Former Nebraska defensive back and assistant coach Marvin Sanders is in his second season as the secondary coach on Bo Pelini's Cornhusker staff. Sanders has 16 years of experience in the college ranks, including previously serving as the NU defensive backs coach in 2003. In 2009, Sanders has added the title of asssistant head coach-defense.

In 2008, Sanders developed a young Nebraska secondary that helped the Huskers rank second in the Big 12 Conference in total defense. In a loaded conference that included five of the nation's top eight passing offenses, the Husker secondary rose to the occasion, ranking second in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 233.4 yards per game. Seven Husker opponents in 2008 ranked in the nation's top 20 in passing offense. The play of the secondary did not go unnoticed, as Larry Asante was an honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection.

Sanders' first opportunity as a Nebraska assistant was a memorable season for the Blackshirts. NU set a school record with 47 takeaways in 2003, keying a 10-3 season, which culminated with a trip to the Alamo Bowl. The Blackshirt defense set a school and Big 12 record with 32 interceptions and led the nation in pass efficiency defense, while finishing second in the country in scoring defense. Safety Josh Bullocks recorded a school-record 10 interceptions and became just the second NU sophomore in school history to earn All-America honors. Bullocks was also a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Following his one season with the Huskers, Sanders was an assistant for three seasons at North Carolina. In his first season at UNC, Sanders was the co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach and helped the Tar Heels reach the Continental Tire Bowl and post a 5-3 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UNC won three of its final four games, largely due to defensive improvement. The Tar Heels allowed 338 yards per game in the final four games, including just 234 against Duke, the fewest by a UNC defense in three years.

Sanders was defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in his final two seasons with the Tar Heels. Carolina jumped more than 60 spots to 42nd nationally in total defense in 2005. The Tar Heels had several strong efforts, including holding Virginia to 199 total yards in a 7-5 victory. UNC also limited Boston College to just 14 points and held opponents to 280.4 yards per contest in its five victories. Carolina posted its highest sack total since 2000, and its highest interception total since 1999 under Sanders' leadership.

In 2006, one of Sanders' pupils, senior Kareen Taylor, intercepted five passes to rank fourth in the ACC and among the top 25 nationally in interceptions.

Sanders had an accomplished record as a collegiate assistant before he joined the Nebraska staff in 2003. He came to Lincoln after a two-year stint as the secondary coach on Sonny Lubick's Colorado State staff. The Rams posted a 17-9 record during Sanders' two seasons in Fort Collins. In 2002, CSU posted a 10-4 record and won the Mountain West title to earn a trip to the Liberty Bowl, while the Rams played in the New Orleans Bowl in 2001. Sanders coached defensive back Jason Gallimore to first-team all-league honors in 2001, while return specialist Dexter Wynn was a first-team pick in both 2001 and 2002.

Before his two seasons at CSU, Sanders spent one season at New Mexico State, where he coached defensive ends and outside linebackers for Head Coach Tony Samuel.

Sanders' first stint as an assistant coach in the state of Nebraska came from 1995 to 1999 when he spent five seasons on Pat Behrns' staff at Nebraska-Omaha. Sanders was the Mavericks' secondary coach for all five seasons and was the team's defensive coordinator for his final three years in Omaha. UNO won two North Central Conference titles and appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs twice during Sanders' tenure. The UNO defense finished eighth nationally against the run in 1998 and set the school single-season sack record in 1999.

A native of Markham, Ill., a Chicago suburb, Sanders was the secondary coach at Minnesota-Morris in 1994, where he also served as sports information director. Sanders coached at Nebraska Wesleyan in 1992 and 1993.

Sanders earned three letters as a defensive back at Nebraska from 1987 to 1989, playing for Tom Osborne and secondary coach George Darlington. Sanders started the first seven games of his senior season at free safety, before suffering a shoulder injury. Sanders finished 1989 with 26 tackles and two interceptions in nine games and earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight honors for the Fiesta Bowl squad.

Sanders received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1990. He is married to the former Susan M. Hyland of Omaha. They have a daughter, Chandler Marie, and a son, Payton.

The Sanders File
Date and Place of Birth: Oct. 2, 1967 in Chicago, Ill.

Family: Wife, Susan; Daughter, Chandler Marie (17); son, Payton (13)

Education: Bachelor’s in business administration, Nebraska, 1990

Playing Experience: 1985-89, Nebraska

Coaching Experience: 1992-93, Nebraska Wesleyan (assistant coach/secondary); 1994, Minnesota-Morris (assistant coach/secondary, sports information director); 1995-96 Nebraska-Omaha (assistant coach/secondary); 1997-99, Nebraska-Omaha (assistant coach/defensive coordinator); 2000, New Mexico State (assistant coach/defensive ends, outside linebackers); 2001-02, Colorado State (assistant coach/secondary); 2003, Nebraska (assistant coach/defensive backs); 2004-06, North Carolina (assistant coach/defensive coordinator, defensive backs); 2008-09, Nebraska (assistant coach/secondary)