Columbia University Athletics

Justin Stovall enters his 11th season on the Columbia Football coaching staff in 2025 and his third as Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach. Since taking over the defense in March 2022, Stovall has built one of the top units in the Ivy League and one of the most respected defenses at the FCS level.
 
He spent his seven years with the Lions as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, beginning in 2015.


Stovall’s defense was a key component to Columbia capturing the 2024 Ivy League title. The Lions allowed just 16.1 points per game – good for No. 2 in FCS and led the Ivy League in four categories (scoring defense, red zone defense, passing defense, passing efficiency defense) en route to a 7-3 overall mark and 5-2 record in Ivy League play.
 
Under his guidance, defensive back Hayden McDonald earned All-America honors from five different publications/organizations. McDonald led the conference with five interceptions and was the program’s first-ever defensive finalist for the Bushnell Cup, given to the Ivy League’s top offensive and defensive player. Additionally, six of Columbia’s 11 starters on defense picked up All-Ivy League honors, highlighted by first-team selections for McDonald and defensive lineman Ben Corniello.

In 2023, Stovall’s defense was one of the top units in the country, holding opponents to 18.2 points per game – good for No. 10 in FCS and first in the Ivy League. The Lions posted a pair of shutouts against Georgetown and Marist, which was the most in a season for Columbia since 1972 and marked the first back-to-back home shutouts since 1951.
 
The Lions were also fourth in the nation in red zone defense (66.7 percent) and led the Ancient Eight in defensive touchdowns (two).
 
Individually, linebacker Anthony Roussos emerged as a first-team All-Ivy League selection after posting 93 tackles, which were among the top 10 nationally and second in the conference. Justin Townsend continued to be one of the premier pass rushers in the conference on his way to second-team all-league honors. Townsend tied for the Ivy League lead in sacks (7.5) and posted 12 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, which was second in the Ancient Eight. 
 
In 2022, the Columbia defense finished the season ranked fifth in the FCS in rushing defense as the Lions gave up an average of just 3.17 yards per rush and 98 yards per game, which led the conference. The Lions also showed an uncanny knack for getting off the field, leading the Ancient Eight in third-down defense (36.1 percent) and ranked No. 1 in FCS in fourth-down defense (20.0 percent). Columbia also scored defensive touchdowns in three straight games in 2022 for the first time in program history. The three defensive scores led the Ivy League and set a new program record.

Stovall coached four All-Ivy League honorees in his first season leading the defense, including Scott Valentas, a unanimous First Team All-Ivy Defense selection. Valentas had a great season as he ranked third in the Ivy League with 9.3 tackles per game. Valentas led the league in passes defended at 1.3 per game and interceptions with four total.
 
Stovall also helped Townsend earn Second-Team All-Ivy Defense honors, while Fara’ad McCombs and Seth Parker were recognized as Honorable Mention All-Ivy. Townsend totaled six sacks, which ranked fourth in the Ivy League. He also led the team in tackles for loss with 9.5.
 
In the 2021 season, Mike Roussos, who earned first-team All-Ivy League honors, finished ranked 14th nationally and third in the league in punt return average and 18th in the nation in combined kick return average (547). Along with Roussos’ honors, linebackers Cam Dillon and Scott Valentas earned second-team honors and punter Drew Schmid gained honorable mention.
 
As a kickoff unit, the team finished seventh in the nation in kickoff return yards average (25.08) and first in the league.
 
Under Stovall from 2015-19, Columbia established 44 new team and individual special teams school records, led the league 13 times in various special teams categories, including blocked kicks, kickoff return average, punt return average, net punting average, kickoff coverage, on-side kicks and PAT kicking, and also ranked among top-20 national leaders in 21 different categories. Meanwhile, a total of three placekickers, four punters and two return specialists have earned All-Ivy League honors during that span and four punters graduated from Columbia and pursued a fifth year of NCAA eligibility at various Southeastern Conference schools (Cameron Nizialek, Parker Thome, Matthew Panton and Oren Milstein).
 
In his first five seasons at Columbia, Stovall built a dominant and reliable special teams unit in all facets and a strong, dependable, and athletic linebacker corps. Stovall’s units helped Columbia amass 14 victories combining 2017 and 2018, the program’s highest win total in consecutive years since the institution joined the Ivy League in 1956, and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1961 and 1962.
 
Once again, Columbia sported a strong special teams unit in 2019. Columbia ranked among the nation’s top-20 in three team statistics including punt returns (No. 5, 17.3), blocked kicks (No. 9, 5), kickoff returns (No. 15, 23.8), while  consensus All-American returner, First Team All-Ivy League selection and Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Year Mike Roussos rated among the nation’s top-20 players in four statistics (No. 19 in all-purpose yards, No. 4 in combined kick returns, No. 2 in punt return TDs, and No. 3 in punt returns) and Will Allen was No. 3 in blocked kicks (3). The Lions also led the league in both kickoff returns and punt returns, and Roussos topped the conference in kickoff return average (23.8) and punt return average (17.3), while first-year Alex Felkins ranked second in field goals (9-14) with a pair of 50-yard field goals. At linebacker, Stovall’s deep group was hard-hit with injuries, but still maintained its consistency as first-year Scott Valentas emerged to earn honorable mention Freshman All-America and Ivy League honorable mention honors.
 
Despite suffering injuries to over 25 key players, Columbia completed its 2018 season with a 6-4 overall and 3-4 Ivy League record. Once again, Columbia’s special teams proved to be a key factor as the Lions ranked among national leaders in four statistical categories, led the Ivy League in four categories and set a total of 13 team and individual school-records on special teams. In the national statistical rankings, Columbia ranked among the top-20 in fewest blocked punts allowed (No. 1, 1), average kickoff return yardage (No. 5, 26.4), average punt return yardage (No. 7, 16.6) and fewest blocked kicks allowed (No. 11,1). Columbia led the Ivy League in four special teams statistics: kickoff return average, punt return average, on-side kicks and PAT kicking and ranked second in both punting and field goals, while placekicker Chris Alleyne led the league in field goals (15) and PAT kicking (100%). Among the 13 records set include team bests for: highest PAT percentage (100%), most field goals made (15), fewest opponent punt returns (13), and individual bests for: season field goals (15, Chris Alleyne), highest percentage of PATs converted-career (24, Chris Alleyne), most points scored by a placekicker-season (69, Chris Alleyne), best field goal accuracy-career (83.3, Chris Alleyne), highest percentage of extra points made-career (100%, Chris Alleyne), best punting average-game (44.7, Drew Schmid, Yale, Oct. 27, 2018), most punts downed inside the 20-yard line-game (7, Drew Schmid, Yale, Oct. 27, 2018), best kickoff return average in a game (50.5, Mike Roussos vs. Cornell, Nov. 17, 2018), longest punt return (91 yards, Mike Roussos vs. Cornell, Nov. 17, 2018), longest punt return touchdown (91 yards, Mike Roussos vs. Cornell, Nov. 17, 2018). Long snapper Patrick Eby earned unanimous First Team All-America honors, Second Team Freshman All-American punt/kickoff returner Mike Roussos and placekicker Chris Alleyne both earned First Team All-Ivy League honors and punter Drew Schmid was a Second Team All-Ivy League pick.
 
Despite being slowed by a variety of injuries in 2018, Columbia’s linebacker corps served as the backbone to the Lions’ defense. Four players including Second Team All-Ivy League selection Sean White (No. 5, 81 tackles), Jacob Young (46 tackles), Cal Falkenhayn (40 tackles) and Michael Murphy (39 tackles) ranked among the Ivy League’s top-50 leaders in tackles, while Justin Woodley and Jalen Williams both played key roles.
 
In 2017, Stovall’s special teams unit was dominant and served as a driving force in leading Columbia to an 8-2 overall record and a second place finish in the Ivy League with a 5-2 record, the program’s most successful campaign in 21 seasons. Columbia set a school-record and ranked No. 2 in the nation with eight blocked kicks on the year and also ranked among national leaders in a variety of statistics including punt return defense (4^th, 3.33 yards per return), kickoff returns (11^th at 24.18 yards per return), kickoff return defense (19^th at 17.63 yards per return) and net punting (13^th). The Lions also led the Ivy League in four of those statistics. Two special teams contributors earned All-Ivy League honors including two conference leaders in their respective areas: punter Parker Thome (First Team) and kickoff returner Will Allen (Honorable Mention).
 
Columbia’s linebackers entered the 2017 season as the squad’s youngest and most inexperienced position group, but that label changed quickly as a variety of players stepped up to produce. Led by Stovall, the deep and talented group consisting of Ivy League honorable mention pick Michael Murphy (42 tackles, team-best 6.0 tackles for loss and 2 FR), Sean White (48 tackles, 2 INT), Jalen Williams (32 tackles), Justin Woodley (19 tackles, 2 INT), Jacob Young (18 tackles), Cal Falkenhayn (18 tackles), Parker Tobia (11 tackles) and Cameren Carter (six tackles) developed into a team strength.
 
In 2016, Columbia placed three linebackers among the Ivy League’s top-15 tacklers including First Team All-Ivy League selection and Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year candidate Gianmarco Rea, who led the league and ranked among the nation’s top-15 tacklers with 108. On special teams, Columbia players led the Ivy League in both field goals and punting as placekicker Oren Milstein (12-13 on field goals) earned unanimous First Team All-Ivy League honors and punter Nizialek (44.8 yards per punt) garnered Second Team All-Ivy League accolades. In addition, Columbia led the Ivy League in net punting average (37.66) and kickoff return yardage (21.1 yards per return).
 
In his first season at Columbia in 2015, two linebackers ranked among the Ivy League’s top-20 tacklers as Christian Conway and Keith Brady both totaled 57 tackles on the year. Stovall also tutored a punter to All-Ivy League honors, as Cameron Nizialek was the second best punter in the conference with a 42.8-yard average, while also converting 8-for-14 field goals.
 
Stovall arrived at Columbia after spending the 2014 season in the same capacity at Valparaiso. The Crusaders finished the season ranked first in the conference in punt return average (14.9 yds), kickoff return average (21.8 yds), blocked kicks (six) and special teams touchdowns (three). Valpo's kickoff return unit paved the way for Jarrett Morgan, as a freshman, to lead the FCS in kickoff return average (34.9 yds).
 
Before his one season at Valparaiso, Stovall served as the Outside Linebackers Coach at Lehigh during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The Mountain Hawks finished 10-1 with a nine-game win streak in 2012 and compiled an 8-3 record in 2013.
 
In 2011, Stovall served as a defensive assistant at Villanova, where he assisted the defensive and special teams coordinators in all areas, organized the scout team offense and special teams and worked with all aspects of film.
 
Before Villanova, Stovall coached linebackers at Franklin and Marshall College for three seasons (2009-11) while assisting the defensive coordinator. He assisted in the development of the linebackers and helped implement defensive game plans. Stovall was then promoted to Special Teams Coordinator in April of 2011, developing and implementing punt return schemes while working with the specialists. He also had extensive recruiting responsibilities.
 
A four-year letterwinner and three-time Patriot League Champion at Lafayette College from 2003-06, Stovall helped lead the Leopards to league titles and FCS Playoff berths in each of his final three seasons. A senior captain in 2006, Stovall saw action in 46 of 47 career games at both linebacker and on special teams.
 
A Melbourne, Fla. native, Stovall graduated from Lafayette in 2007 with an impressive 3.23 grade point average as an Economics and Business major. He is married to his wife Jessica. The couple has two children, Luke Robert and Olivia Rose.