A veteran of the Southland, Todd Ivicic enters his third season on the LU football staff as defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. He comes to LU after spending 10 seasons at Incarnate Word, including the last five as associate head coach.
The Cardinals’ defensive front was one of the most improved in the nation last season. After finishing last in the league in rush defense in 2017, Ivicic turned the Cards into an imposable force last season. Big Red improved its rush defense by more than 100 yards per game, while nearly doubling their sacks.
By season’s end, Ivicic placed two players on the postseason All-SLC teams, including second-team selection Daniel Crosley. The Cardinals’ defensive line is expected to be a strength again this season with seven of the top eight listed on the depth chart returning. LU’s lone loss from the 2018 depth chart was honorable mention All-SLC selection Dedrick Garner.Â
Ivicic served as UIW interim head coach for the final three games of the 2011 season before the hiring of head coach Larry Kennan. After his hiring, Kennan named Ivicic associate head coach working primarily with defensive linemen.
Ivicic was named UIW defensive coordinator in 2007. During his first season with the Cardinals, UIW finished 13th nationally in tackles for loss and 33rd in sacks. Just three years later, Ivicic helped the Cardinals make the transition into the Lone Star Conference. In that first season, UIW allowed just 136 rushing yards per game, and led the LSC in opponent third down conversions and was second in the league in opponent first downs.
The following season, Ivicic produced one of the league’s more opportunistic defenses. UIW led the conference with 16 interceptions while adding four forced fumbles. Safeties Chaz Pavliska and Devin Haywood were each second team all-league selections. Haywood finished that season ranked seventh in the nation with a school record seven interceptions.
Ivicic also helped coach UIW through the transition into NCAA Division I status. In 2014, he worked with Corey Lee, who went on to set a school record in tackles for losses, and eventually earned second-team All-Southland honors.
Ivicic began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Sam Houston State in 1991 helping the team win an SLC title. In his second year with the program he tutored a pair of the Southland’s top defensive ends. Greenwood Horn finished the year with 14 sacks and John Solomon became a fifth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings.
He received his first full-time job at Blinn Junior College where he was the defensive line/assistant special teams coach for two years. The Bucs went 15-5-1 during his stay.
Ivicic returned to SHSU in 1995 as the defensive line coach and assistant special teams coordinator. The special teams unit was one of the best in the nation from 1995-98. The Bearkats finished in the nation’s top 25 in net punting each year, including a fourth-place finish in 1995. They also blocked four punts and five each in 1996 and 1997. They were also strong in the return game finishing sixth nationally.
In 1999, Ivicic became the defensive line and special teams coordinator at Stephen F. Austin. His punt return unit led the nation with 19.1 yards per return and helped the Lumberjacks to a Southland Championship – its first in 10 years. He remained with SFA through the 2004 season and continued to produce top special teams play while adding the title of linebackers coach in 2001.Â
Ivicic moved on to Tarleton State in 2005 as the offensive line coach and special teams coordinator and was there for three years before moving back to D-Line in 2006.
Ivicic played defensive end for SHSU in 1989 and 1990 after transferring from Blinn JC. Ivicic earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from SHSU in 1991 and a master’s degree in kinesiology from SHSU in 1993.
Ivicic, and his wife, Deborah, have twins, Lily and Logan.Â
Â
