Nate Byham finished his third season as Stanford's tight ends coach in 2025, and his first as the Andrew Luck Director of Offense.
Byham helped turn Sam Roush into a Second Team All-ACC selection in 2025 and arguably one of the best in the country. Roush led the ACC in tight end receiving yards (545) and finished tied for the conference lead in tight end receptions (49), ranking fourth and fifth nationally. Roush became the eighth different Cardinal tight end to reach 100 receiving yards in a game when he did so against Pittsburgh, Byham's alma mater. He was also one of five tight ends in the country to have multiple receptions of at least 50 yards.
With Byham serving as the Andrew Luck Director of Offense, Stanford found renewed success at home. The Cardinal averaged 25.2 points per game at home, and the 151 total points inside Stanford Stadium were the program's most since 2018. He also leaned into the ground game with a young running back room. Stanford running backs scored eight rushing touchdowns after the position group scored just three over the previous two seasons combined.
In addition to Roush earning All-ACC honors, Byham helped lead CJ Williams to an honorable mention All-ACC season. Williams ranked seventh in the ACC in receptions (59), ninth in receiving yards (749), and finished one touchdown shy of leading the conference (6). He also became the first Stanford player since Alex Smith in 2004 to have three consecutive 100-yard receiving games.
Roush led the tight end position in 2024 for the Cardinal with the most receiving yards by a Stanford tight end since 2022 and the most receiving touchdowns at the position since 2021. Two true freshmen also made their collegiate debuts at the position in 2024.
Stanford's tight ends were among the team's best receivers in 2023, producing two of the team's five leading receivers. Benjamin Yurosek was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention under Byham's tutelage, which included a 138-yard performance on nine catches in the season-opening win at Hawai'i. It was the third-most receiving yards in an FBS game by a tight end in 2023, trailing only Jared Wiley of TCU and Brock Bowers of Georgia.
He comes to Stanford from the University at Albany, where he finished his ninth season on staff. After a four-year NFL career at tight end, Byham was most recently Albany’s Associate Head Coach, Co-Offensive Coordinator, and Offensive Line Coach.
In 2022, Byham was critical in the success of both tight end Thomas Greaney and quarterback Reese Poffenbarger. Greaney caught 50 passes for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns while being the only Great Dane on the All-CAA first team. He was also named a second team All-American. At QB, Poffenbarger was named a freshman All-American and was named Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Byham coached Karl Mofor, a two-time All-CAA selection who led the conference in rushing in back-to-back seasons (2019, spring 2021). In 2021, Mofor rushed for 115.0 ypg, a season after rushing for 1,290 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Additionally, Byham coached tight end LJ Wesneski, who made seven touchdown receptions to earn All-CAA third-team honors.
In 2018, Byham’s run game scheme helped Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks earn third team All-CAA honors, rushing for 787 yards and four touchdowns on the season and averaging 69.7 rushing yards per game, sixth-highest in the conference. As a team, UAlbany rushed for 110.3 yards per game.
In 2017, Byham coached Anthony Manzo-Lewis, who was named to the All-CAA second team after catching 20 passes for 188 yards. After the season, Manzo-Lewis signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before being named tight ends coach in 2015, Byham served as a volunteer assistant for Albany in 2014. He mentored senior tight end Brian Parker who earned third-team All-CAA honors, signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers following the season.
Byham, a sixth-round pick (182nd overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, played in 14 games, including three starts, with the 49ers before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
A 2010 graduate of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications, Byham saw action in 48 games with 36 starts in his career. Byham served as a team captain during his senior season, also earning All-Big East honors after starting 12 games and catching 10 passes for 108 yards. As a junior, he recorded 20 catches for 260 yards in 12 starts and was named first team All-Big East.
Byham and his wife, Erica, married in July 2012. Their son, Grayson, was born in 2016, and his daughter, Evelyn, was born in 2019.
Coaching Experience
2023-present – Stanford (Tight Ends)/Offensive Coordinator
2022 – Albany (Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2015-21 – Albany (Tight Ends/Run Game Coordinator)
2014 – Albany (Volunteer Assistant)
In 2022, Byham was critical in the success of both tight end Thomas Greaney and quarterback Reese Poffenbarger. Greaney caught 50 passes for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns while being the only Great Dane on the All-CAA first team. He was also named a second team All-American. At QB, Poffenbarger was named a freshman All-American and was named Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Byham coached Karl Mofor, a two-time All-CAA selection who led the conference in rushing in back-to-back seasons (2019, spring 2021). In 2021, Mofor rushed for 115.0 ypg, a season after rushing for 1,290 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Additionally, Byham coached tight end LJ Wesneski, who made seven touchdown receptions to earn All-CAA third-team honors.
In 2018, Byham’s run game scheme helped Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks earn third team All-CAA honors, rushing for 787 yards and four touchdowns on the season and averaging 69.7 rushing yards per game, sixth-highest in the conference. As a team, UAlbany rushed for 110.3 yards per game.
In 2017, Byham coached Anthony Manzo-Lewis, who was named to the All-CAA second team after catching 20 passes for 188 yards. After the season, Manzo-Lewis signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Before being named tight ends coach in 2015, Byham served as a volunteer assistant for Albany in 2014. He mentored senior tight end Brian Parker who earned third-team All-CAA honors, signing as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers following the season.
Byham, a sixth-round pick (182nd overall) in the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, played in 14 games, including three starts, with the 49ers before signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
A 2010 graduate of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications, Byham saw action in 48 games with 36 starts in his career. Byham served as a team captain during his senior season, also earning All-Big East honors after starting 12 games and catching 10 passes for 108 yards. As a junior, he recorded 20 catches for 260 yards in 12 starts and was named first team All-Big East.
Byham and his wife, Erica, married in July 2012. Their son, Grayson, was born in 2016, and his daughter, Evelyn, was born in 2019.
Coaching Experience
2023-present – Stanford (Tight Ends)/Offensive Coordinator
2022 – Albany (Associate Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line)
2015-21 – Albany (Tight Ends/Run Game Coordinator)
2014 – Albany (Volunteer Assistant)