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12/06/2011
Shaw Named Regional Coach of the Year
Coach One of Five Regional Finalists
10/20/2011
Patience Pays Off For Fowler
Stanford's long snapper will have plenty of options to consider after the season.
Coaching Career
Year School/Team Assignment
1997 Michigan State Graduate Assistant (Offense), Tight Ends, Offensive Line
1998 Buffalo Tight Ends/Assistant Offensive Line
1999-2000 Baylor Graduate Assistant
2001-03 Buffalo Running Backs/Special Teams Coordinator
2004 Central Florida Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
2005 Notre Dame Head Special Teams Coach/Defensive Backs Assistant
2006 Notre Dame Head Special Teams Coach/Linebackers Assistant
2007 Notre Dame Inside Linebackers/Special Teams
2008-09 Notre Dame Special Teams Coordinator
2010 Stanford Special Teams Coordinator
2011 Stanford Special Teams Coordinator
Brian Polian enters his second season at Stanford as the Cardinal's special teams coordinator after spending five campaigns serving on the coaching staff at Notre Dame from 2005-09. He will also take on added responsibilities as the program's recruiting coordinator.
During his five seasons with the Irish, Polian headed up Notre Dame's special teams units while also assisting with coaching duties with the defensive backs and linebackers.
In his first season at Stanford, Polian reunited with kicker Nate Whitaker, who earned first team All-Pac-10 honors after making 17-of-19 field goal tries in 2010. Whitaker also set a school record by converting on 16 consecutive field goals. Senior Chike Amajoyi also garnered first team All-Pac-10 honors as a special teams player.
Stanford also boasted the best kickoff return coverage in the conference last season, allowing a net per game average of 46.3 yards. The Cardinal ranked fifth in both kickoff returns (21.8) and punt return average (10.0).
Following the 2010 season, Polian was recognized as one of the top recruiters in the country and conference by Rivals and ESPN.com.
Throughout his tenure as special teams coordinator at Notre Dame, the Irish special teams were some of the best in the nation and recorded some of the top marks in recent school history. Notre Dame blocked or deflected 10 punts, 10 field goals and three PATs during his stay at South Bend. In addition, the Irish returned four punts and a kickoff for a touchdown.
Under his guidance, the Irish boasted the best kickoff coverage unit in the country in 2008, allowing just 16.5 yards per return. It was the best yards per return average by an Irish team since 1975. The Irish punt coverage unit shined as well, allowing just 6.0 yards per return.
In 2007, the Irish ranked 13th in the nation in net punting at 37.9 yards per game, marking the second straight season the team had finished in the top 15 nationally in that category.
Prior to Notre Dame, Polian served on the staff at Central Florida, where he coached the running backs and was recruiting coordinator. He mentored running back Alex Haynes, who became the Golden Knights all-time leading rusher - finishing with 3,356 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Polian graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in history and later added a master's degree in education from Baylor in 2000.
A three-year letterman as a linebacker, he was named to the all-Ohio Athletic Conference team in 1996 and helped the 1994 and '96 teams to top-10 finishes in the NCAA Division II rankings.
Polian's father, Bill, is the vice chairman of the Indianapolis Colts and his older brother Chris, serves as the team's general manager. His younger brother Dennis also works in player personnel with the NFL.
He was a contributing author to the AFCA book, "A Complete Guide to Special Teams."
Born December 22, 1974 in the Bronx, N.Y., Brian and his wife Laura are the parents of one son, Aidan Doyle.