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Prior to being a part of Texas State's Southland Conference championship run last year, Craig Naivar definitely knew what it took to be successful in the Southland Conference. In addition to his experience the past two seasons as the Bobcats' defensive coordinator, he spent four seasons at Sam Houston State, including the final two years as the Bearkats' defensive coordinator.
With his move to Texas State, Naivar has brought a certain energy that reflects in the Bobcats' play on defense. The Bobcats have been among the Southland Conference leaders in quarterback sacks the past two years. The `Cats led the league with 30 sacks last year after being ranked second in the statistical category in 2004. In fact in 2005, Texas State led the league or ranked second in every SLC defensive category.
In the past two years Texas State has had nine players named to the All-Southland Conference team - six to the first team and three to the second squad.
In addition to coordinating the Bobcats' defensive unit, Naivar is also responsible for coaching the squad's safeties. At Texas State, Naivar recruits West Houston and Southwest Houston.
The 2005 season marked the second time Naivar had been a part of a Southland Conference championship.
During his tenure in Huntsville, Sam Houston won the Southland Conference title in 2001 and reached the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, losing in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Montana.
In 2001, the Bearkats led the league in quarterback sacks, ranked second in turnover ratio and third in total defense. During his first season at Sam Houston while working not only on defense but with the Bearkats' special teams, the squad led the league in kickoff returns, were second in punt returns and third in sacks. The Bearkats blocked seven punts, returning five for touchdowns. The team blocked a school-record 12 kicks during the year. At Sam Houston State, Naivar coached nine All-SLC selections.
Naivar also served two seasons as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at Southern Illinois.
Naivar was a defensive graduate assistant coach at TCU during the spring of 1998 under former Texas State and current Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione. He also worked under Franchione at New Mexico in 1996 and 1997, coaching the defensive line, tight ends and wide receivers.
From 1994 to 1995, Naivar was the special teams coordinator and defensive assistant at Hardin-Simmons under Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor member Jimmie Keeling.
Naivar holds both a master's of sports management and a bachelor's of science in degree in physical education from Hardin-Simmons. He was a four-year football letter winner at quarterback and free safety, earning all-conference honors. He played on a conference championship team which advanced to the national semifinals his senior year. He also received academic honors from Hardin-Simmons.
Naivar and his wife Michelle, also a Taylor native, have a daughter, Jordan Ashleigh (three) and a son, Gunner, who was born in January.
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