Education: Ouachita (2022)
Seasons Coached: 1
In his first season with the Tigers, Stafford helped coach the Ouachita defensive line that allowed less than 150 rushing yards per game and produced an All-GAC defensive tackle in Braylen Butler.
After completing one of the most decorated playing careers in Ouachita Baptist University football history, Stafford chose to remain on the sideline wearing purple and white, but this time as a coach for the Tigers. He began his new role in the Spring 2023 semester.
The Amarillo, Texas native earned All-America honors twice for his athletic performance and once for his academics in his six-year undergraduate career. He was one of the best offensive linemen in the country at the NCAA Division II level, but as a coach, his career will start on the opposite side of the trenches as an assistant coach for the defensive lineman.
Since he initially enrolled at Ouachita in 2017, Stafford has worked his way up through the ranks of the Tiger football program, from redshirt freshman to backup player to starter to team captain and now to assistant coach. He graduated from Ouachita in December of 2022 with bachelor’s degree in three different majors – finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship. He was a nine-time member of the Ouachita Dean’s List and a four-time member of the Great American Conference All-Academic Team.
Stafford racked up numerous accolades during his playing career. In addition to the many honors received for his athletic performance, Stafford was named an Academic All-American in 2022, becoming the program’s first student-athlete to earn the top honors in both categories. He was a nominee for the Gene Upshaw D2 Lineman of the Year Award and was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is college football’s premier scholar athlete award. Stafford’s hometown of Amarillo even made January 3 “Peyton Stafford Day” in honor of his accomplishments.
Stafford recently got married to his wife Karlee in July of 2024.
Coaching Experience:
Ouachita Tight Ends 2024-Present
Ouachita Defensive Line 2023
