28 February 2008
Bulldogs hire Nussmeier as Offensive Coordinator
Logan Hopkins - REDWAVEproductions
Nussmeier was introduced to the media Wednesday and fielded questions about his new job and the 2008 football season.
For the fourth time in as many years, the Bulldog football program will have a new offensive coordinator. On Wednesday, Head Coach Pat Hill announced that Doug Nussmeier would be Fresno State’s offensive coordinator for the 2008 football season.
“I feel very fortunate to be here and to be a part of Bulldog football,” Nussmeier said.
Nussmeier, who spent the past two seasons as the quarterbacks coach of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL, will be replacing Jim McElwain. McElwain left Fresno State to become the offensive coordinator at Alabama in late January.
“In Doug Nussmeier we have found an excellent teacher and coach,” said Coach Hill. “From the people I talked to, including Jim McElwain, Doug became the clear choice to lead our offense. We are excited to have him on board as we get ready for an exciting 2008 season.”
Nussmeier, 37, brings experience both as a coach and as a former quarterback to his new position at Fresno State. Prior to coaching in St. Louis, Nussmeier was the quarterbacks coach at Michigan State for three seasons, spent time as a coach in the Canadian Football League and played quarterback in the NFL for five seasons.
“I though it was very important in this hire that we bring in a person that has been a quarterback,” Hill said.
After deciding to accept the position at Alabama, McElwain recommended Nussmeier for the vacant offensive coordinator position at Fresno State. McElwain and Nussmeier were both members of the Michigan State coaching staff for three seasons and are now good friends.
Nussmeier interviewed with the team and felt very comfortable with the other members of the staff, but ultimately chose to join the Bulldogs because of the reputation Fresno State has around the college football world.
“The draw to me to come to Fresno State was the national reputation of the program and Coach Hill,” said Nussmeier. “The theme of ‘Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere’ is known around the country.”
On top of his experience as a player and coach, Nussmeier is considered a ‘perfect fit’ for the program because he will lead the Bulldog offense with a system very similar to that of McElwain, which produced a high level of success for the Bulldogs in 2007.
“As a coordinator, the biggest thing and the reason I’m here is to try and put our play-makers in the best position they can be in to make plays within the philosophy of the head coach. That’s what I’ve been brought here to do,” Nussmeier said.
According to Hill, the key to the Bulldogs’ offense is creating favorable match-ups for the team’s playmakers. The ability to create these match-ups is stressed in the NFL and Nussmeier should be able to pick up where McElwain left off. Hill also felt that Nussmeier’s experience as a quarterback will help him relate to the players.
“Everybody in college [football] aspires to be in the National Football League. All of a sudden, he has ‘street cred’ with the players because he has played at the highest level,” Hill said.
Nussmeier, who will be a offensive coordinator for the first time since coaching in the Canadian Football League in 2002, takes over a Fresno State team with lofty expectations for the 2008 season.
Nussmeier will have the challenge of leading an offense with nine returning starters on offense, including a three-year starter at the quarterback position. No player has more expectations or will be under more pressure in 2008 than senior quarterback Tom Brandstater.
“Our number one focus is to make sure the quarterback keeps developing at the rate he is,” Hill said.
As offensive coordinator, Nussmeier will be responsible for tutoring Brandstater and to continue the progression he showed in 2007. The quarterback threw 15 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions in 2007 leading the team to a 9-4 record, improving from his 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 4-8 record in 2006. Nussmeier is confident that Brandstater will be successful in 2008.
“I think Tommy’s got a great future ahead of himself,” Nussmeier said.
The offense will also return experienced players at the skill positions. The Bulldog offense will return running backs Ryan Mathews and Lonyae Miller, tight end Bear Pascoe and receivers Marlon Moore and Seyi Ajirotutu.
Although the program has seen five offensive coordinators leave for other coaching jobs in Hill’s 12-year tenure, Nussmeier is planning on staying in Fresno for a while. “I would never take a job with an intention coming to leave,” Nussmeier said.
Nussmeier is planning on moving to Fresno from St. Louis as soon as possible. He and his wife, Christi, are expecting their third child in the next few weeks and will complete the move to Fresno after the birth.
The Bulldogs must now hire one more coach to complete their coaching staff. Linebackers coach Tom Mason left for the defensive coordinator position at Southern Methodist in mid-February. The program is currently searching for a replacement and must wait until March 6 to announce the final member of the 2008 coaching staff.
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