Van Malone arrived on the Hilltop as SMU's Defensive Coordinator in 2015, coming to the Hilltop from Oklahoma State, where he spent three seasons coaching defensive backs.
In 2016, Malone's defense was statistically one of the 10 most-improved in college football. The Mustangs ranked seventh nationally in interceptions per game and forced 26 turnovers in all. Following the season, defensive backs Darrion Millines and Horace Richardson, who each ranked in the top 15 for interceptions in 2016, as well as defensive end Justin Lawler were named first-team All-Conference.
At OSU, Malone coached the Cowboy safeties in 2012 before switching to cornerbacks coach prior to the 2013 season. Under Malone's direct guidance, Justin Gilbert became Oklahoma State's first finalist for the 2013 Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's top defensive back. Gilbert ranked fifth nationally with six interceptions and had two pick-sixes in 2013.
With Malone on staff, the Cowboys ranked seventh nationally with 30 turnovers forced during the 2013 regular season, with 10 of those turnovers involving his cornerbacks. The Cowboys entered the Cotton Bowl ranked in the top 25 nationally in scoring defense (14th), turnovers gained (seventh), passes intercepted (fourth), red zone defense (fifth), pass efficiency defense (ninth), tackles for loss (15th), third-down conversion percentage defense (seventh) and rushing defense (22nd) just one year after ranking in the top-25 nationally in only one of those categories (tackles for loss - 25th in 2012).
Malone came to Stillwater after spending two years serving as secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Tulsa. Forcing turnovers was a recurring theme during Malone's time in Tulsa. In 2010, the Tulsa defense ranked first nationally in interceptions with 24, while the Hurricane was the NCAA's second-ranked team for turnover margin and third for turnovers gained. In 2011, Tulsa was 12th nationally with 18 passes intercepted and 25th with 28 turnovers gained despite facing elite quarterbacks such as Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, Boise State's Kellen Moore, Houston's Case Keenum and Oklahoma's Landry Jones. With Malone on staff, Tulsa compiled a 13-3 record in Conference USA.
Prior to his appointment at Tulsa, Malone spent four seasons at Texas A&M as a secondary coach. He coached the cornerbacks in his first two years (2006-07) and spent his final two seasons (2008-09) coaching the safeties.
Malone coached defensive backs at the University of North Texas during the 2005 season and also assisted coaching the special teams. Before that, Malone served as the cornerback coach and worked with the special teams at Western Michigan in 2004.
In 2003, Malone served an NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Detroit Lions and also worked with wide receivers at North Dakota State University.
Malone played five seasons in the NFL after being drafted in the second round - the 57th selection overall - by the Detroit Lions in 1994. He played in every game as a rookie and was a standout special teams player, earning Special Teams Player of the Week on six different occasions. His special teams play earned him a nomination for the Pro Bowl in 1994 and 1995. The Lions reached the NFL playoffs in both 1994 and 1995. In 1996, Malone started every game and was named the special teams captain and was awarded a game ball three times. After the 1997 season, Malone signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals and retired after the 1998 season due to injury.
During his time with the Lions, Malone also served as a marketing intern with Reebok International and provided post-game analysis and commentary for Fox Television Sports as a co-host in Detroit (Fox2). He was a True Value NFL Man of the Year semifinalist and was called on by the club to speak to many organizations.
Beginning in 1997, Malone was a youth camp director and football coordinator at the Texas Sports Development Academy in San Antonio. He also co-founded and headed up the "New Beginnings", a non-profit charity organization in Houston.
Malone began coaching in the high school ranks at his alma mater, Houston Waltrip, from 1999-2002. He also coached at Conroe High School from 2002-03. He earned the Houston High School Coaches Association "Assistant Coach of the Year" in 2000 and was also honored by the Houston Police Department with the "Lifesaver of the Year" Award.
Malone was a four-year letterman (1990-93) at the University of Texas, earning third-team All-America honors and All-SWC accolades as a defensive back his senior season. He was honored as a Longhorn team captain in 1993 and was awarded the Darrell Royal Award for tenacity in 1993 as well. Malone played in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic and the Hula Bowl following his senior campaign. As a freshman in 1990, Malone earned Sporting News Freshman All-America honors as Texas won the Southwest Conference Championship.
Malone continues to serve on the National Minority Issues Committee and the program committee of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He is a lifetime member of the Texas High School Coaches Association, was a member of the Houston Coaches Association (1998-2003) and the Houston Area Minority Coaches Association (1998-2003). He is a member of the National Black Coaches Association and the National Federation of High School Coaches Association.
A native of Houston who majored in education/sports management while at Texas, Malone completed his undergraduate work through the NFL's degree completion program and earned his degree in social science from the University of Houston in 2002.
Malone and his wife, Nedra, have three sons, Van, Vaughn and Vincent.
