Florida native Atif Austin joins the Hatters staff for a second time, after coaching at both the FBS and FCS level, as well as in the NFL.
Austin returns to Stetson after a four year stint at Northern Iowa. It was Austin's second time coaching at UNI, as he served as running backs coach from 2005-10. The Panthers made three FCS Playoff appearances during his first stint in Cedar Falls.
Previous to returning to UNI, Austin coached at Northern Illinois. He worked with the NIU running backs, and served as special teams coordinator. Prior to NIU, he spent the 2018 season as an assistant running backs coach with the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Patriots ranked fifth in the National Football League in rushing.
Prior to his year in the NFL, spent four seasons (2014-18) with North Dakota State, coaching the Bison wide receivers and served as special teams coordinator. During his four-year tenure in Fargo, the Bison made four FCS Playoff appearances, won three National Championships and four Missouri Valley Football Conference titles.
Austin began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Southwest Minnesota State (2003-04) and was the running backs coach at Stetson in 2013.
A four-year starter at defensive back for Iowa State (1999-2002), Iowa State played in three bowl games during his playing career. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Iowa State in 2002 and his master’s in leadership & education from Southwest Minnesota State in 2005.
Austin, a native of Tarpon Springs, Florida, and his wife Tori, have three children; Djoni, Amni and A.J.
