WEST POINT, N.Y. – It’s been a busy start to 2009 for new Army football coach Rich Ellerson.
Two weeks to the day after being named the 36th head coach in the Black Knights’ long and storied history, Ellerson announced the hiring of 11 assistants to his first West Point staff on Friday. Among those named by Army’s new field boss are five holdovers from the Black Knights’ coaching staff this past fall and five others that served as members of Ellerson’s highly successful coaching contingent at Cal Poly in 2008.
In addition to retaining John Mumford, Tucker Waugh, Tony Coaxum, Robert Lyles and Capt. Clarence Holmes from last year’s Army staff, Ellerson announced the hiring of Ian Shields, Payam Saadat, Chris Smeland, Gene McKeehan, Bill Tripp, and Andy Guyader. All but Smeland worked for Ellerson at Cal Poly last fall.
Shields, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs’ explosive triple-option attack last fall, will maintain the same duties at West Point, while Saadat and Smeland will share defensive coordinator duties on Ellerson’s initial West Point coaching staff. Saadat shouldered those responsibilities the past three years for Ellerson at Cal Poly, while Smeland has spent 24 years as a defensive coordinator on the collegiate level. Waugh, who has served two separate stints as Army’s recruiting coordinator and returned to that role last year, will continue to perform those duties once again under Ellerson.
Though Army’s new field boss has not finalized specific positional responsibilities in all cases, Ellerson stated that he expected Mumford, Coaxum, Lyles and Holmes to join Saadat and Smeland on defense, with Waugh, McKeehan, Tripp and Guyader joining Shields on offense. Shields, McKeehan, Tripp and Guyander combined to form the coaching nucleus of Cal Poly’s vaunted offense last fall.
“There aren’t a lot of people out there that are intimate with what we do defensively,” Ellerson explained. “I’m fortunate to bring two coaches with me that have been in leadership roles on both the front end (defensive line) and the back end (defensive secondary) of this defense. They have been defensive coordinators and have run the entire defense. Chris has coordinated from back. Payam is as experienced with this system as anybody and has coordinated from the front.
“The coaches that we are retaining from last year’s Army staff are good men. They love West Point and they are familiar with the returning players in our program. As we articulate the job descriptions for our players within this defense, those coaches will provide invaluable assistance in getting the players in the right positions quickly. My hope is that we can make a seamless transition to our style of play because we’ll have great insights not only into the personnel, but what the personnel has been taught. We feel we will not have to take two steps back before we take a step forward.”
Ellerson stated that he was pleased to bring the majority of his offensive coaching staff from Cal Poly intact, as he looks to build on the foundation of the triple option that was restored along the banks of the Hudson a year ago.
“On offense, we are bringing four men that have been working together very successfully in this style of play. They speak the same language, they have the same expectations of what’s going to happen when we snap the football, and we can build on the good work that was done here a year ago in the transition phase.
“The direction of the offense will change somewhat, as well as the refinements, and the certainly the expectations. We’ll be looking for opportunities to adjust the personnel of the offense as much as anything. The biggest difference will be how we complement the triple option and how we assign our personnel. But we absolutely can take advantage of much of the work that was done last year. It will be a great stepping off point.”
Following a two-year absence as Cal Poly’s offensive coordinator, Shields returned to the role last fall and helped lead the Mustangs to a record-setting campaign.
Cal Poly’s triple-option offense experienced unparalleled success this past season, establishing school records for first downs (262), first downs rushing (162), points scored (488) and touchdowns (67). Cal Poly piled up at least 49 points in six of 11 contests, topped the 50-point barrier three times and registered a season-high 69 points in a home defeat of Southern Utah. In all, Cal Poly scored in 41 of their 44 quarters of action this fall. The Mustangs finished the season ranked first nationally in both total offense (487.45) and scoring offense (44.36), second in pass efficiency (167.72) and third in rushing offense (306.45).
Shields, who served as Cal Poly’s co-offensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005, departed San Luis Obispo in 2006 when he began a two-year stint as head coach at Eastern Oregon University (2006-07). The Mountaineers posted 6-5 and 1-10 records in those two seasons, the first two years the program competed in the scholarship Frontier League of NAIA. Shields led the Mountaineers to a 6-5 finish, winning their last three games of the 2006 season. Prior that year, the Frontier coaches had picked EOU to finish in last place.
As co-offensive coordinator at Cal Poly during his previous two seasons with the Mustangs, Shields was instrumental in developing a dynamic spread option offensive attack and guiding Cal Poly to its first NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff berth and victory in 2005. That year, the Mustang offense averaged 27.2 points and 352.8 yards per game as Cal Poly posted a 9-4 record and reached the quarterfinal round of the national playoffs.
Cal Poly’s offense generated 30.2 points and 387.2 yards a contest in 2004, racing to a 9-2 record and the first of two Great West Conference championships.
A 1994 graduate of Oregon State University and former quarterback for the Beavers, Shields served a one-year term as offensive coordinator at Bucknell University in 2003. The Bison recorded the biggest single-season turnaround in Patriot League history that season, leading the league in rushing, passing efficiency, turnover margin, fewest penalties against and fewest sacks against.
A native Oregonian, Shields began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Oregon State. He worked with the Beavers’ linebackers, tight ends, quarterbacks and running backs, while assisting with OSU’s special teams during that three-season (1994-96) stay. He moved on to Eastern Oregon for the first time in 1997, assuming offensive coordinator duties for three years (1997-99). During that time he helped to develop the Mountaineers’ all-time leading passer, rusher and receiver. Eastern Oregon’s offense established 35 school records during that period.
Shields moved on to Saint Mary’s in 2000, heading the Gaels’ vaunted spread-option attack for three seasons (2000-02). St. Mary’s finished in the top five nationally in rushing offense each of those seasons. In his first season at St, Mary’s, Shields helped the Gaels shatter single season school records in rushing yards (3404), touchdowns (50) and first downs (233). St. Mary’s also established single game school standards in scoring (71 points) and rushing yards (535).
Shields, who lettered three times in football and twice in baseball at Oregon State, was elected team captain of the gridiron squad during his final campaign. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and earned a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from OSU in 1997. He and his wife, Norma, a former collegiate volleyball standout at Eastern Oregon, have two sons: Beau, 6, and Jonah, 4.
A member of Ellerson’s staff at Cal Poly the last five years, Saadat has held the title of defensive coordinator for the Mustangs the last three seasons. Saadat mentored the Cal Poly linebackers during the first of his two tours in San Luis Obispo in 1996 and 1997 before returning to Cal Poly as linebackers coach for the 2004 season. He was promoted to full time assistant status in 2005 and was named the Mustangs’ defensive coordinator in March 2006. He also oversaw Cal Poly’s defensive linemen this past season.
A native of Santa Monica, Calif., Saadat lettered as a standout linebacker at Washington State University before graduating in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He helped lead the team to a Copper Bowl berth in 1992 and a spot in the Alamo Bowl during his final campaign. Saadat earned Washington State team awards for courage, inspiration and strength that season as well.
Saadat, 33, began his coaching career during undergraduate days at Washington State, working with the Cougars’ inside linebackers in his redshirt season in 1993. He would go on to a similar role at Santa Monica College following graduation (1995). During his first coaching stint at Cal Poly, he earned his master's degree in kinesiology in 1998.
Saadat departed Cal Poly following the 1997 season and signed on at Western Washington University, where he worked with the defensive line and special teams for six years (1998-2003). He also served as the Vikings’ recruiting coordinator and an assistant strength and conditioning coach during that stretch. Saadat accepted a position as defensive line coach at Saint Mary's in January 2004 before the school dropped football two months later. Shortly thereafter, he began a long association with Ellerson on the staff at Cal Poly.
During Saadat’s first season in San Luis Obispo in 2004, Cal Poly’s defense ranked first nationally in rushing defense, allowing opponents just 84.3 yards rushing per game, and ninth in scoring defense (16.6 ppg.) The Mustangs also established single season school records in quarterback sacks (50) and interceptions (25). Cal Poly ranked first and second nationally, in those categories, respectively, that season.
Cal Poly increased its school-record sack total to 62 the following year (2005) and retained its No. 1 national ranking in the category. The Mustangs also listed 14th nationally in rushing defense, 13th in scoring defense and 22nd in total defense that year. In 2006, the Mustangs finished sixth nationally in total defense (248.27) and were ranked in the top 20 in five other defensive categories (third in pass defense, fourth in sacks, fifth in tackles for lost yardage, 10th in scoring defense and 19th in rushing defense).
The Mustangs closed this past season ranked second in quarterback sacks (3.36 per game) and tied for 42nd in tackles for loss (6.36).
Saadat is married to the former Erica Olson. The couple has one daughter, Rowan Svea, 3.
While Smeland has not coached with Ellerson since their days together at the University of Hawai’i, Army’s new co-defensive coordinator has remained well-versed in Ellerson’s Double Eagle Flex scheme the past three decades, introducing the system during his stints as defensive coordinator at Utah State University, the University of Louisville and Michigan State University.
In all, Smeland boasts 24 years of experience as a defensive coordinator at the Division I level. He worked directly under highly respected head coach John L. Smith during 12 of those seasons.
During his most recent stop at Michigan State, the Spartans’ defense played a major role in the team's remarkable turnaround in 2003. Michigan State led the Big Ten in quarterback sacks (45 for 299 yards), takeaways (29) and interceptions (15). The Spartans also ranked among the Big Ten (6th) and NCAA leaders (27th) in rushing defense, allowing only 124.8 yards per game. In 2003, Michigan State held four opponents under the 100-yard rushing mark while permitting just nine rushing touchdowns.
The Spartans displayed dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the football in 2003. That fact is magnified when considering the unit that had ranked ninth in the Big Ten and No. 110 nationally (out of 117) in rushing defense the previous season, surrendering 213.8 yards per game. The 2002 Spartans also finished ninth in the Big Ten in sacks (19 for 113 yards) and takeaways (19).
Prior to his stint at Michigan State, the 58-year-old Smeland played an integral part in helping Louisville to a combined record of 41-21 (.661) from 1998 to 2002. The Cardinals earned five consecutive postseason bowl appearances and back-to-back Conference USA championships (2000 and 2001) during that tenure. He also helped develop players who earned All-Conference USA honors 16 times, including seven first-team selections.
From 2000 to 2002, Louisville's defense led the nation with 132 quarterback sacks to go along with 86 takeaways, including 54 interceptions. The Cardinals ranked among the NCAA leaders in rushing defense (17th) and total defense (22nd) in 2002 and finished the 2001 campaign ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense, permitting only 17.8 points per game.
In 2000, Louisville ranked among the NCAA leaders in rushing defense (No. 4) and total defense (No. 15) while forcing a nation-best 37 turnovers. All-America safety Anthony Floyd led the NCAA with 10 interceptions (tied Akron's Dwight Smith).
During a three-year stint as defensive coordinator at Utah State under Smith from 1995 to 1997, the Aggies won consecutive Big West Conference crowns in 1996-97. Smeland tutored six first-team All-Big West selections. In 1997, Utah State led the Big West in every defensive category and finished ranked 25th nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 115.6 yards per game.
In 1995, the Aggies also ranked among the league leaders in every defensive category - finishing second in total defense, second in passing defense and third in rushing defense. Utah State allowed fewer than 16 points per game in conference play.
A 1974 graduate of Cal Poly, Smeland earned all-conference and All-Little Coast honors as a senior member of the Mustangs’ football program. He also served as team captain during his senior season and lettered four times as a defensive back before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He would go on to earn a master’s degree in finance from the University of Colorado in 1976.
Smeland first became acquainted with Ellerson at the University of Hawai’i, where Smeland spent four years as a member of the Warriors’ defensive staff (1991-94). Smeland’s first season at Hawai’i (1991) marked Ellerson’s last as the Warriors’ defensive coordinator. After working with Hawai’i’s inside and outside linebackers that year, Smeland succeeded Ellerson as defensive coordinator in 1992 after Ellerson departed to take a defensive position at the University of Arizona. Smeland held that title for the Warriors for three years (1992-94) before joining Smith at Utah State in 1995.
Hawai’i captured a share of the Western Athletic Conference championship in 1992 and finished 11-2 overall, including a 27-17 Holiday Bowl triumph over Illinois, thanks in part to a defensive unit which ranked second in the league in rushing defense (167.2). Smeland tutored two first-team All-WAC selections during his tenure, including nose guard Maa Tanuvasa (1992) and linebacker Junior Faavae (1994).
Prior to his term at Hawai’i, Smeland served as defensive coordinator at Kent State University (1988-90) and Cal Poly (1982-87). His coaching credits also include stops at the University of Nevada, where he tutored the offensive line from 1979 to 1981. Colorado, where he worked with outside linebackers in 1978 and Southwestern Louisiana University, where he oversaw inside linebackers in 1977.
He and his wife, Barbara, have three children: Jamie Christine (25), Kathleen Nicole (23) and Kristen Kelly (16).
McKeehan is no stranger to Ellerson or service academy football. A member of each of Ellerson’s eight coaching staffs at Cal Poly, McKeehan spent six years on the coaching staff at Navy prior to arriving on the West Coast in 2001.
After serving as offensive coordinator for three seasons, McKeehan was promoted to associate head coach in February 2004 and moved back to the offensive line in 2007 after handling the running backs for one year.
Appointed to Ellerson’s staff at Cal Poly in 2001, McKeehan helped install a new offensive set for the Mustangs. The new system utilized the spread-option offense, while still maintaining its vaunted passing attack.
The Mustangs responded well to the switch, averaging 27.0 points and 210 yards passing per game in 2001, while Cal Poly averaged 28.7 points and 368 yards of total offense per game two years later en route to a 7-4 overall record. The Mustangs allowed just 11 sacks and ranked 35th nationally in total offense (387.18) on their way to a 9-2 record in 2004.
Cal Poly ranked 20th nationally in rushing offense (207.38) in 2005 with the offensive front yielding only 15 quarterback sacks. After listing 23rd nationally in rushing offense in 2006, the Mustangs finished No. 2 in the nation in total offense, surpassed the 500-yard mark four times and shattered the school record for most points scored in a season one year later.
The Mustangs continued their prolific offensive ways this past fall, establishing four single season school records and closing the year ranked first nationally in both total offense (487.45) and scoring offense (44.36), second in pass efficiency (167.72) and third in rushing offense (306.45).
Prior to arriving at Cal Poly, McKeehan served as assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Navy for six seasons (1995-2000). He helped to guide a Navy offense that ranked first nationally in rushing offense in 1999 and sixth in 2000. Prior to coaching at Navy, McKeehan was an assistant at Utah State for 13 seasons (1982-94), serving as offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach.
A 1968 graduate of Utah State where he lettered at wide receiver and tight end, McKeehan assumed graduate assistant duties at Utah State for two seasons (1971-72). After earning his master's degree, he coached the offensive line at Wake Forest University for six years (1973-78) and the University of Virginia for two seasons (1978-79).
A native of Compton, Calif., McKeehan and his wife Ann Lee have two daughters, Summer and Jamie.
A volunteer assistant coach at Cal Poly in 2005, Tripp was elevated to full-time status by Ellerson as the Mustangs’ offensive line coach in 2006. He coached the defensive line in 2007 and returned to the offensive front this past fall, working primarily with the Mustangs’ tackles.
Tripp served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly for 10 seasons (1989-98) under head coaches Lyle Setencich, Andre Patterson and Larry Welsh, before assuming a stint in the professional ranks. Tripp departed Cal Poly in 1999, joining the staff of the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League, then served one year at Nevada in 2000 before returning to the SaberCats for five seasons (2001-05). Tripp returned to Cal Poly to serve under Ellerson in the summer of 2005 and assisted with the defensive line.
Prior to his first stint with the Mustangs, Tripp shouldered duties as head coach at Canyon del Oro High School in Arizona for two seasons (1987-88). He was offensive line coach at Boise State for five years (1982-86) and held a similar position at the University of Idaho from 1978 to 1981.
A native of nearby Newburgh, N.Y., Tripp lettered three years at offensive guard at the University of Bridgeport, earning all-conference honors as a senior. A three-year starter, he received a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Bridgeport in 1970. He went on to earn a master’s degree from Arizona in 1971.
Tripp began his coaching career as an assistant at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, Ariz., from 1971 to 1972 before serving a three-year stint as the school’s head coach from 1973 to 1975. One of Tripp’s players at Salpointe was none other than Ellerson, then a fullback and linebacker at Salpointe in the early 1970s. Tripp also served as head coach at Sahuarita High School from 1976 to 1977.
Tripp and his wife, Paula, have one daughter, Jennifer.
A graduate of Cal Poly who lettered at quarterback for the Mustangs between 1992 and 1996, Guyader spent the past five years on the staff at his alma mater. He mentored the Mustangs’ wide receivers for the last five years, while also coaching Cal Poly’s slot backs the past two seasons. He had been assigned the responsibility of both positions prior to the 2007 season.
Most recently, Guyader was directly responsible for four of the six possible yardage-gainers on any play from scrimmage in Cal Poly’s high-powered triple-option attack. He originally returned to Cal Poly as an offensive assistant in 2004, working with the offensive line and has been the wide receiver coach since 2005.
Among the standout receivers tutored by Guyader were Ramses Barden, who earned multiple All-America citations this past season and Tre'dale Tolver, another all-league performer. Barden, in particular, authored an eye-popping career under Gyader’s teachings, finishing fourth in balloting for the Walter Payton Award this fall. The honor is presented annually by The Sports Network to the top offensive player in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Barden completed his Cal Poly career with 206 catches for 4,203 yards and 50 touchdowns, all school records. He also owns the NCAA record for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch, both in the FCS and all-time (20) as well as most career games with a touchdown catch in the FCS and all-time (32). His ranks No. 13 all-time with 50 career touchdown receptions as well.
This past season, Barden caught 67 passes (No. 2 all-time at Cal Poly) for 1,257 yards (No. 3) and 18 touchdowns (tying his own school record). He caught a pass in 44 of 46 games played as a Mustang and posted 16 career 100-yard receiving games, both school records.
During Guyader’s stint at Cal Poly, the Mustangs finished 9-2 in 2004, 9-4 in 2005, winning their first FCS playoff game in school history. The 2006 and 2007 Cal Poly squads finished with 7-4 records, while the Mustangs spent the majority of this past season ranked in the Top 10 nationally of FCS before falling in the first round of the playoffs and closing at 8-3.
In addition to his on-field coaching duties, Guayder filled the role of Cal Poly’s recruiting coordinator for the past five years and had the opportunity to lecture both architectural engineering and computer science courses at Cal Poly. Taking advantage of several workshops at Cal Poly’s Center for Teaching and Learning, Guyader was able to implement multiple learner-based teaching techniques. These techniques maximize learner retention and aide in extending and refining knowledge both in the classroom and in position meetings.
A backup quarterback and special teams standout during his playing days at Cal Poly, Guyader graduated in 1997, earning a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering. He went on to study earthquake engineering and structural dynamics at California Institute of Technology and garnered a master’s degree in civil engineering in 1998 and a Ph.D. in civil engineering in 2003.
Guyader began his coaching career in 2001, serving a three-year term as offensive coordinator at Pasadena Poly High School. He is married to the former Brenda Anne McAnulty, also a Cal Poly graduate. In 2007 the couple participated in the Team In Training marathon program, raising over $5,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Lending tremendous continuity to Army’s staff, while aiding the transition process greatly, Ellerson has elected to retain Mumford, Waugh, Coaxum, Lyles and Holmes.
A member of three different head coach’s staffs at West Point, Mumford has served as Army’s defensive coordinator each of the past five seasons. First appointed to that role by Bobby Ross prior to the 2004 season, Mumford filled the same position for Stan Brock each of the past two campaigns. The Black Knights’ defensive line coach since 2000, Mumford is well-respected within the college coaching ranks, authoring an impressive career that has spanned three decades. He shouldered responsibilities as head coach at Southeast Missouri State University from 1990 to 1999, and also assumed duties as Army’s interim head coach for the final seven games of 2003.
An assistant coach at Army from 2000 through 2004, Waugh is in his second stint at West Point and will be serving under his third different head coach along the banks of the Hudson. Before returning to West Point prior to the 2007 campaign, he spent two years guiding wide receivers at Stanford University. After coaching wide receivers for nine years at Illinois State University, Army and Stanford, Waugh has turored Army’s running backs the past two years. He was part of Ross’ original Army coaching staff in 2004 after joining Todd Berry at the Military Academy initially in 2000. He has doubled as Army’s recruiting coordinator during each of his Army tenures, assuming those duties once again last winter.
A former standout defensive back for the Black Knights, Coaxum returned to his alma mater as part of Brock’s initial coaching staff in 2007. The 2000 West Point graduate has worked with Army’s linebackers the past two years after beginning his coaching career at the high school level following his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2003.
Another member of Brock’s initial West Point coaching staff, Lyles spent the past two seasons teaming with Coaxum in leading the Black Knights’ linebackers. A former standout linebacker, himself, at Texas Christian University, Lyles is an eight-year veteran of the National Football League, serving tenures with the Houston Oilers (1984-89) and Atlanta Falcons (1990-91). He also spent two years playing in the Arena Football League (1994-95) before beginning his coaching career in the AFL in 1995.
Holmes, meanwhile, is also well-versed in the West Point way of life, having been associated with the Army football program since arriving at the Academy as a standout defensive tackle in 1999. A two-time team captain who lettered all four of his years in the Black, Gold and Gray, Holmes has been a part of Army’s coaching staff since serving as a graduate assistant in 2003. He has spent the past six years working with Army’s defensive linemen.
“I feel very good about the staff that we’ve been able to assemble,” Ellerson added. “We have a level of continuity with coaches from the previous staff – individuals that are familiar with West Point and the players in our program – along with a group of coaches that are intimately familiar with our offensive and defensive systems.
“I’m not here to put in a three-year plan or a four-year plan, we’re going to get it done yesterday.”
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
