The coaches head coach troy calhoun

The purpose of the United States the ninth in the last 100 years of service Air Force Academy is to develop young academy football. The team finished 6-0 at people of strong character who graduate home for just the third time in school his- and serve as outstanding leaders on ac- tory. Calhoun’s 2007 squad also finished tive duty and beyond. It’s a purpose Troy 6-0 at home. Calhoun thoroughly respects and realizes Air Force earned a bid in 2012 to is necessary for our country. Calhoun left the Armed Forces Bowl. Air Force won the Houston Texas of the NFL as an of- its second straight Commander-in-Chief’s fensive coordinator in 2007 to embrace the Trophy (then-record 18th overall) in 2011, mission of the Air Force Academy and ac- the first back-to-back titles at the Acad- complish what was once considered nearly emy since 2001-02 and earned their fifth impossible: building a service academy straight bowl game in the Military Bowl. program that often earns a postseason bid The 2010 Air Force team finished 9-4 over- while playing in one of ’s all and won Air Force’s 17th Commander- best conferences. Seven of his eight years in-Chief’s Trophy championship with Air Force has been to a bowl under Cal- wins over Army and Navy. The Falcons houn’s guidance. The coach has guided Air closed the 2010 season with a victory over Force to a 59-44 career record entering his Georgia Tech of the ACC in the Indepen- ninth season. 100-plus year history of service academy dence Bowl. Calhoun was named Coach of Air Force student-athletes must football, Calhoun is the first coach to lead the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the complete the nation’s most demanding teams to at least six wins and a bowl game National Football Foundation. academic curriculum while further em- in each of his first six seasons. The 2009 Air Force team finished 8-5 bedding the heart and character that are overall and concluded with a convincing crucial for serving America. Cadets at the Calhoun’s 2014 team finished 10-3 47-20 win over 25th-ranked Houston in Academy must work through courses that overall while having all 28 seniors graduate the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Air require finishing over 140 semester hours. from the Air Force Academy. Calhoun was Force set 13 Academy bowl team records Strong character traits, to include respect, named as a finalist for the Maxwell Nation- in the dominant victory. The team also set teamwork, courage, spirit, discipline, hon- al Coach of the Year. The Falcons qualified six school records during the 2009 season. esty and toughness, are the bedrock of the for their seventh bowl game in eight years, Calhoun was named Coach of the Year by leadership qualities Air Force football play- and by winning the Famous Idaho Potato the Colorado Chapter of the National Foot- ers utilize while serving as officers in the Bowl, captured their third bowl champion- ball Foundation for his efforts. United States Air Force. Calhoun and his ship since 2009. Air Force defeated Army staff have come up with a way to manage and Navy to win a record 19th Command- Calhoun’s 2007 and 2008 Air Force the varied demands of their players and er-in-Chief’s Trophy and its third CINC title teams finished 9-4 and 8-5, respectively, lead them into a cohesive team that has in the last five years. The Falcons were also and both earned bowl bids. The 2007 fared quite well both on and off the field in one of just two teams nationally to beat Falcons were the only team in Air Force his eight seasons as head coach. two 10-win teams in the regular season. history to win road games at Notre Dame, The Falcons beat Boise State and in-state Utah and Colorado State in the same sea- Calhoun’s players are extraordinarily rival Colorado State, who each won 10-plus son. The five-game turnaround from 2006, successful finishing their academic and games. Air Force’s 10-win season was the in which Air Force was 4-8, was the largest leadership responsibilities. The Air Force first this century for the Academy and just in the nation that season by a first-year football team’s NCAA APR (Academic Prog- ress Report) is annually amongst the finest of the 127 schools that play at the FBS level of college football. From May 2007 through the present, Air Force Football’s multi-year APR has finished above the na- tion’s 90th percentile six of the last eight years which is more than any sport at any service academy. Air Force football’s most recent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) is 93 percent. In addition to being one of the nation’s best in regards to the NCAA’s APR and GSR, 169 of 170 seniors (99%) who have played for Calhoun since 2007 have graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and served as officers for our nation. Calhoun is the only coach in the his- tory of service academy team ball sports to lead teams to a post-season bid six con- secutive years. They have done this while playing very strong opponents. Calhoun’s 2009 Air Force squad was the only team in the last 50 years of service academy foot- ball to play at least four ranked teams and win a bowl game in the same season. In the Troy Calhoun enters his ninth season in 2015

Air Force Football 42 head coach troy calhoun head coach. The five-game turnaround was the best in school history since the 1958 team had a school-record turnaround of six games. Air Force’s nine wins tied Calhoun for the most wins ever at a service academy by a first-year head coach, matching the mark set by Ben Martin in 1958. The six MWC wins set a new Academy standard and were two wins better than the previous mark for conference wins by a first-year head coach at the Academy. Calhoun was named the Mountain West Conference’s Coach of the Year for his efforts. In addi- tion, he was named Coach of the Year in Region 5 by the American Football Coaches Association and was one of eight finalists for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award. He was also one of seven finalists for the AFCA National Coach of the Year award. Calhoun brought to Air Force a wealth of experience at the collegiate and profes- sional levels that was flooded with success at every stop prior to the Academy. Cal- Calhoun became a well-rounded NFL houn came to the Academy after serving PERSONAL as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, working as a defensive assistant, special teams assistant and offensive Hometown: ...... Roseburg, Ore. coach for the in 2006. The Wife: ...... Amanda Texans were one of only two NFL teams assistant with the from Children: ...... Tyler, Amelia to triple their number of wins from the 2003-05. He began his NFL coaching career previous year. The 2006 Texans were the by serving on the defensive side of the ball Years in Coaching: ...... 22nd last team to defeat the in 2003. He helped coach the NFL’s fourth- AF/Career Record: ...... 59-44 (9th year) on their way to the Super Bowl champion- best defense. The Broncos’ defense ranked ship. On offense, the Texans had the NFL’s seventh against the run and sixth against BACKGROUND/HONORS leading receiver (Pro Bowler Andre Johnson the pass. Denver’s defense yielded a mere • 1989 graduate of the Academy with 103 catches), the NFL’s best quarter- 17.6 points per game as they made the • First Academy graduate to be head coach back completion percentage (68.4 percent) playoffs for the first time since 2000. • 17 years as a college coach and their quarterback tied a NFL record In 2004, Calhoun moved to become an • 4 years in the NFL against Buffalo with 22 straight comple- assistant on offense and worked with the • 2007 MWC coach of the year tions. special teams. The offense ranked fifth in • 2007 Region 5 coach of the year • Finalist for national coach of the year (2007) • Tied as the winningest first-year head coach in school history • Winningest first-year head coach in school history for conference games • Colorado Coach of the Year (NFF), 2007, 2010 • Semifinalist for 2010 National Coach of the Year honors

COACHING EXPERIENCE Air Force, Head Coach 2007-Present Houston Texans, Off. Coord./QBs 2006 Denver Broncos 2003-05 Asst. to Head Coach 2005 Off./Special Teams Asst. 2004 Defensive Assistant 2003 Wake Forest, Offensive Coord. 2001-02 Ohio, Offensive Coord. 1996-00 Ohio, Quarterbacks 1995-96 Air Force, JV/Varsity Asst. 1993-94 Air Force, Grad Asst. 1989-90 Troy Calhoun spent four years in the NFL - Broncos (L), Texans (R)

Air Force Football 43 head coach troy calhoun the NFL, averaging 395.8 yards per game. Prior to the NFL, Calhoun was an CALHOUN VS. OPPONENTS Calhoun worked closely with Broncos head offensive coordinator for six seasons on coach in the 2005 season, the collegiate level. He began his coach- Army...... 7-1 serving as the assistant to the head coach. ing career at Air Force, where he worked BYU*...... 1-3 The Broncos won the AFC West title for as a graduate assistant from 1989-90. He Boise State* ...... 1-2 the 10th time in their history and played started at quarterback for the Academy in California# ...... 0-1 for the AFC Championship game for the 1986 and was one of only two freshmen to Colorado State* ...... 7-1 first time in seven seasons. Their 14-4 letter for the 1985 team. FCS ...... 9-0 record was the best since Denver finished Calhoun served his country from Fresno State*...... 0-1 the 1998 season as winners of Super Bowl 1989-95 as an active duty officer in the Georgia State ...... 1-0 XXXIII. The offense finished fifth in the Air Force. He was an assistant coach for Georgia Tech# ...... 1-0 NFL averaging 360.4 yards per game. The the Falcons in 1993-94. He moved to Ohio Hawai’i* ...... 1-0 defense was stout against the run, finish- University in the spring of 1995 where he Houston## ...... 2-1 ing second in the NFL with 85.2 yards per served as the quarterbacks coach for two Michigan ...... 0-1 game. Denver finished with an undefeated seasons. Calhoun was promoted to offen- Minnesota ...... 0-1 record at home during the regular season sive coordinator in 1997. During his first Navy ...... 3-5 for the fifth time in team history. Dur- season at the helm, the offense totaled 612 Nevada* ...... 2-1 ing Calhoun’s three years in Denver, the yards against Eastern Michigan, second- New Mexico* ...... 6-2 Broncos made the playoffs every season, most in school history. The Bobcats defeat- Notre Dame ...... 1-2 averaging over 11 wins a year. ed Maryland in 1997, marking the school’s Oklahoma ...... 0-1 first win against a team from Rice# ...... 0-1 the ACC in school history. The San Diego State* ...... 3-5 `97 Bobcats’ 8-3 record was TCU* ...... 1-4 the school’s best in 29 years. Toledo# ...... 0-1 During his last season at Ohio UNLV* ...... 6-2 in 2000, the Bobcats beat two Utah* ...... 1-3 bowl teams, Minnesota and Utah State* ...... 0-2 Marshall, for the first time in Western Michigan# ...... 1-0 school history. Calhoun’s 2000 Wyoming* ...... 5-3 offense set a school record with 418.1 yards per game. * - Conference opponent; # - Bowl game Calhoun moved to Wake Forest in 2001. The Demon ated from the Air Force Academy and were Deacons were one of only seven varsity letter winners on nationally-ranked teams in the country to score teams. Calhoun’s younger sister, Callie, is a more than 30 points in each of 1991 Academy graduate. She was a 10-time the final four games. During his track and cross country All-American who second season, Wake led the won six NCAA national titles. Troy Calhoun ACC in total offense with 408.1 graduated from the Academy in 1989 as yards per game. His offense a member of the superintendent’s list by had a league-best 990 plays earning over a 3.0 grade point average and was efficient with the ball, along with a military performance average committing only 16 turnovers, of better than 3.0. He also completed a fewest in the ACC. The 2001 master’s in business administration (MBA) season culminated with a 38-17 from Oklahoma City University in 1992. bowl victory over Oregon to He and his wife, Amanda, live in Colo- give Wake Forest its first back- rado Springs and have two children, Tyler to-back winning seasons since (13) and Amelia (11). Troy and Amanda the ACC expanded from eight Calhoun have a strong respect and affinity teams. for the members of our armed services and are very involved with numerous charitable Calhoun was raised in a and community endeavors. home where both kids gradu-

Calhoun Head Coaching Record

Year School Record MW Home Away Neu. Bowl 2014 Air Force 10-3 5-3/4th 6-0 3-3 1-0 Famous Idaho Potato, Western Mich. (W 38-24) 2013 Air Force 2-10 0-8/6th 2-5 0-5 0-0 --- 2012 Air Force 6-7 5-3/4th 5-1 1-5 0-1 Armed Forces, Rice (L 14-33) 2011 Air Force 7-6 3-4/5th 4-3 3-2 0-1 Military Bowl, Toledo (L 41-42) 2010 Air Force 9-4 5-3/T3rd 5-1 3-3 1-0 Independence, Georgia Tech (W 14-7) 2009 Air Force 8-5 5-3/4th 5-1 2-4 1-0 Armed Forces, Houston (W 47-20) 2008 Air Force 8-5 5-3/4th 3-3 4-1 1-1 Armed Forces, Houston (L 28-34) 2007 Air Force 9-4 6-2/2nd 6-0 3-3 0-1 Armed Forces, California (L 36-42) Totals 58-44 34-29 36-14 19-26 3-4 Bowl Record: 3-4 Air Force Football 44 jake campbell - assistant offensive backfield

Jake Campbell The Campbell File tions. He put together back-to-back 1,000 is in his fourth plus all-purpose yards his junior and se- season at Air nior years as a running back, receiver and Force as an of- Year at Air Force: ...... 4th/5th (overall) kick returner. Campbell was later named to fensive back- Career Year: ...... 9th the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph’s field assistant Hometown: ...... Sacramento, CA Air Force all-decade team of the 1990’s. coach. Campbell Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 1996 Prior to joining the CMS football staff, returned to his Campbell served 10 years as an officer in alma mater after Coaching Experience the Air Force, reaching the rank of major. four years at Cla- Air Force Campbell amassed over 1,000 flying hours remont-Mudd- Offensive Backfield ...... 2012-Present as a pilot in the T-37, T-1A, and C-9A Scripps where airframes. He flew the first stateside C-9A he was offensive Claremont-Mudd-Scripps aircraft to deploy overseas in support of coordinator and Off. Coord/Quarterbacks ....2011 military operations in Kosovo. Campbell quarterbacks coach in 2011. He coached Off. Coord/Running Backs ..2009-10 finished his military career as a contract running backs his first three seasons. Running Backs ...... 2008 negotiator. He was responsible for leading Campbell has been instrumental in the Air Force Prep School negotiating teams with Fortune 500 com- development of running backs Anthony Graduate Assistant ...... 1996 panies in contracts worth well over $400 LaCoste, who led the Falcons in rushing million to deploy the widely known and in 2013, and Jacobi Owens, who became frequently used Global Positioning System just the second sophomore in Air Force (GPS). history to rush for 1,000-yards in a season. Under Campbell’s direction, the of- Campbell spent one season at the Air LaCoste rushed for 890 yards and had fensive unit made its way into the school’s Force Academy Prep School as an assistant breakout performances vs. Army and record books. The 2010 team broke the football coach. His responsibilities were New Mexico with 440 yards combined. school’s record for points scored in a sea- coaching the running backs and quarter- He rushed for 263 yards vs. Army while son with 268 and tied the school record for backs, as well as the offensive play-calling becoming the only player in school history touchdowns in a season at 36. The 2010 duties. While at the Prep School, he helped with multiple TD runs of 70-plus yards in offense also led the conference in rush- develop numerous eventual Falcon football the same game. He came back with a 177- ing, third down conversions, turnovers, stars such as Scott McKay, Qualario Brown, yard effort the next week vs. the Lobos. sacks given up, and red zone efficiency, Nate Beard and Chris Jessup. Campbell was Owens rushed for 1,054 total yards and while being second in scoring and time of also a math instructor and taught calculus. ranked third in the conference with a 105.4 possession. Peter Kimmey, who took over per-game average. He also set a school Campbell was also a Nike/SPARQ for the starting role at quarterback midway record for most yards rushing by a player trainer and the lead running back coach through the year, rushed for 14 touch- in his first-career game with 233 yards vs. for the Nike Football Training Camps held downs in Campbell’s system, one shy of Nicholls State. throughout the country. He has worked the school record. He led the conference in with some of the best athletes in the Campbell mentored two offensive rushing touchdowns and points per game. country, many who have gone on to profes- MVPs (DJ Lillard, 2010 and Spencer Clark, Campbell is a 1996 graduate of the Air sional and Division I careers. 2011) at CMS. Lillard was the first running Force Academy. His on field accomplish- back to make first-team all-SCIAC since Originally from North Highlands, a ments and highlights as a running back 2002 while Clark led the team in all-pur- neighborhood in Sacramento, Calif., Camp- make him one of the best to ever play the pose yards in his senior campaign. bell was a four-sport starter in high school. position at the Academy. He captained the He lettered in football, basketball, baseball 1995 team that won one of the Academy’s and track. Campbell was also an assistant three Western Athletic Conference (WAC) coach for the two-time defending confer- championships in its history. Campbell’s ence champion CMS Athena softball team. efforts land him in the top five in several Campbell has a son, Brayden. areas of the Falcon record book. He is cur- rently third all-time in yards per carry for a season, fourth all-time for a career. He is also third all-time for yards per reception for a season and career touchdown recep-

Air Force Football 45 tim cross - defensive line

Tim Cross begins The Cross File was Cross’ work with 2006 Big East sack his second sea- leader Jameel McClain. Cross also coached son at Air Force NFL Draft selections James Wyche and as the defen- Year at Air Force: ...... 2nd Ryan LaCasse while at Syracuse. sive line coach. Career Year: ...... 15th Cross first began working at Texas Cross comes to Hometown: ...... Clarksville, TN prior to going to Syracuse, serving as the Academy Alma Mater: ...... No. Colorado, 1990 assistant strength coach for the Long- after spending horns from 2001-04. Cross assisted in three years at Coaching Experience the development and implementation of Texas where he Air Force the strength and speed programs for the coached strength Defensive Line...... 2014-Present UT football squad. He was responsible and condition- for creating training programs for a Doak ing. Prior to his Texas Walker, a Butkus and a Nagurski Trophy stint at Texas, Strength/Conditioning ...... 2011-13 winner. Cross also played a key role in the Cross served as the associate head coach Strength/Conditioning ...... 2001-04 development of numerous All-Americans and defensive line coach at Minnesota. Minnesota and All-Big 12 performers, and his teams Cross’ impact at the Academy has Assoc. HC/Def. Line ...... 2007-10 won at least nine games each season he been immediate. He mentored a defensive Syracuse coached with the Longhorns. line that was a strength in the revamped Defensive Line...... 2005-06 Cross began his coaching career in defense in 2014. The Falcons improved in Colorado at Thomas Jefferson High School scoring, rushing, passing and total defense in Denver, serving as head coach from last season, including having one of the three in the conference and in the top 25 1997-2000. He also spent one season as nation’s most improved scoring defenses nationally in both categories. the defensive coordinator and lineback- with an average of 24.2 points per game, a He coached defensive end D.L. Wilhite ers coach at TJHS. Cross led the school to nearly 16 points per game improvement. to Big Ten All-Freshman honors from four straight league title and a 42-game The defensive line was anchored by Alex The Sporting News in 2009 and saw his conference winning streak. While at TJHS, Hansen, who recorded 56 total tackles, defensive line rack up 32 tackles for loss in he mentored 14 high school All-Americans, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Troy 2009. He also coached defensive end Willie 20 all-state selections and 31 first team Timmerman and Nick Fitzgerald also had VanDeSteeg to first-team All-Big Ten hon- all-conference players. , Cross coached two career years on the defensive line in 2014, ors in 2008. VanDeSteeg became the first consecutive Gold Helmet Award winners, recording 5.5 and 6.0 tackles for loss, Gopher defender to be named First-Team an honor bestowed to high school foot- respectively. Hansen was a second-team All-Big Ten since 2004. ball all-state honorees who are successful all-conference selection last season. Prior to his stint at Minnesota, he on and off the field. He also coached two While at Minnesota, he helped the coached the defensive line at Syracuse future NFL first-round draft picks during Gophers to a +.92 turnover margin which from 2005-06 where he helped the Orange his time at TJHS in Daniel Graham (New ranked second in the Big Ten and No. 16 lead the Big East and finish seventh in England Patriots) and Andre Woolfolk (Ten- in the nation in 2008. That same year, his the nation in turnover margin at +.92. His nessee Titans). defensive line recorded 20.5 sacks and 44 front line at Syracuse averaged 2.8 sacks A native of Clarksville, Tenn., Cross tackles for loss which ranked in the top per game which was among the nation’s attended Gateway High School in Aurora, top 20. A big reason for the Orange’s suc- Colo., and is a 1990 graduate of Northern cess in getting to opposing quarterbacks Colorado where he was a four-year letter- man in football and earned all-North Central Conference honors as a line- backer. Cross and his wife, Natalie, have four children, Keion, Mariah, Tiana and Keria.

Air Force Football 46 clay hendrix - associate head coach, offensive line

Clay Hendrix The Hendrix File 1988 NCAA I-AA national crown. is in his ninth The success Furman enjoyed over his season at the last seven years, including a combined 65- Academy as the Year at Air Force: ...... 9th 24 record and three league titles, was due offensive line Career Year: ...... 28th in large measure to the work of Hendrix- coach and sixth Hometown: ...... Commerce, GA directed fronts. as associate head Alma Mater: ...... Furman, 1986 coach. A product of Commerce, Ga., he starred as an offensive guard as a prep, Hendrix made Coaching Experience helping Commerce High School to a 13-1-1 his presence Air Force record and the 1981 AA state champion- in the program Associate Head Coach ...... 2009-Present ship. A 1986 Furman graduate, he was known early, as Offensive Line ...... 2007-Present a three-year starter from 1982-85 when he has turned Furman Furman rolled up a 39-10-1 record. He the offensive Offensive Line ...... 1988-2006 also played on three league title teams and line into one of the team’s strengths each North Carolina State four nationally ranked squads, including season and one of the best units in the the 1985 national runner-up team. Furman conference each year. Graduate Asst...... 1986-87 also recorded impressive wins over South Air Force has won six Mountain West Carolina (1982), Georgia Tech (1983) and Conference rushing titles and ranked in Air Force’s offense as a whole has N.C. State (1984 & ‘85) during his tenure. the top 10 nationally in seven of his eight ranked as one of the top units in the He was named all-state in 1985. seasons. Hendrix’s offensive line has paved conference under Hendrix. The Falcons Following graduation, he joined Dick the way for five top three finishes in the were third in fourth down percentage with Sheridan’s coaching staff at North Carolina nation in rushing in six seasons. The Fal- a 59.3 mark and also ranked fifth in third- State as a graduate assistant before return- cons have averaged 300-plus yards three down percentage at 44.2 percent. ing to Furman in 1988. He and his wife, times. Last season, the offensive line fea- the former LeeAnn Hedgpeth of Taylors, tured first-team all-conference performer Air Force set a new single-season S.C., have two sons, Cal (18) and Mac (14). and Rimington Trophy Watch List honoree school record in 2011 with 454 points, Michael Husar, who started the year at cen- while the scoring average ranked fourth ter and proved the versatility of the unit by all-time. In addition, Air Force also ranked moving to guard during the season half of third in school history with 43 rushing the season to help strengthen the team. Air touchdowns and fourth with 16 passing Force ranked second in the MW and sixth TDs. The team’s 60.3 completion percent- nationally in rushing last year with a 273.1 age was second best in Air Force history. per-game average. The squad was second Hendrix came to Air Force after com- in the conference and sixth nationally in pleting 19 seasons at NCAA I-AA Furman sacks allowed with just 12. as the offensive line coach, including the In 2013, Hendrix’s offensive line worked last five as assistant head coach. Since with four different starting quarterbacks, joining the staff in 1988, he played a cen- yet still ranked first in the conference and tral role in Furman’s success fifth nationally in sacks allowed and in red as his offensive lines helped zone offense. Air Force was second in the the Paladins post a 147-73-1 conference and 13th nationally in rushing record, win six Southern Con- with a 262.7 per-game average. ference titles and claim the

Air Force Football 47 derek lewis - wide receivers

Derek Lewis The Lewis File enters his first year as wide receivers coach Year at Air Force: ...... 1st at Air Force in Career Year: ...... 11th 2015. Lewis was Hometown: ...... New Orleans, LA the tight ends Alma Mater: ...... Texas, 1998 coach at Florida for three seasons Coaching Experience prior to coming Air Force to the Academy. Wide Receivers ...... 2015 In 2012 at Flor- Florida ida, he coached Tight Ends ...... 2011-14 all-Southeastern Minnesota Conference selection Jordan Reed, who led Tight Ends/Special Teams ..2008-10 the team with 45 catches for 559 yards. He also added three touchdowns. Reed ranked North Texas ninth nationally in catches by a tight end Defensive Ends ...... 2007 and13th in receiving yards by a tight end. Texas Reed was a third-round pick by the Wash- Graduate Assistant ...... 2005-06 ington Redskins in 2013. In 2011, Lewis’ group of tight ends downs by a tight end, in addition to the caught 47 passes for 584 yards (12.4 ypc) Texas single-game record for receptions by and three touchdowns. Reed finished sec- a tight end (10, 2006 Rose Bowl). Thomas ond on the team with 28 catches and third was a third-round selection by the New on the team with 307 receiving yards. England Patriots in 2006. Lewis coached tight ends at Minnesota Lewis is a 1998 graduate of the Uni- from 2007-10. While at Minnesota, Lewis versity of Texas with a bachelor’s degree tutored Nick Tow-Arnett to an All-Big Ten in kinesiology. While with the Longhorns, Honorable Mention selection following Lewis was a solid four-year receiving tight the 2009 season after Tow-Arnett finished end who started 16 career games. He second on the team with 37 receptions played in three bowl games (1995 Sugar for 505 yards and three touchdowns. As a Bowl; 1997 Fiesta Bowl; 1999 Cotton Bowl) group, Gopher tight ends in 2009 averaged and was a member of two conference over 13 yards per reception. championship teams (1995 SWC; 1996 Big Prior to going to Minnesota, he was 12). Lewis was voted 1998 first-team All- the defensive ends coach at North Texas. Big 12 by conference coaches after being From 2005-06, Lewis worked at Texas as named third-team All-Big 12 in 1997. Lewis a graduate assistant, where he was part hauled in 18 catches for 236 yards and of the staff that captured the 2005 BCS six touchdowns in a senior campaign that National Title. He also coached TE David was highlighted by his 61-yard reception Thomas who owns UT career records for on fourth and inches that helped seal the receptions, receiving yards and touch- 1996 Big 12 Championship game for Texas. He finished his career ranked third all-time at Texas in TDs by a tight end (8), ranked fifth in career receptions by a tight end (47), and ranked seventh on the school’s chart for receiv- ing yards by a tight end (551). A native of New Orleans, La., Lewis spent two seasons as a member of the St. Louis Rams (1999-2000) and was part of the Super Bowl XXXIV championship team. Lewis and his wife, Adonis, have one son, Myles.

Air Force Football 48 steed lobotzke - tight ends

Steed Lobotzke The Lobotzke File Ohio University as the centers and guards enters his first coach. In his four seasons at Ohio, the of- year at Air Force fensive line paved the way for four of the as the tight ends Year at Air Force: ...... 1st/2nd top five rushing seasons in school history. coach in 2015. Career Year: ...... 20th Lobotzke’s ties with Grobe go back Lobotzke spent Hometown: ...... Roseville, CA to their days at the Air Force Academy the 2014 season Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 1992 when Grobe personally recruited him. The at Winston-Salem Northern California native attended the State where the Coaching Experience Academy and lettered on the football team Rams made a Air Force in 1990-1991, playing on the offensive line. trip to the CIAA Tight Ends ...... 2015 As a player, Lobotzke helped lead Air Force Championship. to three Liberty Bowl appearances. He He spearheaded Graduate Assistant ...... 1993 earned second-team All-Western Athletic the Ram offense Winston-Salem State Conference honors as a junior and was that recorded eight-straight 400-plus yard Off. Coord., Off. Line ...... 2014 named to the first team as a senior before games and Winston-Salem State ended the Wake Forest being invited to play in the East-West year with a No. 10 national ranking. Prior Off. Coord, Off. Line ...... 2003-13 Shrine Football Classic. to WSSU, Lobotzke spent 13 years at Wake Offensive Line ...... 2001-02 Forest, including 11 seasons as the Dea- Ohio After graduating from the Academy in 1992 with a degree in economics, Lobotzke cons’ offensive coordinator and offensive Offensive Line ...... 1997-00 line coach. He also coached the running began his coaching career at his alma backs, tight ends and fullbacks. During mater. He served as a graduate assistant in his tenure, the Wake Forest offense broke the 1992-93 season, helping lead the team and the ACC Championship. The offense many school and ACC records. to another Liberty Bowl berth in 1992. produced 4,298 yards, the third-highest Following his tour of active military duty, In 2012, junior wide receiver Michael total in school history and put up Wake Lobotzke joined the Ohio staff in 1997. Campanaro caught 7.9 passes per game, Forest’s fourth-best scoring season with which led the ACC and was the second-best 302 points. Wake Forest also ranked sixth Lobotzke is married to the former mark in ACC history. His 79 receptions in in the nation in fewest turnovers. Fresh- Kristin Hazen of Warren, Ohio. The couple 2012 were the fourth-highest single-season man quarterback Riley Skinner was named has two daughters: Capri and Gia. mark for a Wake Forest player and were ACC Rookie of the Year after leading the achieved despite the fact that he missed ACC in pass efficiency (139.6) and break- almost three games with an injury. Campa- ing the Wake Forest record for completion naro’s 16 catches against Boston College percentage (65.8 percent). On November set an ACC single-game record. 13, 2006, Lobotzke was chosen as the Mas- ter Football Coaches MCS Nike Offensive The 2011 team came within a field Coordinator of the Week after Wake Forest goal of playing for the ACC champion- defeated Florida State 30-0 in Tallahassee. ship and went to the Music City Bowl. The squad scored 338 points - third-best Lobotzke went to Wake Forest along in Wake Forest history - and only had 12 with head coach Jim Grobe after serving turnovers, which was the lowest total in under Grobe the previous four years at school history and the best in the ACC that season. In 2006, Wake Forest won 11 games

Air Force Football 49 matt mcgettigan - strength and conditioning

Matt McGet- The McGettigan File McGettigan is married to the former Darla tigan is in his Hook of Charles City, Iowa. They have two ninth season children, Mariah and Colin. as the strength Year at Air Force: ...... 9th and condition- Career Year: ...... 29th ing coach for the Hometown: ...... Darlington, WI Falcon football Alma Mater: ...... Luther College, 1987 team. Widely con- Coaching Experience sidered one of Air Force the best in the Strength/Conditioning ...... 2007-Present country, McGet- Iowa State tigan helped Strength/Conditioning ...... 1996-06 transform the Notre Dame Falcon program. Prior to his coming to the Strength/Conditioning ...... 1991-95 Academy, the Falcons had posted a 12-24 record over the second half of the season Wis.-Platteville from 2001-06. Since his arrival, the Falcons Strength/Conditioning ...... 1987-90 have won over 60 percent of their games over the second half of the season. In ad- McGettigan joined the Iowa State staff dition to being in better physical shape, in 1996 with head coach Dan McCarney in the Falcons have seen fewer significant 1996. He spent 11 years with the Cyclones injuries. before coming to Air Force in the summer McGettigan played a key factor in the of 2007. play of 2007 All-American Chad Hall, a Prior to his stint in Ames, he was an 5-foot-8, 185-pound do-everything runner assistant strength and conditioning coach who averaged over 32 touches per game at Notre Dame from 1991-95. Before his over the last seven weeks of the 2007 sea- work with the Fighting Irish, McGettigan son. served as the strength and conditioning McGettigan received the ultimate coordinator for Wisconsin-Platteville from affirmation of excellence when he earned 1987-90. recognition as the 2001 National Collegiate McGettigan completed his undergrad- Strength and Conditioning Coach of the uate work in physical education at Luther Year by the Professional Football Strength College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1987, where and Conditioning Coaches Society. The he was a three-year starter on the foot- award underscored the respect McGettigan ball team. He is a member of the National has from his peers. Strength and Conditioning Associa- tion. In January 1989, McGettigan received his certification as strength and conditioning specialist. He earned his master’s degree in 1989 from Wisconsin-Platteville. A native of Darlington, Wis.,

Air Force Football 50 ben miller - running backs, special teams coordinator

Ben Miller The Miller File Owens to a 1,000-yard season in his first is in his ninth year as a starter. Owens ranked third in season as an the conference in rushing with a 105.4 assistant coach Year at Air Force: ...... 9th/10th overall per-game average and set a school record at Air Force. This Career Year: ...... 11th for most yards rushing by a player in season marks his Hometown: ...... Columbia Station, OH his first start with 233 yards vs. Nicholls fourth as run- Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 2002 State. Anthony LaCoste had a breakout ning backs coach season at running back for the Falcons in after coaching Coaching Experience 2013. LaCoste rushed for 890 yards and tight ends for Air Force had breakout performances vs. Army and five seasons, and Running Backs ...... 2012-Present New Mexico with 440 yards combined. his eighth year He rushed for 263 yards vs. Army while coaching the Special Teams Coord. .2010-Present becoming the only player in school history specialists (punt- Specialists ...... 2008-Present with multiple TD runs of 70-plus yards in ers, kickers and snappers). This season Tight Ends ...... 2007-11 the same game. He came back with a 177- is his fifth as the special teams coordina- Illinois yard effort the next week vs. the Lobos. tor. Graduate Asst...... 2006 A 2002 Academy graduate, Miller Miller’s first four years saw the devel- Air Force spent the 2006 season as the offensive opment of Travis Dekker as one of the best Off. Graduate Asst. .... 2002-03 graduate assistant at the University of tight ends in school history and one of Illinois before returning to the Acad- the best in the Mountain West Conference. 2007-08. emy. Dekker caught 25 passes for 382 yards Miller was an all-conference offensive and two scores, while averaging 15.3 yards The last two seasons Will Conant lineman for the Falcons, starting at left per catch, in 2007. His 25 catches were the ranked among the conference’s top kick- tackle as a junior and senior. After com- most by an Air Force tight end since Trent ers, hitting 11-of-13 field goals and 32-of- pleting his collegiate career, Miller signed Van Hulzen in 1989. Dekker would later 33 extra points for 65 points to lead the a contract with the , sign a contract with the . Falcons in 2013. Last season, Conant hit where he was used as a fullback/tight end/ In addition, Chaz Demerath developed into 19-of-21 field goals and 45-of-46 PATs to long snapper. In the fall of 2005, he joined one of the team’s top receiving threats in hit the 100-point mark with 102. He also the practice squad for the Philadelphia 2010 in his first year as a starter. Demer- averaged 43.6 yards per punt last season. Eagles. ath caught 17 passes for 241 yards to fin- He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist ish third on the team in receiving. and earned MW special teams player of the Miller served as a graduate assistant year honors. coach at the Academy from 2002-03. He Miller’s work with the kickers has also also spent one year in the ManTech Divi- been impressive. Senior Ryan Harrison His first year working with the run- sion at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, kicked a school-record 24 field goals in ning backs was highly successful. He over- Ohio, before transitioning to the Air Force 2008, while becoming a semifinalist for the saw the progress of first-year starter Cody Reserve in May of 2004. During the NFL Lou Groza National Placekicker of the Year Getz, who rushed for 1,248 yards which is offseason, he worked as a public affairs of- award. Harrison also set a record for field the seventh most in school history. Getz ficer doing recruiting and public relations goals in consecutive seasons with 43 in opened the season with a school-record five straight 100-yard games while hitting activities for the Air Force. the 200-yard mark three times to establish Miller is married to the former a new school record. Meghan Carney. The couple has two daugh- Last year, he led sophomore Jacobi ters, Quinn and Keeley, and a son, Lochlan.

Air Force Football 51 john rudzinski - secondary

John Rudzin- The Rudzinski File nance operations officer from 2007-10, ski, one of the leading 250 airman. He was responsible most energetic for the people, products and processes and dynamic Year at Air Force: ...... 6th/8th overall for the multi-billion dollar C-17 aircraft young coaches in Career Year: ...... 8th maintenance effort. Throughout his time college football, Hometown: ...... Green Bay, WI in Charleston, he coached at First Baptist begins his sixth Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 2005 High School as a defensive assistant. season with the Rudzinski is a 2001 high school grad- Falcons. In addi- Coaching Experience uate from Notre Dame Academy in Green tion to his work Air Force Bay, Wisconsin. A three-year letterman at with the second- Secondary ...... 2015 the Air Force Academy, he led the team in ary, Rudzinski’s tackles over this span. A two-time captain, tenure includes Rec. Coord./Secondary ...... 2014 Rudzinski was named the team’s most responsibilities Recruiting Coord./OLBs .....2012-13 valuable player and was honored with Air as the recruiting coordinator, outside line- Def. Asst./Asst. Rec. Coord. .. 2010-11 Force’s Brian Bullard Award, which is the backers coach and as a defensive assistant Graduate Assistant ...... 2005-07 program’s highest honor. An honorable in the program. mention All-Mountain West conference se- Last season, Rudzinski developed academic and athletic evaluation of high lection as a senior, Rudzinski was selected first-team All- Mountain West Conference school prospects. to play in the East/West Shrine Game. performer Weston Steelhammer at safety. In 2010 and 2011, Rudzinski’s Rudzinski graduated from the Air Steelhammer record six interceptions on first two years back on staff, the Falcons Force Academy in 2005 as a member of the the season and tied a school record with won back-to-back Commander-in-Chief’s Superintendent’s List by earning over a 3.0 three vs. Boise State. In addition, Rudzins- Trophy. In 2011, Rudzinski assisted the grade point average along with a military ki’s leadership spurred Christian Spears to defense to finish first in the conference in performance average of better than 3.0. be among the team leaders in tackles with passing defense with a 166.8 average. In Rudzinski was also honored as Outstand- 81 while Jordan Mays added 49 in his first 2010, the Falcon defense was even better, ing Cadet in Management in his graduat- season as a starter. ranking second nationally by allowing ing class. In 2014, Rudzinski earned his In 2012, Rudzinski guided Alex just 147.8 passing yards per game. The master’s degree in business administration Means to Mountain West all-conference defensive success aided Air Force to a 9-4 from the University of Colorado. honors. With Rudzinski’s teaching, Means record, capped by a victory over Georgia He and his wife, Lauren, live in Colo- led the Falcons in tackles for loss and Tech in the Independence Bowl. rado Springs and have three children, Elin sacks while finishing near the conference Rudzinski began his coaching career (4), Luke (3) and Malin (2). He and Lauren leaders. The Falcons qualified for a sixth in 2005 as a graduate assistant at the Air have strong admiration for the members straight bowl game, taking on Rice in the Force Academy, serving for two years un- of our armed services and feel fortunate Armed Forces Bowl. The Falcons were 5-3 der the leadership College Football Hall of to mentor the next great generation of Air in conference play. Famer Fisher DeBerry. Learning under the Force officers. As recruiting coordinator from 2012- tutelage of defensive coordinator Richard 2014, Rudzinski managed the national Bell, Rudzinski helped developed future Mountain West all- conference players, Drew Fowler and John Rabold. Transitioning to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Rudzinski served as mainte-

Air Force Football 52 steve russ - assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, dbs

Steve Russ The Russ File earned second-team All-WAC honors in enters his fourth 1994 and was selected to play in both the year at Air Force Blue-Gray All-Star game and the East-West as the assistant Year at Air Force: ...... 3rd/4th overall Shrine game following his senior season. head coach and Career Year: ...... 9th Russ received Air Force’s Brian Bullard second season Hometown: ...... Stetsonville, WI Award, which is the program’s highest as the defensive Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 1995 honor, in 1994 and was a seventh-round coordinator draft pick of the Denver Broncos in the and defensive Coaching Experience 1995 NFL Draft. He is one of just seven backfield coach. Air Force players in Air Force history to be drafted in Russ was the Asst. Head Coach/ the NFL. co-defensive Following two years of active service coordinator and Def. Coord./DBs ...... 2014-Present in the military, Russ joined the Broncos inside lineback- Asst. Head Coach/ and spent four seasons with the team and ers coach previously. Co-Def. Coord...... 2012-13 Inside Linebackers ...... 2013 he was a part of Denver’s 1997 and 1998 Russ’ first season as the lone defen- Super Bowl Championship teams under sive coordinator was impressive, as he Secondary ...... 2012 the direction of head coach Mike Shanahan completely revamped the defense and Wake Forest and defensive coordinator Greg Robinson. turned it into one of the finest in the Secondary ...... 2011 He began his full-time coaching career conference. Air Force improved in all Linebackers ...... 2010 in 2001, joining the staff at Ohio University four major categories last season, includ- TEs/Fullbacks ...... 2008-09 as the outside linebackers coach. Former ing a remarkable 15.8 points per game Syracuse AFA assistant coach Brian Knorr was serv- improvement to 24.2 overall which led Defensive Coordinator ...... 2007 ing as Ohio’s head coach at the time. Russ the conference and was 72 spots higher in LBs/Special Teams ...... 2005-06 became the inside linebackers coach in the national rankings (33rd). The Falcons 2001 and added the responsibility of co- also improved in rushing, passing and Ohio ordinating special teams in 2004. In 2005, total defense, including an over 100 yard LBs/Special Teams Coor...... 2001-04 Russ moved to Syracuse as the linebackers improvement in rushing defense to 135.6 Air Force coach and became the defensive coordina- yards per game. That improvement went Graduate Assistant/ tor prior to the 2007 season. from ranking 119th nationally to 28th, Strength and Cond...... 1995 which is a 91 spot improvement. In addi- In 2008, Russ moved to Wake Forest tion, the defense improved in third down graduate and four-year football letterman, where he coached tight ends and fullbacks defense from 125th to 36th, quarterback returned to the Academy from Wake For- in 2008-09. He coached linebackers in 2010 sacks from 114th to 24th, tackles for loss est, where he coached since 2008, most and the secondary in 2011. The punt cov- from 129th to 42nd. Russ also coached recently as the secondary coach. erage team, which Russ coordinated, led safety Weston Steelhammer to first-team the nation in punt return defense, allowing all-Mountain West honors. Steelhammer is Prior to coaching the secondary in just nine yards all season in 2008. When he on the Lott Trophy watch list for 2015. 2011 at Wake Forest, Russ spent his first took over the secondary in 2011, the Wake two seasons working with the tight ends defense showed dramatic improvement. Russ, a 1995 Air Force Academy and fullbacks and was the linebackers From 2010 to 2011, the pass efficiency coach in 2010. He coached at Syracuse for defense improved 56 spots nationally, the three seasons (2005-07) and spent four third-down defense improved 52 spots na- seasons as an assistant at Ohio (2001-04). tionally and the scoring defense improved Russ began his coaching career at Air Force 45 spots nationally. In 2011, Russ coached as a graduate assistant strength coach in safety Josh Bush to first-team All-ACC and 1995. third-team AP All-America honors. Bush While playing at Air Force, Russ was drafted in the sixth round by the . Russ also coached Merrill Noel, who was named the ACC Defen- sive Rookie of the Year and was a Freshman All-American by numerous publications as he led the country in pass break-ups. A native of Stetsonville, Wis., Russ and his wife, Betsy, are the parents of a daughter, Mackenzie, and a son, Tyler.

Air Force Football 53 steve senn - director of recruiting/player personnel

Steve Senn The Senn File begins his 10th season with Air Force football Year at Air Force: ...... 10th overall and first Career Year: ...... 10th as director of Hometown: ...... Albuquerque, NM recruiting and Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 1990 player personnel. Senn previously Coaching Experience served as the ju- Air Force nior varsity head Director of Recruiting/ coach and var- sity assistant as Player Personnel...... 2015 an officer in the Administrative Asst...... 2009-2014 Air Force. Senn retired from active duty in JV Head Coach/ 2009 and served as an executive assistant Varsity Assistant ...... 2006-09 for five years before taking over recruiting duties. Senn is a 1990 graduate of the Acad- emy where he earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences. While at the Academy, Senn lettered three years in football as a wide receiver and helped the Falcons to a pair of bowl games. He holds the school record for receiving yards in a bowl game with 150 set in the 1989 Liberty Bowl. He is also the record holder for touchdown catches in a bowl game with two, which he did in both the 1987 Freedom Bowl and 1989 Liberty Bowl. Following graduation, Senn served for one year as an assistant coach with the football team before going to undergradu- ate pilot training at Reese AFB, Texas. He was then assigned to Dover AFB, Del., where he was a C-5 aircraft commander from 1993-96. Senn was then a C-27A evaluator pilot at Howard AFB in Panama from 1996-99. He returned to the C-5 as an evaluator pilot while stationed at Tra- vis AFB, Calif., from 1999-2002. Prior to returning to the Academy, he was a C-20H instructor pilot at Ramstein AB, Germany, from 2002-05. Senn is a 1985 graduate of Cibola High School in Albuquerque, N.M., where he was a first-team all-state quarterback and free safety. Senn’s wife, Sophie, who is also a 1990 Academy graduate, retired from active duty in 2009 as well. They have two children, Arran and Eric.

Air Force Football 54 mike thiessen - offensive coordinator, quarterbacks

Mike Thiessen The Thiessen File senior, while rushing for 713 yards and 10 is in his ninth touchdowns and passing for 1,687 yards season as an and 13 scores in 2000. On the diamond, he assistant coach Year at Air Force: ...... 9th holds 10 Academy records (six career and at the Academy. Career Year: ...... 12th four single-season), including a school- This season is Hometown: ...... Modesto, CA record 33-game hitting streak. his second as Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 2001 After graduation in 2001, Thiessen the solo offen- was a 42nd round draft pick of the Arizona sive coordinator Coaching Experience Diamondbacks in 2001. He played in 27 after four years Air Force games with the Yakima Bears “A” team and of sharing the Off. Coordinator/QBs ...... 2015 led the squad with a .308 batting average. duties, and his His first military assignment was at Luke first as the quar- Off. Coordinator/WRs ...... 2014 Air Force Base, Ariz., working in the fighter terbacks coach. Asst. Head Coach/WRs .....2011-13 squadron. Thiessen coached wide receivers for the Offensive Coord/WRs ...... 2008-10 eighth previous seasons. Wide Receivers ...... 2007-08 He entered the World Class Athlete Program and played with the Lancaster Thiessen had one of the top receiv- AFA Prep Off. Coord...... 2004-06 Jethawks, an advanced A affiliate of the ing corps in school history last season, Diamondbacks in 2003. He hit .278 with overseeing the development of two players five homers and 42 runs scored in 85 that had breakout seasons. Jalen Robinette a key player in the offense. Fogler led the games. Following that season, he returned led the Falcons with 43 catches for 806 Falcons in every receiving category in 2009 to Luke and worked in personnel. yards and four touchdowns. His 806 yards with 25 catches for 567 yards and five are the most by a Falcon since Jason Brown touchdowns. In 2011, Jonathan Warzeka After three years at Luke AFB, Thies- in 2005. Garrett Brown was second on the and Zack Kauth each had 31 catches to sen returned to the Academy to teach and team with 36 catches for 535 yards and a lead the team. Kauth had 620 receiving coach at the USAFA Prep School. He served team-best six touchdowns. yards and five touchdowns while Warzeka as an instructor in algebra, calculus and had 442 yards and four scores. chemistry and was the offensive coordina- Thiessen was a key contributor in the tor for the football team for three seasons development of All-American Chad Hall, A two-sport star during his collegiate before joining the Academy staff in 2007. the conference offensive player of the year career, Thiessen was an All-American in 2007. Hall caught 50 passes, the sixth baseball player as a centerfielder in the Thiessen and his wife, the former most in school history, for 524 yards, spring of 2000 and was the Mountain West Kristen McClellan of Jefferson City, Mo., while rushing for 1,478 yards, which ranks Conference football offensive player of the have a son, Andrew, and a daughter, second all-time in school history. Hall year in the fall of 2000. A two-year starter Brooke. played six seasons in the NFL and earned a at quarterback, Thiessen led the team in Super Bowl appearance with the San Fran- rushing and was among the conference cisco 49ers. leaders in rushing yards and touchdowns in 2000. Over the last several seasons, Thies- sen coached Kevin Fogler, who emerged as He capped off his career by earning offensive most valuable player honors while leading Air Force to a 37-34 win over Fresno State in the Silicon Valley Classic. Thiessen finished the game with 99 yards rushing and 204 yards passing. Thiessen was a team captain as a

Air Force Football 55 ron vanderlinden - inside linebackers

Ron Vanderlin- The Vanderlinden File tenure, running back set den begins his the school record for single-game rushing second season with 306 yards. at Air Force as Year at Air Force: ...... 2nd Vanderlinden’s 36-year coaching the inside line- Career Year: ...... 37th career began in 1978, as a graduate as- backers coach. Hometown: ...... Livonia, MI sistant at Bowling Green, where he also Vanderlinden Alma Mater: ...... Albion College, 1978 earned a master’s degree in 1979. He also comes to the coached as a graduate assistant at Michi- Academy after Coaching Experience gan. His first full-time coaching position 13 years at Penn Air Force was with Ball State in 1981-82. From 1983 State where he Linebackers ...... 2014-Present to 1991, he was a defensive assistant at coached line- Colorado under head coach Bill McCartney. backers. Penn State Linebackers ...... 2001-13 During that timeframe, Colorado won the Vanderlinden’s Maryland 1990 National Championship and three first season at the Academy was memo- Head Coach ...... 1997-2000 straight Big 8 championships. From 1992 rable, leading linebacker Jordan Pierce to to 1996, Vanderlinden served as assistant second-team all-conference honors while Northwestern head coach and defensive coordinator at leading the Falcons and ranking sixth in Asst. HC/Def. Coord./LBs ...1992-96 Northwestern. There he played a part in the conference in tackles with 119. Pierce Colorado the reversal of fortunes of a struggling had 19.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks Def. Tackles/NGs...... 1983-91 football program into a two-time Big Ten and registered 10 straight games with a Ball State champion. Northwestern led the nation in stop behind the line of scrimmage during OL/Strength, Condit...... 1981-82 scoring defense in 1995 and played in the the season. In addition, Connor Healy was Michigan its first Rose Bowl since 1936. second on the team in tackles with 90 Graduate Assistant ...... 1979-80 Vanderlinden is a 1978 graduate of while forcing a team-best two fumbles. Albion College where he played football as Both players were in their first season as Bowling Green a four-year starting center. He was named full-time starters in 2014. Graduate Assistant ...... 1978 all-conference honors two years and was As the most recent linebackers coach ers on NFL rosters in 2013. part of the 1976 team that achieved a per- for the Nittany Lions, Vanderlinden over- fect 9–0 record. Both the 1976 and 1977 saw the school’s traditional “Linebacker U.” In 1997, he was hired as the head teams have since been inducted into the He had helped develop a linebacker unit coach of the Maryland Terrapins, a team Albion College Hall of Fame. that included All-American 2005 Butkus without a bowl game and only one winning Originally from Livonia, Mich., Vander- and 2005/2006 Bednarik award winner season since 1990. In both the 1999 and linden played on two state championship , a consensus All-American 2000 seasons, Maryland narrowly missed teams at Divine Child High School in Dear- and 2006 All-American and 2007 Bed- achieving a winning season and bowl game born, Mich., where he first interacted with narik Award winner Dan Connor. He also bid by losing their finale and ended both McCartney, who was his high school head coached Michael Mauti to first-team all Big years with a 5-6 record. Vanderlinden coach. Ten and first-team All-American honors in recorded a 15-29 record. 2012. In addition, he had nine former play- Maryland improved significantly dur- Vanderlinden and his wife, the for- ing Vanderlinden’s tenure, winning more mer Lisa Eckstrom, have one son, Reid, a games in 1999 than the previous two years daughter, Chelsea and her husband David combined. His staff also recruited players Schweer and granddaughter Lucy. Reid is a who would be instrumental in the team’s 2013 graduate of Johns Hopkins and was meteoric rise in 2001 to an ACC champion- a four-year football letterman. He earned ship, a game, a master’s degree at Penn State and is and a top-10 final ranking. Some of these currently working at Temple in academic players included linebacker E.J. Henderson, support. Chelsea is a fourth-grade teacher quarterback , and wide receiver in Indianapolis, Ind. Guilian Gary. Also during Vanderlinden’s

Air Force Football 56 ross weaver - assistant offensive line

Capt. Ross The Weaver File Weaver is in his second year at the Air Force Year at Air Force: ...... 2nd Academy where Career Year: ...... 2nd he serves as the Hometown: ...... Parker, CO assistant offen- Alma Mater: ...... Air Force, 2006 sive line coach. Last season, Coaching Experience the offensive Air Force line featured Asst. Offensive Line ...... 2014-Present first-team all-conference performer and Rimington Trophy Watch List honoree Mi- chael Husar, who started the year at center and proved the versatility of the unit by commander from 2007-11, responsible for moving to guard during the season half of day-to-day prompt global strike opera- the season to help strengthen the team. Air tions. He was then assigned to Los Angeles Force ranked second in the MW and sixth AFB, Calif., where he served as a project nationally in rushing last year with a 273.1 manager for the Advanced Extremely High per-game average. The squad was second Frequency and Hosted Payload program in the conference and sixth nationally in offices from 2011-14. sacks allowed with just 12. Weaver remained active in football Weaver is a 2006 graduate of the after completing his collegiate career, play- Academy where he lettered in football four ing two seasons with the Colorado Ice of years. A dominant offensive lineman, he the Indoor Football League followed by one helped the Falcons lead the conference season with the Toronto Argonauts of the in rushing all four years while ranking Canadian Football League. in the top 10 nationally each season. Air Force was in the top five nationally three A native of Parker, Colo., Weaver and of those years, including ranking third in his wife, Sarah, have two sons, Logan and 2006 with a 229.4 rushing yards per-game Wyatt. average. Following graduation, Weaver was as- signed to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo- ming, where he served as a missile combat crew commander and assistant flight

Air Force Football 57 matt weikert - outside linebackers

Matt Weikert The Weikert File his work at UTC, Weikert worked at Wake is in his ninth Forest for two years as a graduate assis- year overall at tant. The first year he was the defensive Air Force and Year at Air Force ...... 9th graduate assistant, working primarily with seventh as out- Career Year: ...... 14th defensive coordinator Dean Hood and line- side linebackers Hometown: ...... Covington, OH backers coach Brad Lambert. He was also coach. Weikert Alma Mater: ...... Ohio, 2002 heavily involved with the scout offense in had previously preparing the defensive unit each week, as coached the out- Coaching Experience well as weekly opponent game planning. side linebackers Air Force The second year, he was the offensive from 2007-11 graduate assistant, working closely with before coaching Outside Linebackers ...... 2014-Present offensive coordinator Steed Lobotzke and the defensive Defensive Line...... 2013 tight end/fullback coach Tom Elrod. He in- line in 2013 and Inside Linebackers ...... 2012 structed the defensive scout team and was the inside linebackers in 2012. Outside Linebackers ...... 2007-11 involved in film breakdown and prepara- tion for the upcoming opponent. Weikert helped transform the Falcon Wake Forest defense into one of the top units in the Operations/Video ...... 2006 Weikert originally joined the Wake conference last season, improving in scor- Tennessee-Chattanooga Forest staff in August 2002 as a recruiting ing, rushing, passing and total defense. He Outside Linebackers ...... 2005 intern under recruiting coordinator Ray has worked with standouts like linebacker Wake Forest McCartney. Austin Niklas, who led the team in tackles Offensive Grad. Asst...... 2004 A 2002 graduate of Ohio University, with 128 in 2011, which was second in the Defensive Grad. Asst...... 2003 Weikert received a bachelor’s degree in conference. He also had 8.0 tackles for Recruiting Intern ...... 2002 communications. loss. While at Ohio, Weikert was a member He also oversaw the development of of the football team for five years, playing John Rabold as one of the top defensive four seasons under head coach Jim Grobe. players in the conference in 2007. Rabold sacks and was named honorable mention As a senior, Weikert played for former Air was a first-team all-conference honoree, all-conference in 2008. In 2009, Air Force Force assistant coach Brian Knorr, who was recording 74 total tackles and a team-best had one of its best defenses in school his- the head coach at Ohio in 2001. He earned 17.5 tackles for loss. Rabold also had 5.5 tory. The defense led the conference and second-team all-Mid-American Conference quarterback sacks and led the conference ranked fifth nationally in pass defense honors in 2000 after leading the Bobcats in with four fumble recoveries in addition to with a 154.3 mark. The unit was second in tackles for loss (16) and sacks (6). Weikert three forced fumbles. the MWC and 11th in the nation in total de- had two interceptions and broke up four fense, allowing just 288.3 yards per game. Weikert also helped develop an un- passes. His 16 tackles for loss ranked The team was second in the MWC and 10th dersized Hunter Altman into one of the de- third in the conference. nationally in scoring defense with a 15.7 fense’s big-play weapons. Altman was third norm, which is the best mark in school his- Weikert, a native of Covington, Ohio, on the team in tackles with 88 and had tory since 1998. The defense also scored and his wife, Kelly (Graher), were married 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 quarterback five touchdowns in 2009. in the summer of 2010 and have two sons, Laken and Knox. Weikert served as Wake Forest’s operations and video assistant in 2006 in his second stint at the school. He spent the 2005 season as the outside linebackers coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga. Prior to

Air Force Football 58 support staff

Col. John Andrew Col. Troy Harting Col. Pete Photnicky Dr. Aaron Byerley Janel Mitchell NCAA Faculty Rep. Officer Representative Officer Representative Eligibility Chairman Office Manager

Jeff Cosky Scott Richardson Jess Souza Dan Siermine Football Operations Equipment Mgr. Events Manager Support

Drew Bodette Jack Braley Gerry McGinty Connor Kruggel Strength Coach Strength Coach Director of Research Ticket Operations and Rehabilitation

Erik Kozlowski Ernie Sedelmyer Mark Peters Derek Fitts Head Football Trainer Football Trainer Football Trainer Football Trainer

Air Force Football 59 all-time assistant coaches

-- A -- BROWN, Rick (Air Force ‘79) JV 1979-80; DOWIS, Capt. Dee (Air Force ‘90) ABEL, Richard (Detroit ‘56) Asst. 1964-67 1983-87 JV Off. Coord. 1995-98 AKE, Wally (William & Mary ‘72) BUMPAS, Dick (Arkansas ‘71) Def. Line Def. Line 1981-83 1979-80 -- E -- ANDERSON, Maj. Roy (New Mexico) BURNETT, Johnny (UC-Santa Barbara ‘70) ELLIS, Lt. Col. Dick (Air Force ‘68) Freshmen 1958-61 Off. Backfield 1977 Freshmen 1968-69; JV 1971-72, 1976-77; BURTON, Ron (North Carolina ‘87) Prep School 1978-79; JV Head Coach 1978-86 -- B -- Defensive Line 2003-12 ELLIS, Maj. Don (Texas A&M ‘54) BACKHUS, Tom (Ohio State ‘70) BYNUM, Capt. Todd (Air Force ‘89) Freshmen 1964-65; Backfield 1966-70 Off. Line 1978-79; Off. Coord. 1980 JV Asst. 1995-97; JV Head Coach 1998; ELLWOOD, 1st Lt. Frank (Ohio St. ‘57) BAKKE, Capt. Tom (Navy ‘52) Ends 1958-59 Running Backs 1999 Backfield 1959-61 BATTISTA, Capt. Julius (Florida ‘41) ENGA, Dick (Minnesota ‘63) Prep School, Line 1955 -- C -- Head Coach 1978, 1980-81; Tight Ends BECKMAN, Larry (Florida ‘66) *CALHOUN, Troy (Air Force ‘89) 1982-2006 TEs, Spec. teams, 1980; Off. Line 1981-83 JV Asst. 1993; JV Off. Coord. 1994 EVANS, Capt. Pat (Air Force ‘87) BELL, Richard (Arkansas ‘59) Head Coach, 2007- Prep School 1992; JV Def. Coord. 1993-94 Inside LBs 1995-98; Def. Coord. 1999-06 CAMPBELL, Dean (Texas ‘72) BELL, Lt. Tom (Army ‘45) Def. Backs 1958 Running Backs 2000-2004; Secondary -- F -- BERRY, Tom (Virginia ‘55) 2005-06 FEDORA, Larry (Austin ‘85) Def. Backs 1958-60; Freshmen 1961 *CAMPBELL, Jake (Air Force ‘96) Receivers 1997-98 BETANCE, Mike (Air Force ‘90) Offensive backfield asst. 2012- FERNANDEZ, 1st Lt. Steve (Air Force ‘98) JV Def. Coord. 1995-97 CARNEY, Capt. John (Arizona ‘63) JV/Varsity Asst. 2002 BEZYACK, Capt. Marty (Utah ‘58) Linebackers 1969-74 FRYZEL, Dennis (Denison ‘64) JV 1967-69 COVINGTON, Patrick (Furman ‘06) Def. Backfield 1978 BLACKWELDER, Don (NE La. ‘62) Offensive Asst., 2007-09 Quarterbacks 1979 CRIMMINS, Mike (Ohio ‘72) -- G -- BLANCHARD, Lt. Col. Felix (Army ‘47) Linebackers 1975; Off. Line 1976-77 GAILEY, Chan (Florida ‘74) Freshmen 1962-63 *CROSS, Tim (Northern Colorado, ‘90) Def. Backfield 1979-80; Def. Coord. 1981-82 Defensive Line, 2014- BLASI, 1st Lt. Gene (Kansas ‘56) GALBREATH, Lt. Mike (Air Force ‘64) Line 1959-61 Freshmen 1967-68 BOUNDS, 1st Lt. Jesse (Tulane ‘50) -- D -- GALIOS, Capt. Steve (Air Force ‘59) Line 1955-57 DAVITCH, Jerry (Arizona ‘65) Fr. Backs 1962; Def. Backfield 1963-66 BOWMAN, Jim (Michigan ‘56) Off. Line 1973-75; Receivers 1976-77 JV 1958-63; Freshmen 1964-75; DEBERRY, Fisher (Wofford ‘60) GANSZ, Capt. Frank (Navy ‘60) Assoc. AD for Recruiting Support, 1975-2007 Quarterbacks 1980; Off. Coord. 1981-83; Freshmen 1964-67 BRALEY, Jack (Nebraska ‘56) Head Coach 1984-2006 GILLORY, 1st Lt. Byron (Texas ‘49) Ends 1965-67; Def. Backs 1968-76; Off. DERUYTER, Tim (Air Force ‘85) Backfield 1955-57 Coord. 1977; Strength-Conditioning 1982- JV Def. Coord. 1989-92; Def. Coord/Safe- GOLDSMITH, Fred (Florida ‘67) TEs 1979; 97 ties, 2007; Assoc. Coach/Def.-Coord. 2008- Def. Coord. 1980; Asst. HC 1982-83 09 BRINSON, Larry (Florida ‘83) Running GOODMAN, Jim (Florida ‘74) Def. Ends 1981 DIGGS, Ricky (Shippensburg ‘75) Backs 1983 GOULD, Mike (Air Force ‘76) Graduate BROOKSHIER, Lt. Tom (Colorado ‘53) Receivers 1990 Asst.1976; Prep School Head Coach, 1982-84 Backfield 1955 DOW, Capt. Wes (Navy ‘52) JV 1960-61 GROBE, Jim (Virginia ‘77) Linebackers 1984-94 GROH, Al (Virginia ‘67) Def. Coord. 1978- 79 GURSKI, Capt. John (Navy ‘53) JV Asst. 1956-57; Def. Line 1958-59

-- H -- HAMILTON, Paul (Appalachian State ‘81) Quarterbacks/Fullbacks 1990-96; Full- backs, 2006 HANDLEY, Ray (Stanford ‘66) Off. Backfield 1978 HARRIS, Walt (Pacific ‘68) Def. Backfield 1978 HATFIELD, Ken (Arkansas ‘65) Off. Coord. 1978; Head Coach 1979-83 HAWKINS, Capt. Jimmie (Texas A&M ‘88) JV Def. Coord. 1998-2000 HAYS, Lt. Col. Jeff (Air Force ‘84) Kickers 1998 -2004 ; JV Head coach 2000 HEIMERDINGER, Mike (E. Illinois ‘75) Receivers 1981 *HENDRIX, Clay (Furman ‘86)

Air Force Football 60 all-time assistant coaches

Co-Off. Coord./Offensive Line, 2007-13; -- M -- -- N -- Assoc. Head Coach/Offensive Line, 2014 MANUEL, Fred (Oregon ‘73) NEWBY, Matt (Air Force ‘94) HILLSTROM, Eldon “Spike” (Oregon ‘58) Def. Backfield 1977 JV/Varsity Asst. 2000-01 Off. Line 1965-75 MARTIN, Ben (Navy ‘45) NOBLITT, Bob (Washburn ‘63) HINSHAW, Roger (Appalachian State ‘72) Head Coach 1958-77 Off. Coord./Off. Line 1984-99 Outside Linebackers 1983 MASTIN, Maj. Darrell (Air Force ‘76) HORTON, Tim (Arkansas ‘90) Prep School Head Coach 1985-89 Receivers 1999-2004; Halfbacks 2005 MATEOS, Capt. Carlos (Air Force ‘85) -- O -- HUTT, Maj. Ed (UCLA ‘68) Kickers 1994-97 OLIVER, Jerome “Jappy” (Purdue ‘78) JV Asst. 1976-77; WRs 1978-80; TEs 1981 MCCOMBS, Cal (Citadel ‘67) Def. Line 1995-2002 Def. Backfield 1984-89; Def. Coord./Backs ORDWAY, Capt. Goodwin III, “Ski” (Army -- I -- 1990-98 ‘55) Freshmen 1962 IGNARSKI, Capt. John (Kentucky ‘52) *MCGETTIGAN, Matt (Luther, 1987) OZEE, 1st Lt. Jim (Texas Christian ‘58) Off. Line 1958-59 Strength, Speed and Conditioning, 2007- Freshmen 1961-62 MCLAIN, Maj. Bill (Air Force ‘59) ISAACSON, Maj. Terry (Air Force ‘64) Freshmen 1966-70 JV Asst. 1973; Receivers 1974; Off. Back- MERRITT, Maj. Frank (Army ‘44) -- P -- field 1975-76 Asst. Head Coach 1955 PARCELLS, Bill (Wichita State ‘63) METCALF, Lawrence “Butch” (Okla. ‘65) Head Coach 1978 -- J -- Off. Line 1970-72 PARKS, Capt. Al (Auburn ‘52) JACKSON, Capt. Charlie (Air Force ‘00) MILLER, Capt. Alf (Texas ‘50) Freshman Ends 1962 JV/Varsity Asst. 2004 Centers 1958-59 PEAKE, 1st Lt. Bob (Indiana ‘55) JENKINS. 1st Lt. Marvin (Alabama ‘52) *MILLER, Ben (Air Force, 2002) JV Asst. 1957; Backs 1958-59 Ends 1955-57 Special Teams Coord. 2010- ;Tight Ends PETERSEN, Chuck (Air Force ‘84) JOHNSON, Bruce (Wofford ‘70) 2007-11; Specialists, 2007-; Running backs JV Off. Coord. 1990; Receivers 1991-96; Def. Coord./Linebackers 1984-89 2012- Quarterbacks/Fullbacks 1997-2006; Offen- JONES, 1st Lt. Bob (Baylor ‘57) MILLER, Tom (Cortland State ‘69) sive Coord. 2000-06 Freshman Ends 1960; Ends 1961 Def. Line 1984-89; OLBs 1990-2004; Special *PIPES, Lt. Col. Steve (Air Force, ‘98) JOZWIAK, Capt. Tom (Air Force ‘59) Teams Coordinator, 2000-05; Kickers 2005 JV Head Coach/Varsity Assistant, 2012- Freshmen 1963-66 MITCHELL, Capt. Billy (East Carolina ‘72) PRICE, Lt. Col. Bill (USAFA, 1991) Off. Backfield 1979-80; Running Backs JV/Varsity Assistant, 2011 -- K -- 1981-82; JV Head Coach/Special Teams KENDALL, Leland (Oklahoma St. ‘54) 1986-93; Defensive Line 1994 Off. Line 1964-68; Def. Line 1969-75; Def. MOORE, Capt. Dennis (Air Force ‘83) -- R -- Coord. 1976-77 JV Off. Coord. 1991-92; Prep School Head RAETZ, Maj. Bernie (St. Thomas ‘57) KING, Capt. Edwin H., Jr. (Navy ‘52) Coach 1992-94 JV Head Coach 1964-66; Off. Backs 1967- Freshmen 1961; 1958-62 MORGAN, Blane (Air Force ‘99) 69, 1971-74 KITCHINGS, Des (Furman, 2000) JV / Varsity Asst. 2003-05; Wide Receivers RANDALL, Craig (Colgate ‘58) 2006; Co-Offensive Coord./QBs, 2007-13; Running Backs/Running Game Coord., 2011 Def. Line 1978 Quarterbacks 2014 KLECKNER, Capt. Alex (Air Force ‘96) RASH, Charles (Missouri ‘59) Line 1962-63 MORELAND, Jake (Western Michigan, ‘00) JV/Varsity Asst. 1999-2000; JV Head Coach REAGAN, John (Syracuse ‘94) Tight ends 2012-14 2000-2002 Offensive Line 2003-04 MOSS, Joe (Maryland ‘52) KNORR, Brian (Air Force ‘86) RODGERS, 1st Lt. Pepper (Georgia Tech ‘55) Def. Line 1961-69 JV Off. Coord. 1992-94; Falcon Backs 2005; Off. Backs 1958-59 Asst. Head Coach/ILBs, 2007

-- L --

LAMKIN, Capt. Ken (Texas A&M ‘67) JV Asst. 1978 LAWRENCE, Lt. Jerry (Mississippi ‘54) JV 1960 LEGGETT, Capt. Dave (Ohio State) Freshmen, 1968-71 *LEWIS, Derek (Texas ‘98) Wide Receivers 2015 LIONTAS, Lt. Col. Nick (Navy ‘52) Off. Backs 1965-66; WRs 1967; 1971-73, Off. Backfield 1970 *LOBOTZKE, Steed (Air Force ‘92) Tight Ends 2015 LORBER, Maj. John (Air Force ‘64) Def. Ends 1975-76; Linebackers 1977

Air Force Football 61 all-time assistant coaches

RUCKER, Ken (Carson-Newman ‘76) STARKEY, Neal (Air Force ‘68) -- W -- Running Backs 1984-89 Freshman Asst. 1968; JV Def. Coord. 1969- *WALKER, Michael (Air Force ‘97) *RUDZINSKI, Capt. John (Air Force ‘05) 70; Prep School Head Coach 1971 Defensive Asst., 2013, Administrative Asst, Defensive Asst., 2010-11; OLBs 2012; Re- STEINBRUNNER, Capt. Don (Washington St. 2015 cruiting Coord., Secondary 2014 ‘53) Ends 1961-64 WALLERSTEDT, Matt (Kansas State, ‘88) RUSS, Capt. Carl (Michigan ‘75) STEINMARK, Sammy (Wyoming ‘79) Asst. Head Coach/ILBs 2007-11; Co-Def. Off. Backs Asst./JV Def. Coord. 1982-85 Receivers 1982-89; Backs 1990-98 Coord., 2009-11 *RUSS, Steve (Air Force ‘95) STEWART, Bill (Fairmont St. ‘75) WARINNER, Ed (Mount Union ‘84) Asst. Head Coach/Co-Def. Coord./2012; Def. Line 1990-94 Offensive Line 2000-02 Secondary 2012; ILBs 2013; Asst. Head SUMRALL, Lt. Col Darryl (Air Force, ‘89) JV Coach/Def. Coord./Secondary, 2014 Head Coach, 2009-11 SUNDQUIST, Capt. Ted (Air Force ‘83) WARREN, Charlton (Air Force ‘99) -- S -- JV Off. Coord. 1987-89; Prep School Head JV/Varsity Asst. 2005-06; Cornerbacks/Re- SAMPSON, Capt. Tony (USAFA, 2000) Coach 1990-92 cruiting 2007;Co.- Def. Coord. 2009-11; JV/Varsity Assistant, 2008-10 Secondary/Recruiting 2008-11; Assoc. SCHODERBEK, Capt. Steve (Navy ‘53) Head Coach/Def. Coord 2012-13 JV 1962 -- T -- WEATHERBIE, Charlie (Okla. State ‘77) SCHUMACHER, Capt. Tim (Air Force ‘98) THIEL, Capt. Norm (Oregon State) Quarterbacks/Fullbacks 1984-89 JV/Varsity Asst. 2002-04 Freshmen, 1964-67 *WEIKERT, Matt (Ohio ‘02) *SENN, Steve (Air Force ‘90) *THIESSEN, Mike (Air Force, ‘01) Outside Linebackers, 2007-11; Inside line- JV/Varsity Asst. 2005-; JV head coach Wide Receivers, 2007- 14; Co-Off. Coord., backers 2012, Defensive Line 2013; Out- 2006-08; Admin. Asst./Quality Control, 2009-13; Off. Coord/QBs 2015 side Linebackers 2013 2009- TROTT, Bob (North Carolina ‘76) WHITE, Brad (Wake Forest, ‘04) SHAW, Lawrence “Buck” (Notre Dame ‘22) Def. Ends 1978-80; Def. Backfield 1981-83 Defensive Asst., 2010-11 Head Coach 1956-57 WHITLOW, Col. Robert (Army ‘43) SHEALY, Vic (Richmond ‘84) Head Coach 1955, JV 1956 Defensive Backs 1999-2004 -- V -- WIDEMAN, Maj. Giles (Air Force ‘59) SIMLER, Col. George (Maryland ‘48) *VANDERLINDEN, Ron (Albion College, ‘78) Freshmen 1966-70 JV 1957-58; Freshmen 1959 Inside Linebackers, 2014- WILEY, Capt. Al (Air Force ‘83) SIMPSON, Capt. Skinner (Air Force ‘63) Def. Line Asst. 1987-90 JV 1969-72 WRIGHT, Capt. Robin (Air Force ‘96) SINGLETON, Jemal (Air Force ‘99) JV/Varsity Asst. 1999-2001 JV/Varsity Asst. 2003-2005; RBs 2006- 10; * denotes current coach Running Game Coordinator 2007-10. SMITH, Homer (Princeton ‘54) Backfield 1961-64

Air Force Football 62