Plymouth State University

STEVE TIRRELL ('89): One of the finest defensive lineman for Plymouth State's renowned Green Wall defense of the 1980s, Steve Tirrell has been successful in university football as both a player and coach. He started his coaching career at Plymouth State, and has gone on to success at Brown University and Northeastern University.

Tirrell helped the Panthers to four New England Football Conference championships and four post-season berths during his playing career, and a combined 38-6 record. He led the team in tackles as a freshman in 1984 and was a key factor in PSC earning its first NCAA berth. He led the Panthers to ECAC berths in '85, '87, and '88, including the memorable upset victory over Ithaca in '87 and the 20 consecutive victories in ‘87-‘88. He earned All-Conference and All-New England honors, and still holds the school records for sacks in a season (14) and career (35) and safeties in a season (3) and career (4).

Tirrell began coaching at PSC under former head coach Lou Desloges. He was a member of the Panther staff under former head coach Don Brown that led the Panthers to consecutive NCAA berths after back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and Freedom Football Conference championships in 1994 and 1995. Tirrell followed Coach Brown to Brown University in 1996, and during his four-year stint helped the Bears capture the 1999 Ivy League Championship. He has been reunited with Coach Brown the past two years, serving as assistant coach at Northeastern University.