KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan football program and head coach Lance Taylor has announced the hiring of Seth Payne to the position of Assistant Coach – Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator.  

  

Payne joins the Broncos after spending the 2024 season as the assistant defensive line coach and pass rush specialist at Vanderbilt. With his work and the work of defensive line coach Larry Black, the Commodores saw a jump in sacks from 101st in the nation in 2023 to 64th in 2024. Payne also helped coach VU to its first winning season and bowl victory in over a decade.  

  

"We are thrilled to welcome Seth Payne to the Bronco Brotherhood and the Kalamazoo community as Defensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator," said Taylor. "He is a proven teacher of the game who brings unmatched integrity, passion, and energy to his coaching. His track record of developing players and his ability to inspire and connect with young men make him a perfect fit for our program. I have no doubt that his leadership and expertise will make an immediate and lasting impact on our team." 

  

Prior to Vanderbilt, Payne spent five seasons at Elon, where he served as defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator. He was also the recruiting coordinator for the 2023 season. Payne's defensive line ranked in the top 20 for three straight seasons in sacks per game. He also coached Marcus Willoghby in 2019, who went on to be the career sack record holder at Elon and signed free agent deals with the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.  

  

"I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of this great program and to work with these young men, developing them both on and off the field," said Payne. "Coach Taylor has a great vision of what this program is all about and how we can attain our goals as a team!" 

  

Payne was also a graduate assistant at Wake Forest from 2015-17 and served as the linebackers coach in 2016. Payne was also a defensive assistant at Villanova in 2014. He started his coaching career at Moravian, his alma mater, as a defensive line and linebackers coach. At Moravian, he was a two-time All-Conference defensive lineman and served as the team captain during his senior season. He graduated with a degree in accounting in 2012 and then earned a Master's degree in liberal arts from Wake Forest in 2017.  

  

Clark Lea 
Vanderbilt Head Coach, 2021-Present 
"I am so grateful to have had Seth with us at Vanderbilt. Our players have benefited from his dedication and leadership, and he will be missed. With that said, I could not be more excited for he and his family to be moving on to Western Michigan. Seth is a rising star in the coaching profession and will have a great impact in Kalamazoo."