STANFORD, Calif. – Nate Byham has been named Stanford's tight ends coach, as announced today by Bradford. M Freeman Director of Football Troy Taylor.
"I'm excited to announce Nate Byham as our tight ends coach," Taylor said. "Nate not only played four years as a tight end in the NFL, but has also developed a number of NFL tight ends at the University at Albany. He is a true expert of a position that has been extraordinary here at Stanford and I know he will continue that tradition."
Byham comes to Stanford from the University at Albany, where he just finished his ninth season on staff. After a four-year NFL career at tight end, Byham was most recently Albany's Associate Head Coach, Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach.
"I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity that Coach Taylor has given to me," Byham said. "The passion and love that he shows to his players and the game of football is evident and I'm looking forward to being a part of this phenomenal staff and the Stanford football family. The tight end position at Stanford has always been known as one of the best in all of college football and that is a reputation that I fully intend to continue and build upon. I feel humbled and grateful to have the chance to work at a university so deeply rooted in excellence and tradition and I can't wait to get started on The Farm. Go Cardinal!"
In 2022, Byham was critical in the success of both tight end Thomas Greaney and quarterback Reese Poffenbarger. Greaney caught 50 passes for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns while being the only Great Dane on the All-CAA first team. He was also named a second team All-American. At QB, Poffenbarger was named a freshman All-American and was named Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Byham coached Karl Mofor, a two-time All-CAA selection who led the conference in rushing in back-to-back seasons (2019, spring 2021). In 2021, Mofor rushed for 115.0 ypg, a season after rushing for 1,290 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Additionally, Byham coached tight end LJ Wesneski, who made seven touchdown receptions to earn All-CAA third-team honors.
In 2018, Byham's run game scheme helped Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks earn third team All-CAA honors, rushing for 787 yards and four touchdowns on the season and averaging 69.7 rushing yards per game, sixth-highest in the conference. As a team, UAlbany rushed for 110.3 yards per game.
In 2017, Byham coached Anthony Manzo-Lewis, who was named to the All-CAA second team after catching 20 passes for 188 yards. After the season, Manzo-Lewis signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before being named tight ends coach in 2015, Byham served as a volunteer assistant for Albany in 2014. He mentored senior tight end Brian Parker who earned third-team All-CAA honors, signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers following the season.
Byham, a sixth-round pick (182nd overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, played in 14 games, including three starts, with the 49ers before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
A 2010 graduate of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications, Byham saw action in 48 games with 36 starts in his career. Byham served as a team captain during his senior season, also earning All-Big East honors after starting 12 games and catching 10 passes for 108 yards. As a junior, he recorded 20 catches for 260 yards in 12 starts and was named first team All-Big East.
Byham and his wife, Erica, married in July 2012. Their son, Grayson, was born in 2016, and his daughter, Evelyn, was born in 2019.
Coaching Experience
2023-present – Stanford (Tight Ends)
2022 – Albany (Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2015-21 – Albany (Tight Ends/Run Game Coordinator)
2014 – Albany (Volunteer Assistant)