Justin Lerfald joined the Golden Bears as an assistant coach working with the defensive line prior to the 2018 season.
As defensive line coach, Lerfald coached 2021 NFL Draft pick Chris Garrett (Los Angeles Rams, 7th round), a two-time All-American and NCAA Division II record holder for most career forced fumbles (15) while ranking third in NCAA DII history with 1.30 career sacks per game, setting the CSP career record with 36.5 sacks. He led the country in sacks as a sophomore in Lerfald's first season with the program in 2018, and was second in the nation in sacks as a junior in 2019 when the Golden Bears led the nation with 3.73 sacks per game, ranked ninth with 13 fumble recoveries and 30th with 7.7 tackles for loss per game.
Lerfald was most recently at Burnsville High School where he coached the defensive line and was the head strength coach, where his lifting teams have captured five Minnesota State championships, two runner-up finishes, and a third place finish.
Prior his work with the Blaze, Lerfald spent 11 years as an assistant at St. Olaf College. From 2006-12, he coached the defensive line for the Oles, where he mentored numerous All-MIAC and All-Region players.
In 2013, Lerfald coached linebackers before serving as defensive coordinator for the Oles from 2014-2016. Before joining St. Olaf, Lerfald served as offensive and defensive line coach at Montgomery-Lonsdale High School (Minn.) from 2001-05.
His college coaching career began in 2000 as offensive line coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Lerfald lives in Lonsdale, Minnesota with his wife Heather and their children, Brody and Avery.
