David Kotulski was named Stanford’s inside linebackers coach in 2012 after spending the previous six seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Lehigh.
Kotulski has also served on coaching staffs at Utah, Utah State, Bucknell, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross during his 35-year career.
Kotulski oversees a Stanford linebacker corps that anchored the Cardinal throughout the 2012 season, breaking Stanford’s single-season sacks record (57) and pacing the Pac-12 in scoring defense (17.21), total defense (336.21), rushing defense (97.0), sacks (4.07) and tackles for loss (9.00).
Under Kotulski’s direction, Lehigh ranked in the top three in six Patriot League defensive categories in 2011, including total defense (2nd - 315.7), rushing defense (3rd - 102.8), pass efficiency defense (1st - 109.6), interceptions (3rd - 11.2), sacks (1st - 2.62) and opponent third down conversion (1st - 33.3). The Mountain Hawks finished in the top 20 nationally in rushing defense (12th), pass efficiency defense (14th), sacks-per-game (16th) and total defense (19th).
After winning its second straight Patriot League title in 2011, the Mountain Hawks defeated Towson in the second round of the Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs before falling to eventual national champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinals.
In 2009, Kotulski's defense led the nation in sacks with 39, an average of better than 3.5 per game.
Kotulski spent eight seasons (1995-2002) as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Bucknell, where he also served as the interim head coach for the 2002 season.
Kotulski worked with Stanford associate head coach Derek Mason and outside linebackers coach Lance Anderson at Bucknell. Kotulski and Anderson also worked together at Utah State.
An Illinois native, Kotulski earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1974 from New Mexico State, where he lettered as a linebacker and center for the Aggies.
Kotulski's coaching career began at St. Paul High School in Southern California.
Kotulski and his wife, Cissy, are the parents of two children, David and Carey.
The Kotulski File
| Year | Program | Position |
| 1978-81 | Utah | Defensive Line |
| 1982-89 | Utah | Linebackers Defensive Line |
| 1990-94 | Saint Mary's | Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 1995-2001 | Bucknell | Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 2002 | Bucknell | Interim Head Coach Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 2003-04 | Utah State | Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 2005 | Holy Cross | Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 2006-11 | Lehigh | Defensive Coordinator Linebackers |
| 2012-13 | Stanford | Inside Linebackers |