The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
Lionel Stokes enters his first season as UAB's cornerbacks coach in 2026.
Stokes arrives in Birmingham after spending the previous two seasons at Michigan as a defensive analyst. During his time in Ann Arbor, he worked alongside one of the nation's premier defensive staffs and helped the Wolverines field one of the country's top run defenses, ranking among the national leaders against the run in 2025.
Prior to Michigan, Stokes spent three seasons at Louisiana as a defensive analyst, where he worked closely with the defensive backs and assisted with all aspects of the defensive operation, including film breakdown, game planning and player development. His familiarity with secondary play and defensive structure helped prepare him for a return to on-field coaching.
Stokes previously served as defensive coordinator at Jackson State in 2019 after two seasons coaching the Tigers' defensive backs. In his lone season as defensive coordinator, Jackson State ranked second in the SWAC in pass defense and established itself as one of the conference's top defensive units. During his tenure with the Tigers, the defense consistently ranked among the SWAC's best in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense.
He also spent the 2020 season coaching cornerbacks at Nicholls State, continuing a coaching career that has featured experience at the FCS, Group of Five and Power Four levels.
A former defensive back at Louisiana, Stokes was a two-year starter for the Ragin' Cajuns from 2010-11, recording 135 tackles and five interceptions while playing both cornerback and safety. He helped lead Louisiana to a 9-4 record and a victory in the 2011 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, marking one of the most successful seasons in school history at the time.
Following his playing career, Stokes returned to his alma mater as a defensive graduate assistant, where he worked with the secondary while assisting with film study, game planning and academic support.
Stokes earned an associate degree in mathematics from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in 2009 before receiving his bachelor's degree in general studies from Louisiana in 2012. He later earned a master's degree in sport management from Louisiana.
Stokes and his wife, Bria, have one son, Maximus.
