Chargers Coaches | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

Steve Clinkscale enters his third season with the Chargers in 2026, his first as defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach after spending the previous two years with the Bolts as defensive backs coach. He is one of football's most experienced secondary coaches, spending each of his 25 years as a coach, including 23 at the collegiate level, coaching defensive backs.

Steve Clinkscale enters his third season with the Chargers in 2026, his first as defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach after spending the previous two years with the Bolts as defensive backs coach. He is one of football's most experienced secondary coaches, spending each of his 25 years as a coach, including 23 at the collegiate level, coaching defensive backs.

In 2025, Clinkscale coached a defensive backs group that helped the Chargers rank No. 5 in the NFL in both total defense (285.2 total net yards allowed per game) and passing defense (179.9 net passing yards allowed per game). The unit was also among football's most clutch, ranking inside the top five on third down (fifth) and in the red zone (fourth). Clinkscale coached a defensive backs room that featured safety Tony Jefferson leading the team with four interceptions. Safety Derwin James Jr., was close behind with three interceptions and ranked second on the team with 94 tackles (50 solo), adding a pair of sacks. James was recognized with the fifth Pro Bowl of his career and added Associated Press second-team All-Pro honors. He earned the first AFC Defensive Player of the Week of his career in the Week 3 victory over Denver after becoming the sixth NFL player and first defensive back since tackles for loss began being tracked in 2008 to have 10 solo tackles, a sack and four tackles for loss in a single game.

Clinkscale coached a defensive backs group for the Chargers in 2024 that featured 11 different players to make starts throughout the season, including a pair of in-season acquisitions. The defensive backs were key to the unit leading the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game. Los Angeles was also the best red zone defense in football, allowing touchdowns on just 45.0 percent of red zone drives.

The group was led by James, who was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and an AP second-team All-Pro after being just one of four NFL players — and the only defensive back — to have 70 tackles, five sacks, an interception and five passes defensed in 2024. James earned league recognition as AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December/January after posting three sacks, seven tackles for loss, an interception and a pair of pass breakups in the final six weeks of the season.

Clinkscale was tasked with onboarding a pair of rookie cornerbacks in Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart to take over starting roles during the season, with Still earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Week 13 victory at Atlanta. Clinkscale also helped get defensive back Elijah Molden up to speed after his acquisition via trade at the end of the preseason, as the Washington product set single-season career bests in tackles (72), interceptions (three) and pass breakups (seven).

Prior to the Chargers, Clinkscale was the co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at the University of Michigan, leading a unit that served as a stalwart for the top-ranked total defense in college football, allowing just 247.0 total net yards per game en route to a College Football Playoff National Championship and perfect 15-0 season. The Wolverines also led the nation with an average of just 10.4 points allowed per game, permitting just 17 defensive touchdowns in 15 games — the second fewest by any unit in the country despite playing two more games than the leader.

From 2022-23, Clinkscale, under the guidance of Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter, the Wolverines ranked No. 2 in the nation in total defense (268.8), earning the program's first berth in the College Football Playoff.

The Wolverines were champions of the Big Ten Conference and appeared in the College Football Playoff in each of Clinkscale's three seasons in Ann Arbor. Over his tenure, two Michigan defensive backs were named All-Americans, as cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Will Johnson earned first-team All-Big Ten on top of their All-America acknowledgement. Clinkscale's guidance also led to safety Daxton Hill to first-team all-conference honors and an eventual first-round draft selection, as cornerback D.J. Turner, a second-team All-Big Ten honoree was eventually taken in the second round of the annual draft.

Prior to his tenure at Michigan, Clinkscale spent five seasons at the University of Kentucky (2016-20). Leading the defensive backfield, Clinkscale added the title of defensive pass game coordinator from 2020-21. Over his final three seasons in Lexington, the Wildcats' defense ranked top-four in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense, leading the conference in 2019 and 2020. Kentucky's defense posted a conference-best 16 interceptions in 2020, ranking third nationally.

In his first season at Kentucky (2016), Clinkscale helped mold a secondary that provided all 13 of the team's interceptions, as all-conference safety and eventual two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Edwards hit the century mark in total tackles and recorded three of interceptions. The following season, Edwards earned his second All-SEC nod.

In 2018, Clinkscale helped Kentucky achieve one of the best seasons in program history, posting a 10-3 record – the best mark for a Wildcats squad since 1977 — and finishing No. 12 in the final AP poll. Under Clinkscale's direction, Edwards claimed his third All-SEC acknowledgement, becoming just the second defensive back in program history to record over 300 tackles in a career, adding 10 interceptions and two takeaways returned for touchdowns. Following the season, Edwards was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite Edwards' departure, Clinkscale led his productive secondary unit to rank second nationally in fewest touchdown passes allowed (nine) and third in passing yards allowed per game (167.8) in 2019. Clinkscale also mentored Lonnie Johnson for two seasons (2017-18) at Kentucky before he would go on to be selected in the second round (54th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

Clinkscale served three seasons as defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati (2013-15), adding defensive coordinator responsibilities in his final season, helping the Bearcats appear in a bowl game following each of his three years. As defensive coordinator in 2015, Clinkscale's unit ranked third in the American Athletic Conference in passing yards allowed per game (216.5).

Prior to coaching the cornerbacks at the University of Illinois in 2012, Clinkscale had a three-year tenure at the University of Toledo (2009-11), where he was special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Rockets.

Under his direction, Clinkscale's kickoff return unit tanked top-20 in the nation in 2010 (11th) and 2011 (17th), as Eric Page became one of the top returners in the country. Clinkscale helped Page earn All-Mid-American Conference recognition at three different positions in 2010, as he was the only player at the FBS level to return three kickoffs for touchdowns. Page was recognized as a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as a junior in 2011, which is given annually to the nation's most versatile player. Defensively, Toledo's defense consistently improved as a unit under Clinkscale leading the defensive backfield. Under his direction, the Rockets ranked among the country's leaders in takeaways each of his three seasons. Prior to Toledo, Clinkscale spent 2008 as defensive backs coach at Western Carolina University.

Clinkscale entered the coaching ranks at his alma mater, Ashland University, in 2001, leading the defensive backs over a seven-year tenure (2001-07). Under his guidance, two Eagles earned All-America nods — Devin Conwell and Toure Carter — as Conwell was named 2005 GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year one season after leading all of Division II in solo tackles per game. The Eales ranked second in all of Division II in scoring defense in 2005.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Clinkscale was a four-year starter and team captain at Ashland (Ohio), capping his playing career by participating in the 2000 Snow Bowl, a Division II All-Star Game. Clinkscale earned his bachelor's degree in sports science with a concentration in therapeutic recreation from Ashland in 2000.

Clinkscale and his wife, Elaine, are parents to six children — Isaiah, Elijah, Zion and Zivon, Brandon Jr.  and Carlo Jr.