Defensive Coaching Staff

Sean McGowan | Head Coach of Defense, (LB)

Sean McGowan joined the Yale defensive staff in 2015, coaching the linebackers through the 2017 campaign. He switched to defensive backs in 2018 but returned to the linebackers in 2019 as he took over as the defensive coordinator and associate head coach. He was promoted to head coach of defense in 2023.

McGowan has been on the staff for four Ivy League championships (2023, 2022, 2019 and 2017). In 2023, the Bulldogs finished 17th in the nation in scoring defense, and six members of the unit earned All-Ivy recognition, including three first team selections. In 2022 he led a defensive unit that was fifth in the FCS in scoring defense (19.5 ppg.) and seventh in rushing defense (105.9 yards per game). Eight Bulldogs under his direction earned All-Ivy honors in 2022.

In 2017, McGowan led a record-setting defense that touted seven All-Ivy selections, including Bushnell Cup winner Matthew Oplinger, who went to play in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons.

McGowan, who coached at seven different schools and has been a defensive coordinator at three, brought a wealth of experience to New Haven when he joined Tony Reno’s staff.

McGowan, who has more than 20 years of college coaching experience, came to Yale from Boston College, where he helped the Eagles win seven games in 2014 and earn a trip to the Pinstripes Bowl.

In the first of his two seasons at BC, McGowan orchestrated a special teams unit that included the nation’s best in field-goal percentage and a first-team All-American kicker (Nate Freese) who was perfect on 20 field goal attempts in 2013. The 2014 kick-return unit finished fourth in the nation with 26 yards per return, while the kickoff coverage was 19th with an 18.5 average. He also worked with the Eagles' linebackers.

Before that he served as inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator under Steve Addazio (2011-12) at Temple.

McGowan spent seven (2004-10) seasons at the University of New Hampshire as a defensive coach. He coached the defensive backs his first two seasons before being promoted to defensive coordinator while helping UNH to seven consecutive NCAA playoff appearances, including six appearances in the quarterfinals.

The Wildcats, who had 16 all-conference selections coached by McGowan, were 65-25 in those seven seasons, including 5-1 against FBS squads.

His other coaching assignments included West Virginia Tech (2003, DC), Duquesne (2002, DC), Pittsburgh (1999-2001, grad assistant) and Occidental College (1998, QBs). In his one campaign with Duquesne, his charges ranked first in I-AA in total defense.

McGowan, a quarterback and safety at Fordham from 1995-98, grew up in Cheshire, Conn., and attended Cheshire High School. He earned his B.A. in business from Fordham in 1998.

He and his wife, Ashley, have three children, Liam, Owen and Aden.

Steven Vashel | Special Teams Coordinator, Outside Linebackers, Specialists

Steven Vashel, who has coached football at seven different schools in the Northeast, joined the Yale defensive staff in 2010. He currently is the special teams coordinator, while also coaching the outside linebackers and specialists. His work has helped bring the Bulldogs four Ivy League Championships (2017, 2019, 2022, 2023).

Vashel served as defensive backs coach from 2014 through 2016, and in 2017 began coaching outside linebackers as well as serving as special teams coordinator.

Vashel coached Atlanta Falcons sixth round draft pick and All-Ivy player Foyesade Oloukun. Oloukun, who is currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars, led the NFL in tackles in 2021 and 2022. Vashel also mentored 2016 team MVP Jason Alessi and 2016 all-league selection Dale Harris. A pair of Eli backs earned All-Ivy honors in 2015, including first-team selection Spencer Rymiszewski and honorable mention pick Cole Champion. In 2022, Vashel mentored Jack Bosman, who was the first team All-Ivy placekicker.

Vashel spent three years (2009 to 2011) as the defensive backs coach at the University of Maine, where his charges led the Colonial Athletic Association in pass defense in 2011. Two of his former players, Jerron McMillian (fourth round draft, Packers) and Trevor Coston (free agent, Bears), were signed by NFL teams.

He worked with the DBs and kickers at Bucknell for three seasons, from 2006 to 2008. His time in Lewisburg, Pa., followed a seven-year (1999-2005) stint as defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Bates College.

Vashel also worked at King’s College (1995-98), Harvard (1994), Springfield (1992-93) and Trinity (1991), while getting his master’s degree in sports management from Springfield in 1994. He also earned an undergraduate degree at Springfield.

Vashel and his wife, Cathy, have two sons, Ethan and Cole.

Jay Anderson | Co-Defensive Coordinator/DB

Jay Anderson joined the Yale staff as Defensive Backs Coach in February of 2022 and was promoted to Co-Defensive Coordinator in March of 2023.

The Bulldogs have captured Ivy League titles in each of his first two seasons (2022, 2023). One of his pupils, Wande Owens, earned first team All-Ivy honors in both 2022 and 2023 and served as the captain of #Team150. In his first season as Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2023, Yale finished 17th in the nation on scoring defense.

Anderson came to Yale after serving the 2021 season as the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Johns Hopkins University. The nationally ranked Blue Jays won the Centennial Conference with an 8-1 record and went 10-2 overall including a NCAA tournament victory during his tenure. He coached two All-Americans on the defensive side of the ball, both of whom were just sophomores.

Prior to Hopkins, Anderson spent a season with Notre Dame College as its Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. It was his second stop in Euclid, Ohio, as he had previously served as the Linebackers Coach during the 2012 season.

Anderson brings head coaching acumen to New Haven as he spent six seasons as the head coach at Oberlin College beginning in 2014. In his fourth year, he led the Yeomen to their best record in five seasons and mentored five All-North Coast Athletic Conference selections.

Anderson got his collegiate coaching start with Oberlin as the Linebackers Coach from 2009-12 before returning in 2013 as the Yeoman’s Defensive Coordinator.

Anderson was a four-year letter winner at Toledo, where he started 48 games in the secondary and graduated with a degree in English in 2003. He helped the Rockets to the 2001 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship, MAC Western Division titles in 2000 and 2002 and back-to-back appearances in the Motor City Bowl in 2001 and 2002.

Tim Janecek | Defensive Line Coach

Tim Janecek joined Tony Reno’s staff in March of 2023 as defensive line coach and helped the Bulldogs win an Ivy League championship in his first season.

Two of his linemen, Clay Patterson (1st team) and Alvin Gulley Jr. (honorable mention) earned All-Ivy recognition under his guidance.

Janecek came to Yale from North Central College in Illinois where he served as defensive line coach and strength coordinator starting in 2015.

During his tenure, North Central has been one of the most successful programs in Division III, including capturing national championships in 2022 and 2019. In 2022, the Cardinals finished with a 15-0 record, and allowed less than seven points per game. Janecek mentored defensive tackle Dan Lester, who earned All-America recognition, and helped four defensive linemen earn All-CCIW honors for the first time in school history.

At North Central, Janecek coached three All-North Region selections, 11 All-CCIW selections. In 2017, North Central led the nation in sacks per game (4.25), and in 2016 the Cardinals set set a school record with 51 quarterback sacks.

Janecek was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at defensive end for North Central from 2006 to 2009. He was a two-time All-CCIW selection, played on four CCIW championship teams and in three NCAA Division III Tournaments. He graduated from North Central with a bachelor’s degree in history in 2011.

After graduating, Janecek was a graduate assistant coach at North Central in 2013 and spent the 2014 season as the defensive line coach at Aurora University.