2007 Choctaw Football 23 Head Coach Norman Joseph Norman JOSEPH Head Football Coach [email protected]
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
23 2007 CHOCTAW FOOTBALL 23 HEAD COACH NORMAN JOSEPH Norman JOSEPH Head Football Coach [email protected] Norman Joseph enters his third season as the head football coach at Missis- sippi College after becoming the 17th head coach in Choctaw football history in 2005 Two years ago the Vicksburg native took over a struggling program that had pro- duced records of 4-6, 3-7 and 1-9 in the three previous seasons. He has rebuilt the program in the two years since taking the job and has the Choctaws again mentioned among the conference's elite. The team has shown steady progress under Joseph's guidance with a 2-8 first year record and 5-5 season last year. The 2007 Choctaws return 16 total starters including record-setting quarterback Adam Shaffer, preseason All-American wide receiver Jake Allen and All-Ameri- can punter Jonathan Russell. Joseph led the Choctaws to a .500 record in the tough American Southwest Conference last year despite the loss of quarterback Adam Shaffer in the first game of the season. The Choctaws did not miss a beat offensively as the team went on to rank 11th in the nation in total offense (420.3) and passing yardage (276.6). All-American wide receiver Jake Allen produced the best statistical season for an MC wide receiver finishing with a school record 1,024 yards. Quarterback Brad Madden passed for 2,025 yards, the 5th highest total in school history. Under his tutelage a two seasons ago, freshman quarterback Adam Shaffer set all of MC’s freshman passing records including passing yards, completions and touchdowns. Shaffer also set a school record in the season finale with seven touchdowns against Belhaven College. After just one rebuilding season, Joseph returns a team poised for a breakout season with ten returning starters on defense and seven returning starters on offense. Three seasons ago as the head coach of Louisiana College, Joseph quickly turned around a struggling Wildcat program. The Wildcats enjoyed their best season since 1962 (5-5) and set 38 team and 41 individual LC records. Under Joseph's tutelage the Wildcat offense ranked among the best in the country finishing seventh in passing of- fense, 15th in total offense and 28th in scoring offense. His team led the American Southwest Conference in total receptions, total receiving yards and all-purpose yards. Three of their five losses were by a com- bined eight points including two overtime losses. His team also exhibited excellence in the classroom with 14 players earning ASC All-Academic status, the most in school history. Prior to his year at Louisiana College, Joseph spent the 2003 sea- son as the offensive coordinator at Midwestern State University. There he built his offense around a punishing ground attack finishing second in the Lone Star Conference in rushing and leading the league with the fewest sacks allowed. Their 5.3 yards per carry average set a new school record. During the 2001 and 2002 seasons Joseph served as the offensive coordinator at San Jose State University of the Western Athletic Confer- ence. During his first season in 2001 his Spartan offense helped set a new Western Athletic Conference record for total offense in a single game with 849 yards. They also helped set a new NCAA record for com- bined total offense in a game with 1,640 yards. The Spartans ranked 18th in the country that season in passing offense. The Spartan offense followed that season with another breakout year in which they ranked 24th in the country in passing offense and total offense, second in the WAC in individual passing efficiency and third in the WAC in team passing efficiency and scoring offense. 24 2007 CHOCTAW FOOTBALL 24 HEAD COACH NORMAN JOSEPH Before coaching at San Jose State, Joseph took on the task of MIssIssIppI COLLEGE HeAD COACH starting the football program at Belhaven College in 1997 where he 2005-PRESENT spent three seasons as the head coach of the Blazers. In his first two • Led an offense last season (2006) that ranked 11th seasons he was the only NAIA coach in the nation to produce a 1,000 nationally in total offense (420.3 ypg) and also 11th in yard rusher and 1,000 yard receiver in back to back seasons. In his passing offense (276.6 ypg). second season (1999) he led the Blazers to a Top 25 national ranking • Junior wide receiver Jake Allen set a new school record for six consecutive weeks. That season his team had ten First Team All- with 1,024 receiving yards (2006). Conference players and ten Second Team All Conference players. His • Coached quarterback Brad Madden to the 5th-most teams combined to go 16-15 in three years playing against teams who passing yards in school history (2,025 ypg) (2006). had been in competition for several years. • Freshman quarterback Adam Shaffer set seven school During the 1994-1996 seasons Joseph served as the offensive passing records including yards, completions and coordinator at the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1996 his touchdowns (2005). Golden Eagle offense ranked second in the conference in scoring and • Seven players earned All-ASC honors including two led the nation in turnover margin. He also coached a quarterback to a All-Americans (DT Eric Morris, P Jonathan Russell) in #4 NCAA ranking in passing efficiency. He helped USM go 20-13 over 2005. his three years with most of the losses against nationally ranked SEC and ACC teams. LOUISIANA COLLEGE HeAD COACH Prior to his coaching job at USM he was the offensive coordinator (2004) at Northeast Louisiana University. His NLU offense became the first • Last year led Louisiana College to best season since NCAA offense in history to produce a 2,000 yard passer, two 1,000 1962 (5-5). yard rushers and a 1,000 yard receiver in one year. He helped NLU to • Passing Offense ranked #7 in NCAA and #2 in ASC four straight winning seasons ranking #1 in the conference in scoring, (301 ypg). passing and total offense. His offense ranked eighth in the country • Total Offense ranked #15 in NCAA. in scoring offense in 1992 and third in the country in 1993. NLU won • Scoring Offense ranked #28 in NCAA. conference championships in 1990 and 1992. They also received Divi- • Set 38 team and 41 individual school records. sion IAA playoff berths in 1990, 1992 and 1993. Before Northeast Louisiana University, Joseph was the passing MIDWESTERN STATE OFFENSIVE COORD. game and recruiting coordinator at Northwestern State University (2003) in 1988 and 1989 where he won a conference championship and • Rushing offense ranked #2 in Lone Star Conference earned a #8 NCAA national ranking. They also led the conference in (204 ypg)(2003). scoring, total offense and rushing offense. In 1987 he was the passing • Set school record averaging 5.3 yards per carry (2003). and recruiting coordinator at Louisiana Tech University. He was a posi- tion coach at Northeast Louisiana University from 1978-1986. He also SAN JOse STATE OffensIVE COORD. served as a volunteer coach at Vanderbilt University in 1977. (2001-2002) Joseph played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs • Passing Offense ranked #24 in NCAA (2002). and gained Churchman All-American honors in 1976. He earned his • Total Offense ranked #24 in NCAA (2002). Master of Education Degree from Northeast Louisiana University in • Passing Offense ranked #18 in NCAA (2001). 1979 and his Bachelor of Science Degree from Mississippi State in • Total Offense ranked #23 in NCAA (2001). 1977. BeLHAVen COLLEGE HeAD COACH (1997-2000) • Only NAIA team in history to produce a 1,000 yard rusher and 1,000 yard receiver in a school's first two seasons of existence. • Led Belhaven to top 25 ranking for six consecutive weeks in second season of play (1999). • Ten First Team All-Conference players and ten Second Team All-Conference players (1999). SOUTHERN MISS. OFFENSIVE COORD. (1994-1996) • Scoring Offense ranked #2 in CUSA (1996). • Coached Quarterback to #4 ranking in NCAA in Passing efficiency (1996). • Teams went 20-13 during three years. NORTHEAST LOUISIANA OffensIVE COORD. (1990-1993) • Delivered a 2,000 yard passer, two 1,000 yard rushers and a 1,000 yard receiver in the same season (first time in NCAA history). • Four straight winning seasons being #1 in conference in scoring offense / total offense. • Helped lead Northeast Louisiana to three Division I-AA championship playoff berths (1990/1992/1993). 25 2007 CHOCTAW FOOTBALL 25 ASSISTANT COACHES Brian YOUNG Assistant Football Coach Defensive Coordinator Recruiting Coordinator [email protected] Brian Young enters his third season on the Choctaw staff but assumes a new role as the defensive coordinator. He will continue in his role as the recruiting coordinator. Young earned the promotion in the off- season after two solid years coaching the defensive secondary. Under his leadership, the young Choctaw secondary turned into one of the ASC's best with two players earning All-ASC selection. Last year the Choctaws surrendered just 205 yards through the air per game and fin- ished second in the league with 15 pass interceptions. Junior cornerback Keith Haydel and sophomore safety Ryne Davison each earned All-ASC honors. Davison has flourished under Young's coaching with ten intercep- tions in his first two seasons. He is on pace to set a new school record for career interceptions. Young joined the Choctaw coaching two year's ago after working with Coach Norman Joseph at Louisiana College. Young's addition to the staff was a huge boost to the program considering his impressive resume and experience as a standout at Georgia Southern and former player in the National Football League.