STANFORD, Calif. – Ross Kolodziej (pronounced kah-LAH-gee) has been named Stanford's defensive line coach, as announced today by Bradford. M Freeman Director of Football Troy Taylor. Kolodziej comes to Stanford after spending the last eight seasons at his alma mater, Wisconsin.
"I'm thrilled to add Ross Kolodziej as our defensive line coach," Taylor said. "As a former NFL player and strength coach, Ross is a great technician who has a tremendous understanding of all facets of the game. His coaching style will be a great fit with the high-football IQ student-athletes we have here at Stanford."
A seven-year NFL veteran, Kolodziej comes to Stanford from Wisconsin where he coached the defensive line in each of the past two seasons. Following his NFL career, Kolodziej got into coaching and was Wisconsin's head strength and conditioning coach for football from 2015-20.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to join Coach Taylor's staff at Stanford," Kolodziej said. "When I spoke with Coach Taylor, I was impressed with his mindset and approach, how much he cares about the players, staff, and families, and how genuine he is. I'm also excited to continue having the opportunity to coach alongside Coach April. I've learned a lot from him and look forward to that continuing. This profession is all about the people you work with and for, and when you have great people who are focused on a common objective, you can achieve great things.
"I also need to thank everyone at Wisconsin, including Coach Chryst, Coach Leonhard and all of the student-athletes I've had the opportunity to coach. UW will always hold a special place in our hearts, but me and my family are excited for this next chapter at Stanford!"
In 2022, the Wisconsin defense ranked 11th in total defense (303.5 ypg), 10th in rushing defense (99.2 ypg) and fourth nationally at just 2.91 yards per rush attempt. Senior nose tackle Keeanu Benton was named third team All-Big Ten after tallying 35 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
In his first season coaching the defensive line in 2021, his unit was an integral part of the nation's best defense. The Badgers led the country and set a school record by allowing just 64.8 yards per game on the ground, becoming just the second FBS team since 2008 to allow fewer than 70.0 yards rushing per game over an entire season. UW allowed just 2.12 yards per carry in 2021, tops in the country and best by an FBS defense since 2016.
That stout rushing defense contributed to a unit that allowed just 239.1 yards per game, the third-best mark in school history and the lowest total at UW since 1954. That was the fewest yards allowed by an FBS team since 2011.
Kolodziej mentored a pair of All-Big Ten selections in his first season, Keeanu Benton and Matt Henningsen. Benton earned second-team honors while Henningsen was a third-team choice. Henningsen was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell trophy and was chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.
Kolodziej spent seven seasons as a head strength and conditioning coach under Paul Chryst, including six at Wisconsin, before transitioning to his on-field coaching role with the defensive line. He spent the 2013 season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pittsburgh before being promoted to head strength coach a year later. He served in the same capacity after returning to UW in 2015 through the 2020 season.
During his time leading the Badgers' weight room, Wisconsin produced 11 first-team All-Americans, including six consensus All-America selections, and sent 33 players to the NFL.
Prior to joining Chryst's staff, Kolodziej served as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin in 2012, working with the Badgers' defensive line. That followed a professional career that spanned seven seasons in the NFL and three in the United Football League from 2009-11, where the two-time team captain helped Las Vegas claim back-to-back league titles.
Kolodziej was a 45-game starter on the defensive line for the Badgers, playing on the 1998 and 1999 Big Ten championship teams and in the 1999 and 2000 Rose Bowls. He also was a member of UW's indoor and outdoor Big Ten championship teams in track and field in 2000 and 2001.
Selected by the Giants in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Kolodziej played for the Giants, Vikings, 49ers and Cardinals during his seven-year NFL career. While with the Cardinals, he started 14 games during the 2005 season as a member of a defense that ranked in the league's top 10.
A native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Kolodziej also spent the 2009 offseason as a strength and conditioning intern for the Badgers and finished his UW degree during that time.
Kolodziej and his wife, Miriam, have four children: Liz, Taylor, Asher and Abram.
Coaching Experience
2023-present – Stanford (Defensive Line)
2021-22 – Wisconsin (Defensive Line)
2015-20 – Wisconsin (Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach)
2014 – Pittsburgh (Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach)
2013 – Pittsburgh (Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning Coach)
2012 – Wisconsin (Graduate Assistant/Defensive Line)