44 45 Nebraska Coaching Staff Kevin Cosgrove Jay Norvell John Blake Bill Busch Scott Downing Defensive Coordinator Offensive Coordinator Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Position: Linebackers Position: Quarterbacks Position: Defensive Line Position: Safeties/ Position: Tight Ends/Specialists/ Game Day Assignment: Field Game Day Assignment: Press Box Game Day Assignment: Field Special Teams Coordinator Recruiting Coordinator Game Day Assignment: Field Game Day Assignment: Press Box Phil Elmassian Ted Gilmore Randy Jordan Dennis Wagner Dave Kennedy Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Assistant Coach Head Strength Coach Position: Cornerbacks Position: Wide Receivers Position: Running Backs Position: Offensive Line Game Day Assignment: Press Box Game Day Assignment: Field Game Day Assignment: Field Game Day Assignment: Field Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove Head Coach Bill Callahan 44 45 Defensive Line Coach John Blake Safeties Coach Bill Busch Running Backs Coach Randy Jordan Tight Ends Coach Scott Downing Cornerbacks Coach Phil Elmassian Offensive Line Coach Receivers Coach Dennis Wagner Ted Gilmore The Nebraska football coaching staff owns a combined 210 years of experience at the professional, college and high school level. Five Husker coaches have been in the profession for more than 20 years. For more information on the Husker coaching staff, visit Huskers.com or CoachCallahan.com. 46 47 Bill Callahan Head Coach | Second Season | Illinois Benedictine, 1978 4As Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders, led team to 2002 AFC Championship and Super Bowl XXXVII 427 years of coaching experience, including nine in NFL, 16 in college and two in high school 4One of five coaches to reach Super Bowl and return to college ranks Less than a year after guiding his NFL team to the Super Bowl – the pinnacle coach, Callahan established Coach Callahan Charities. Under the organization's of professional football – Bill Callahan took control of one of the nation’s elite direction, Callahan has generated funding for several charities. college football programs. Since taking over the Nebraska program he has worked Callahan and his football staff have presented Football 101 for Women each of diligently with the mission of pushing the Cornhuskers back to the top of the the past two years. The clinic gives female Husker fans an opportunity to learn college game. more about the game of football and the Nebraska program. In its first year in The 48-year-old Callahan is in his second year on the Nebraska sideline and 2004, Football 101 drew more than 1,000 participants and raised $35,000 for breast his 28th season overall in coaching. He was named Nebraska's 27th head coach on cancer research. The event was an even bigger success in year two, attracting more Jan. 9, 2004, just the fourth head coach in the storied Cornhusker program since than 1,150 participants and producing $50,000 for breast cancer research. the start of the 1962 season. Coach Callahan's inaugural 5K Fun Run/Walk for Resources last August had Entering his second season guiding the Huskers, Callahan's lofty goals have more than 800 participants and raised $5,000 each for Juvenile Diabetes and not changed. He maintains a vision of adding to Nebraska's championship legacy the University Libraries. All told, Coach Callahan Charities has donated nearly on both the Big 12 and national levels. $100,000 to charity in a little more than a year. Callahan's second Husker team enters the fall riding a surge of momentum Callahan has also given his time as a guest speaker and spokesperson for in the program, evident by an outstanding spring practice, a rigorous off-season several local organizations. He is the Honorary Chair of the Make-A-Wish program and a wave of recruiting success. The momentum has carried to Husker Foundation's "Share our Magic Campaign", he was the keynote speaker at the Nation, as huge crowds have flocked to Memorial Stadium for each of Nebraska's Omaha American Heart Association Breakfast and was the keynote speaker at two spring games under Callahan. In April, 63,416 red-clad fans traveled to the Nebraska Special Olympics Breakfast of Champions. Memorial Stadium to watch the Huskers complete spring drills, 12 months after The Husker football program under Callahan has placed a strong emphasis of 61,417 fans witnessed Callahan's spring debut. developing the football talents of youth in the state of Nebraska. In the spring, the Callahan and his staff put together a class of prospects last winter ranked Nebraska coaching staff and players conducted the Husker Youth Experience, a among the nation's best by every national recruiting service. The strong recruiting free developmental clinic for 500 children from the state. In the summer, the Big class was the most recent indication that Callahan's plan for the Cornhusker Red Football School included the first-ever Husker Youth Camp, for children ages program reaching national prominence is on track. In his first year in Lincoln, eight to 13. The camp was an instant hit, attracting more than 250 campers from Callahan has put strong systems for success in place both on and off the field. 22 different states. Nebraska finished the 2004 season with a 5-6 record, but strides were made While giving generously to the community and helping youth develop their in many areas. The West Coast Offense Callahan installed accomplished the football skills, Callahan has also embraced the rich traditions of the Cornhusker objective of a balanced attack capable of moving the ball both through the air program, including an on-going commitment to Nebraska's unparalleled walk- and on the ground. Nebraska generated 52 percent of its offense through the air on program. Since his hiring, Callahan has rewarded seven players who came to and 48 percent via the run, the most balanced offensive attack seen in Lincoln in Nebraska as walk-ons with scholarships, including five native Nebraskans. nearly three decades. The plan for a total football program that Callahan has implemented at Under Callahan, the Huskers are maintaining and improving their tradition Nebraska is the product of three decades of coaching experience and expertise. of success in the classroom. The football team entered the summer session Having coached on every level during his career, Callahan is one of five coaches to with a collective cumulative grade-point average nearing the 3.0 mark, the best take a collegiate head coaching job after previously guiding a team to the Super academic standing ever for the football team entering the summer. Among Callahan's first group of seniors, 18 of 20 student-athletes had earned their degree at the conclusion of the 2005 spring semester and 21 of 24 members of the 2005 senior class are on track to graduate by next May. The football program has continued to make a strong impression in the Nebraska community under Callahan. Husker players spend hours of time in local communities speaking with youth and visiting Nebraska fans of all ages. Twice in the past year the entire Husker team has taken a half-day to visit with patients at hospitals in both Lincoln and Omaha. Callahan's strong belief in community outreach and character education led to his team receiving Nebraska's annual Life Skills Team Award. The football team accumulated the most points in the history of the award, showing the importance Callahan places on total-person development and preparing his student- athletes for life after football. The commitment to being an active member of the community comes directly from Callahan's leadership. Shortly after being named Nebraska's head The Callahan family (from left to right): Jaclyn, Bill, Valerie, Brian, Daniel and Cathryn. 46 47 Callahan teaches. For the first time in franchise history, the Raiders led the NFL in passing in 2002 (279.7 ypg), and also led the league in total offense (398.8 ypg) for just the second time. Callahan was recognized for his role in the success, as he was named the NFL Coach of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus and the NFL Rookie Coach of the Year by Football Digest. Callahan's Raiders operated out of the West Coast Offense and exploited opposing defenses with a multiple attack. In fact, in a three-season span, the Oakland offense went from leading the NFL in rushing (2000) to placing first in the league in passing (2002). In 2002, the Raiders became the first team to win games in the same season while rushing at least 60 times (60 attempts on Dec. 28 vs. Kansas City, 24-0) and passing at least 60 times (65 attempts on Sept. 15 at Pittsburgh, 30-17). The Raiders capped the 2002 season with an impressive run through the AFC playoffs. Oakland opened the postseason with a 30-10 victory over the New York Jets and captured the AFC crown with a 41-24 win over the Tennessee Titans, before losing to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII. Callahan joined the Raider organization in 1998, when Jon Gruden took over as head coach. Callahan served as Oakland’s offensive coordinator for each of Gruden’s four seasons as head coach, also tutoring the Raider tight ends in 1998 and the offensive line from 1999 to 2001. Under Callahan, the Silver and Black offensive line allowed a team-record low 28 sacks in 2000, a mark that was surpassed in 2001 with just 27 sacks allowed. In addition, the Raiders led the NFL in rushing in 2000, averaging 154.4 yards per game. The Raiders won the AFC West title in each of Callahan’s final two seasons as offensive coordinator and made it three straight division crowns in 2002.