers in Jalen Lewis and Arnold Saidov.  Lewis, who served as a team captain in 2021, started all eight games played, while Saidov led all WSU defensive linemen with 30 tackles.    In addition, two student-athletes (Kane Quinlan and Jarrett Short) were named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, while six others (Damond Duncan, Jacob Edelman, Charles Ellington, Kofe Kimbrell, Jacob Mass and McKinley Underwood) earned GLIAC All-Academic honors.

Thirteen (13) defensive linemen earned Academic All-GLIAC recognition for the 2020-21 school year, including four on the Excellence Team for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

In 2019, Kazmierski mentored eight defensive linemen that earned GLIAC All-Academic recognition, including one on the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team (Justin Rau).  In addition, two of his pupils were selected to All-GLIAC teams as Jalen Lewis was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team, and Damani Green was named to the Honorable Mention All-GLIAC squad.

The Wayne State defensive line contingent helped the Warriors to a 7-1 GLIAC record by leading the conference (league games only) in sacks (29) and interceptions returned for a touchdown (4 - one by defensive end Brady Beedon) and ranking third in fewest points allowed per game (21.9).  Nationally, WSU was 18th in sacks (3.0 per game), 21st in third-down defense (30.6% - 44-of-144), and 23rd in red zone defense (69.2%).  In addition, Beedon received the Serxho Guraleci Award for his outstanding work in the weight room.

In 2018, Kazmierski helped Derrick Coleman receive Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recognition for the second time in his career.

During the 2017 campaign, Kazmierski mentored two GLIAC All-Academic Excellence selections in Blake Mazur and Rau, and one All-Academic honoree in Beedon.  In addition, Justin Hollins ranked second nationally in fumbles recovered (4).  As a team, WSU finished 19th in Division II with 12 fumbles recovered.  He guided defensive end Jake Carrizales to the team's 2017 Serxho Guraleci/Ultimate Warrior award for outstanding work in the weight room.

In 2016, he tutored four Academic All-GLIAC recipients (Beedon, Jonathan Currie, Mazur and Alex Medenbach), along with three All-GLIAC honorees in First Team recipient Dalton Binkowski and Honorable Mention Team selections Coleman and Nathan White. 

In addition, Binkowski was the Cortez Smith Award winner, which recognizes a member of the Wayne State University football program whose contributions include:  a positive approach to all aspects of the program both on and off the field; noticeable improvement to academic growth and progress, as well as skill and physical development; and finally, growing spiritually and contributing to the overall vitality of the football program.  WSU ranked 48th nationally in rushing defense (135.4 yards per game) and 46th in tackles for loss (7.3 per game).

In 2015, he guided one Honorable Mention All-GLIAC recipient (Derrick Rodgers) and three Academic All-GLIAC honorees in Coleman, Mazur and Medenbach.

He mentored two 2014 Academic All-GLIAC selections in Mazur and Medenbach, along with WSU Defensive Rookie of the Year award recipient Jake Carrizales.  Carrizales was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection, while Justice Akuezue and Sam Sillmon were both named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Team.  Carrizales was third in the GLIAC in both sacks and tackles for loss per game, while Sillmon was among the conference leaders in fumble recoveries.

As a team, WSU led the GLIAC and ranked 22nd nationally in 2014 in sacks (2.91 per game), while ranking eighth in NCAA Division II with 9.3 tackles for loss per game.  The Warriors were ranked 38th in D-II in total defense allowing 338.5 yards per game.

He tutored two Honorable Mention All-GLIAC selections in 2013 (Ryan Hankins and Greg Hasse) along with three Academic All-GLIAC honorees in Ashawn Butler, Andrew Matt and Medenbach.  His defensive line corps totaled five sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass break-ups during the season.

In 2012, he guided two all-league honorees in Serxho Guraleci and Andrew Matt along with three Academic All-GLIAC selections in Guraleci, Matt and Pat Cecile.  His defensive linemen recorded eight takeaways helping the Warriors to a top-20 ranking nationally in turnover margin.  In addition, the six quarterback hurries by his DL corps helped WSU rank ninth in Division II in pass defense.

Cecile was the 2012 WSU Football Ron Solack #35 Award winner, while Guraleci was bestowed the Cortez Smith award.

The 2011 WSU defense ranked 14th nationally in sacks (3.00 per game), 39th in rushing defense (123.31 yards per game), and 49th in scoring defense (23.88 points per game) as Wayne State reached the national championship game for the first time in school history.  The Warriors were ranked second in the final AFCA poll after setting a school record with 12 overall wins, four playoff victories, and eight triumphs on the road.

In addition, Kazmierski coached six GLIAC All-Academic team members in 2011, while junior defensive end Greg Hasse earned All-America accolades.

In 2010, he had one First Team All-GLIAC selection in Daunte Akra (who also earned all-region accolades), while Hasse was an honorable mention all-conference choice.  In addition, WSU ranked fourth in the league in rushing defense (134 yards per game), tied-for-third in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (12) and second in sacks with 28, the most of any conference school during the regular season.

In terms of national stats in 2010, WSU tied-for-34th in sacks (2.45 per game), was 38th in scoring defense (20.73 points per game) and 50th in total defense (330.45 yards per game).  All this helped the Warriors set a then school record for overall wins (9), conference victories (8) and the then highest AFCA ranking in school history (12th).

Kazmierski also coached the punt return team which ranked second in the GLIAC in 2010 with a 13.6 yard average per return.

Athan Anagonye was named to the All-GLIAC honorable mention team in 2009, while three of his players (Cecile, Jimmy Kinaia and Jon Robinson) earned GLIAC All-Academic team accolades.

In 2008, Jason Thomas was voted to the All-GLIAC First Team, while Andrew Bates was a CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection. Bates and Anagonye were both named to the honorable mention All-GLIAC team, the first of two straight accolades for Anagonye.

Kazmierski was instrumental in the turnaround of the Warrior defense going from 125th in scoring defense in 2007 (34.8 points per game) to sixth in 2008 (14.6 ppg). The Warriors finished ninth in the country in turnover margin, 29th in sacks and 42nd in tackles for loss.

Bates was a Second Team Academic All-District selection in 2007, while four of Kazmierski's players were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team.

In 2006, Chris Smilo earned honorable mention All-GLIAC accolades as well as being invited to the Minnesota Vikings free agent tryout camp. Two of his players, Dan Barnes and Jason Thomas, were named to the GLIAC All-Academic team with Barnes being voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.

Two of his defensive linemen earned all-region honors (Michael Hall - Hansen's Gazette; and Leo Wells - D2Football.com) in 2005 with Wells being voted to the All-GLIAC First Team. It was the first such honor for a WSU defensive lineman since 1998.

A native of Okemos, Kazmierski graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2003. While at EMU, he majored in political science with a minor in history.

He began his coaching career at his alma mater (OHS) as a varsity assistant from 1998-2001.  Kazmierski spent the 2001 campaign as a student coach at EMU.  He served two years (2002-2003) as defensive coordinator at Ypsilanti Lincoln High School.

Kazmierski and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Novi with their sons, Jackson and Alexander.