Steve Cushing has been named the defensive coordinator for the SUNY Cortland football program, according to Red Dragon head coach Curt Fitzpatrick. 
 
Cushing was promoted to the defensive coordinator position after serving as the team's linebackers coach in 2021. He will work with the team's safeties in addition to his coordinator role. Last fall he coached an All-American and three All-Empire 8 selections, and the Red Dragons ranked fourth nationally in Division III in scoring defense (10.5 points/game), fifth in total defense (213.8 yards/game), and third in defensive touchdowns (5) on the way to winning the Empire 8 title and finishing with an 11-1 record. 
 
"I am honored to be the next defensive coordinator at Cortland," said Cushing. "I am excited to build off our previous success and take the next step as a program. I would like to thank my family and all the coaches who have supported me along the way." 
 
Prior to his arrival at Cortland, Cushing served as an assistant coach at Wilkes University for two seasons, where he coached safeties and also held roles as the team's defensive pass-game coordinator and co-recruiting coordinator. The Colonels went 8-3 during the 2019 season for their highest win total in 13 years and made their first postseason appearance since 2010.
 
Cushing played four years at Misericordia University as a safety and outside linebacker while being named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll. He spent the summer of 2018 as a coach at Goshen High School, where he assisted with on-field running drills for linebackers, running backs and special teams. Cushing also has experience with Youth Football in Warwick and Goshen, developing and implementing practice plans and defensive schemes and teaching proper tackling techniques.
 
Cushing graduated from Misericordia in 2018 with a degree in business with a specialization in marketing.  
 
"I am very excited for Coach Cushing to build on the defensive foundation that we laid during the 2021 season," noted Fitzpatrick. "Steve is a smart and innovative defensive mind. His creativity and attention to detail stood out to me during the search process. We looked at a variety of different highly qualified candidates for this position, but ultimately the search committee and I felt that the best coach for our program was already on our staff. The Red Dragon defensive unit is in great hands, and I am looking forward to Coach Cushing leading our defense for years to come." 
 
As a result of Cushing's promotion, assistant coach Richard Curran will move from coaching defensive line to linebackers and Landon Finkel will switch from a co-defensive line position to outside linebackers/rush ends.