Ivy League Championships
2000, 2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
Recruiting Areas: Alabama, Florida (East Coast, Panhandle Areas), Georgia (Gwinnett County, South Georgia), Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey (Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem Cumberland, Cape May, Atlantic)
Steven Downs enters his 22nd season as the Quakers’ running backs coach in 2020 with eight Ivy League championships to his credit.
Penn's rushing attack was a key cog in its offense in 2017, with Tre Solomon (second team) and Karekin Brooks (honorable mention) each earning All-Ivy numbers as Penn finished No. 20 in the nation in Rushing Offense (199.5 yards per game). Brooks had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2017, totaling 840 yards which ranked No. 33 among all FCS running backs -- he also ranked No. 33 in the FCS with nine rushing touchdowns.
In 2018, Brooks followed with a second-team All-Ivy season which included 898 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Brooks ranked No. 29 in the nation in yards per game (89.8).
In 2019, Brooks ended his career by earning first team All-Ivy honors. He led the Ivy League and ranked eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game (114.1). As a team, Penn rushed for over 140 yards per game in 2019. During the 2019 season, Down guided Brooks to finishing third in program history with 2,847 career rushing yards and sixth in program history with 26 career rushing TDs. Brooks is also now second in program history with 5.5 yards-per-carry.
In 2016, Downs coached the Ivy League's leading rusher in Tre Solomon who finished with 907 yards -- the most by a Penn running back since 2006. Solomon would also lead all Ivy League running backs with nine rushing touchdowns. Solomon would go on to earn unanimous first-team All-Ivy honors.
In 2015, Downs coached a running backs corps which averaged 169.2 yards-per-game -- second-most in the Ivy League. The Quakers had a stable of running backs, but Brian Schoenauer (5.3) and Tre Solomon (4.5) were second and fifth, respectively, in yards-per-carry in the Ivy League.
Since Downs joined the staff in 1999, at least one Penn running back has received All-Ivy honors in 18 of his 20 seasons. That list includes six first-team distinctions and two former NFL players.
Kyle Wilcox earned All-Ivy honorable mention honors in 2013, while Lyle Marsh earned second-team accolades in 2012 and Brandon Colavita took home honorable mention status in 2011.
A year prior, Marsh was lost for all of 2010 with an injury in the second game of the year. Downs had several underclassmen ready to fill the spot and the Quakers finished the year with the sixth-best rushing offense in the nation. Penn also led the Ivy League in scoring behind 28 rushing touchdowns—one off the school record set in 1972. Colavita earned All-Ivy recognition as a sophomore as he finished second in the league in scoring with 12 touchdowns and fourth in the league in rushing with 728 yards. His 5.8 yards per carry marked the second-best single-season performance in school history. Meanwhile, sophomore Jeff Jack started 10 games and ran for 466 yards, and two-time All-Ivy fullback Luke DeLuca was named an All-American by Phil Steele.
In 2009, when returning All-Ivy running back Michael DiMaggio was hampered by injury, Downs' freshman protege Lyle Marsh stepped up to the challenge. Marsh averaged 4.7 yards per carry—tied for the sixth-best season in program history—and earned second-team All-Ivy recognition. Meanwhile, fullback Luke DeLuca was also named to the all-league second team as he led the team with five touchdowns and finished seventh in the Ancient Eight in scoring.
Downs’ running backs also had a productive 2008 season. One of Downs’ primary running backs, Michael DiMaggio carried on the All-Ivy tradition as he earned second team honors, while ranking third in the Ivy League in rushing.
Under Downs in 2007, running back Joe Sandberg returned to the All-Ivy first team after finishing second in the Ivy League in rushing. In 2006, Sandberg became the 11th player in Penn history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. The 2005 season featured the dual-threat combo of two-time All-Ivy selection Sam Mathews and Sandberg ran past Ancient Eight defenses. Mathews graduated from Penn as its fourth-leading rusher all-time with 2,505 yards.
Downs also coached first-team All-Ivy League backs in 2003 (Matthews) and 2001 (Kris Ryan). Ryan and Stephen Faulk (second-team All-Ivy in 2002) each signed NFL free agent contracts after graduation. Ryan graduated as the school’s all-time leading rusher. Mathews’ 1,266 yards in his Quaker debut in 2003 was the fourth-best season since the inception of the program in 1877.
Prior to his current stint in West Philadelphia, Downs joined former Penn assistant Ed Foley as a member of the Jacksonville coaching staff in 1995. In addition to his duties as running backs coach, Downs also supervised the student-athlete education enhancement program and ran the film exchange. Downs came to Penn for his first season as an offensive assistant and took over running backs in 2000.
Downs was a three-year starter at Central State University and was a member of its 1995 NAIA Division I National Championship team. He played cornerback, free safety, both linebacker positions and also saw time on the special teams unit. In 1997, Downs had a tryout as a strong safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Downs and his wife, Dusty, reside in Berlin, N.J., with their daughter, Kyla, and son, Steven Michael, Jr.
THE DOWNS FILE
Coaching Experience
Running Backs Coach - Penn, 2000-present
Offensive Assistant - Penn, 1999
Running Backs Coach - Jacksonville, 1998
First Year at Penn 1999
Alma Mater Central State, 1995
Hometown Philadelphia
Residence Philadelphia
Family Wife, Dusty
Children Daughter, Kyla; Son, Steven Michael, Jr.
Education
1995 B.A., Central State University
