Oregon State Football CampsCoaching Staff
Oregon State Football Camps
Coaching Staff
Mark Banker, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Mark Banker and the assistants have developed one of the top defenses in the nation, and it's backed up by the statistics. Banker, in his eighth year as defensive coordinator, has had nearly 50 players earn postseason All-Pac-10 Conference honors. In addition, his last four teams have combined for a staggering 1,785 lost yards.
Banker had only three starters return to his defense in 2009, yet he molded the team to make yet another run at the conference title finishing second. Defensive tackle Stephen Paea was the co-recipient of the Pac-10's Morris Trophy, awarded to the league's top defensive lineman, and linebacker Keaton Kristick joined Paea on the conference's first team. Three other linebackers earned honorable mention all-conference.
In 2008, Banker's defense ranked second in the Pac-10, allowing 312.2 yards per game. There were many highlights to the season, including shutting down the vaunted USC offense in a 27-21 victory in then the No. 1 Trojans only loss of the year. His unit also shut out Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl, marking the only postseason game where a team was held scoreless. The individual highlights were many including eight defenders earning All-Pac-10 honors. Defensive end Victor Butler, a first team All-Pac-10 player, had a record breaking season for tackles-for-loss and was named the Sun Bowl MVP after making four sacks. Butler (Dallas), defensive end Slade Norris (Oakland), Keenan Lewis (Pittsburgh) Al Afalava (Chicago) and Brandon Hughes (San Diego) were all selected in the NFL Draft.
In 2007, the defense was first against the rush (70.6 yards), fourth for quarterback sacks (3.4 per game), sixth for tackles-for-loss (8.2) and eighth for total defense (306.2). Eleven players earned postseason honors and linebacker Joey LaRocque was drafted by the Chicago Bears. Following the season he and head coach Mike Riley, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh served on the coaching staff at the Hula Bowl.
His 2006 team led the Pac-10 and finished third for quarterback sacks, was the conference leader for red-zone defense and led the nation for tackles-for-loss yardage (528). The team also produced four all-conference players, including first team honoree Sabby Piscitelli, one of the best safeties to ever play at OSU. Piscitelli went on to be drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2005 the team ranked fourth in the Pac-10 for total defense, including leading the conference and finishing 17th for rush defense (108.0). Following the season linebacker Keith Ellison was drafted by the Buffalo Bills.
His 2004 unit led the Pac-10 Conference for pass efficiency defense (100.9/8th in NCAA) and ranked second for passing yards allowed (196.0), total defense (313.3), third down conversion defense (29.4%) and red zone defense (71.7%). This coming after the 2003 team posted similar numbers and rankings.
Banker first stepped onto the OSU campus in 1997 with Riley, and has spent 14 of the last 15 seasons with him. He spent two years at OSU as the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator. The '97 Beavers ranked among the Pac-10's best for interceptions with 16 and Banker helped the program finish sixth in the league for pass defense. Cornerback Basheer Elahee ranked tied for third in the league in '97 for pass breakups (12) and safety Andrae Holland led the league in '98 in the breakup category with 22. Banker also had the opportunity to recruit and coach a young player by the name of Dennis Weathersby, who went on to become an All-American cornerback.
Banker began his coaching career in 1979 as a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Springfield College in Massachusetts. He spent two years at Springfield, one as an offensive line coach and one as running backs coach, before embarking on a full-time career.
His first full-time opportunity came at Cal State-Northridge in 1981. He remained with the Matador program until 1994, serving 11 years as defensive coordinator. When he first arrived at CSUN the program had just 11 scholarships; when he left the program sponsored 54.
In 1995 he moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision (Div. 1) ranks at the University of Hawai'i as the outside linebackers and special teams coach. In 1996 he moved to the University of Southern California, joining a staff that included Riley.
Following his first tenure at Oregon State, Banker went with most of the coaching staff to San Diego to work for the Chargers. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2001 after serving two seasons as the cornerbacks coach. As the coordinator the Chargers ranked 11th in the league for total defense and first for rush defense average.
Banker earned three letters as a running back at Springfield, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He is a high school graduate of Plymouth-Carver in Massachusetts, where he earned a total of 11 letters in football, hockey and baseball.
Mark and his wife Debbie have three children; Chris, Jayme and Kelsey.
Danny Langsdorf is in his sixth season at Oregon State University in his current capacity as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. This is his eighth year overall in the program, serving two years as a graduate assistant coach for Mike Riley during the 1997 and '98 seasons.
The 38-year-old Langsdorf arrived at OSU for his second tenure after spending three years with the New Orleans Saints and during the 2002 season coached with Riley. Langsdorf spent the last two years as assistant wide receivers/special teams coach for the Saints and in 2002 he was the offensive assistant/quality control coach.
Langsdorf's offenses have produced gaudy numbers with five of the top nine season performances in total offense coming under his guidance.
The 2009 Beavers played the season finale with the Rose Bowl invitation on the line. Three offensive players landed on the first team All-Pac-10 squad, including the first OSU quarterback ever with the accomplishment - Sean Canfield. The brother duo of James and Jacquizz Rodgers also earned Pac-10 first team honors. OSU led the league for passing offense (270.8 yards p/g), pass efficiency (141.5) and first downs (278), and was in the top three for scoring offense (31.5) and total offense (410.6 pg). The Beavers also played in their fourth consecutive bowl game.
In 2008 the team finished second in the Pac-10 for pass offense (249 yds p/g), third for total offense (407.1 p/g) and in the top half overall for pass efficiency and scoring. Individually, the unit featured Pac-10 Offensive MVP Jacquizz Rodgers, the first freshman to ever earn the honor, as well as All-American tackle Andy Levitre. A total of six Beavers on offense earned All-Pac-10 honors, including three on the first team. The Beavers also won yet another bowl game, capturing the Sun Bowl over Pittsburgh.
The 2007 OSU offense overcame a rash of injuries to finish third in the conference for the second consecutive year with a 6-3 mark. The Beavers once again won their bowl game, defeating Maryland in the Emerald Bowl. Tailback Yvenson Bernard finished his illustrious career sixth in the Pac-10 and second all-time at OSU for career rushing yards with 3,862. Bernard and linemen Roy Schuening and Andy Levitre earned Pac-10 All-Conference accolades. Following the season, Langsdorf coached in the Hula Bowl with head coach Mike Riley, defensive coordinator Mark Banker and offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.
In 2006 the Beaver offense enjoyed a balanced attack led by senior quarterback Matt Moore and an experienced returning cast. Bernard and guard Jeremy Perry earned first team All-Pac-10 Conference, and another seven Beavers earned second team and honorable mention acclaim. Overall the offense finished in the top half of the conference for scoring, passing, pass efficiency, first downs, red zone offense and time of possession. The team also scored 30-plus points in eight games, including six of the final seven.
In his first year as offensive coordinator in 2005, Oregon State broke the school record for total offense for an 11-game season with 4,609 yards, which included an 11-game record for passing with 3,261 yards. Five offensive players in '05 earned postseason honors, including wide receiver Mike Hass who was the Biletnikoff Award recipient and a first team All-American.
Prior to his stint with the Saints, he was an assistant coach with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. Langsdorf was the Eskimos' offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach from 2000-2001 after serving as the wide receivers coach in 1999. His guidance helped the Eskimos lead the CFL for total yards in 2001 with 6,606.
Langsdorf began his professional career as a player/coach with the Deggendorf Blackhawks of Germany. His college coaching career started in 1996 at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
During Lansgsdorf's first two years at Oregon State he worked with the offense, particularly focusing on the tight ends. He was part of the coaching team that transformed the offense from the wishbone to a multiple set.
The native of McMinnville, Ore., was a standout college football student-athlete playing quarterback. He was a member of the Boise State University football team from 1991-93, lettering one season and earning Big Sky Conference All-Academic honors as a sophomore. He transferred to Linfield College in McMinnville after the '93 season and became the Wildcats' starting quarterback for 1994 and '95. He played for his father (Ed) at Linfield and was selected to the All-Northwest Conference Team as a junior after passing for 2,055 yards and 24 touchdowns. He set a then-school record with 493 passing yards against Southern Oregon on Nov. 12, 1994. He was injured much of his senior season, but concluded his two-year career with 2,724 yards, completing 195 of 356 pass attempts.
Ed Langsdorf is a scout with the San Diego Chargers after spending 20 years as a coach at Linfield.
Danny is married to the former Michele Bertrand, a softball standout at Linfield who still appears in the school record books for her pitching prowess. Danny graduated from Linfield in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
He donated a kidney to Laurie Cavanaugh, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh's wife, in May of 2007.
Jay Locey, Assistant Coach/Tight Ends/Running Backs
Jay Locey is in his fifth year at Oregon State as the Assistant Head Coach, and third with the receivers' responsibilities. He came to OSU after a tremendously successful career at Linfield College in nearby McMinnville.
Locey brought to Oregon State many of the aspects that made him one of the most successful coaches in small college football, including some well received team building activities that he credits for much of the success at his former program.
In 2009, junior receiver James Rodgers earned first team honors after setting a school record with 91 receptions. Rodgers led the Pac-10 and ranked 13th in the nation for receptions per game (7.0). The junior also ranked second in the league for receiving yards per game (79.5), and was the league-leader and seventh in the nation for all-purpose yards (179.1).
Locey's receivers in 2008 had a banner year that culminated with a Pac-10 First Team selection in Sammie Stroughter, who was later invited to the East-West Shrine Game and was drafted in the seventh round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His other two starters, James Rodgers and Shane Morales, also earned All-Pac-10 honors. That trio of receivers all ranked in the top-10 of the Conference in receptions per game, with Stroughter leading the league with 80 yards receiving per outing.
Locey spent the first two seasons at OSU working with the tight ends. In 2006 he coached senior Joe Newton, who earned postseason all-conference honors and competed in the Senior Bowl. Newton finished his career with the most touchdowns (15) ever for a Beaver tight end and is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks.
Locey is one of the most successful coaches in the history of small college football. The five-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year led the Wildcats to the 2004 NCAA Division III title and in 10 years as the head coach, guided the program to a record of 84-18, including a streak of 41 consecutive wins.
During his tenure as head coach, Locey coached 16 All-Americans, led Linfield to its longest Northwest Conference unbeaten streak (23 games), and continued with the program's NCAA record consecutive winning seasons streak which stood at 50 at the end of 2005.
Locey was associated with Linfield for 23 years and experienced three national titles and 13 conference championships. In 2005 he was named one of the state's top 25 most influential sports people by The Oregonian and was selected the Division III Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
Locey began his Linfield career in 1983 when he accepted the position of defensive coordinator, replacing current Oregon State head coach Mike Riley, who moved on to the Canadian Football League.
The 54-year-old native of Corvallis served as an assistant under a number of Northwest coaching legends, including Ad Rutschman, Bud Riley, Dee Andros, Tom Smythe and Chuck Solberg. His grandfather, Percy Locey, was a college football coach at the University of Denver and the athletic director at Oregon State (1937-47).
In addition to his coaching duties at Linfield, Locey was a full professor in the College of Health and Human Performance. He was an instructor for anatomical kinesiology and the principles of neuromuscular conditioning.
As a sophomore at Corvallis High School in 1970, he had the opportunity to play on the varsity football team that went undefeated and won the state championship. A reserve linebacker, he played special teams while learning under a special group of seniors that included Mike Riley, Gary Beck (OSU's FB Coordinator of Support Services), Don Reynolds, Jerry Hackenbruck and Kerry Eggers.
Locey earned a football scholarship to Oregon State. After starting just one game as a sophomore, he went on to receive All-Pacific-8 Conference First Team honors as a defensive back in 1976 and second team in 1975. Twice he was singled out as OSU's top student-athlete and received the outstanding senior award his final year. After an attempt at playing professional football in Canada, Locey returned to Oregon and embarked on a career in coaching. He served as a graduate assistant for one season at OSU before being hired by Smythe as a secondary coach at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Ore.
After four successful years at Lakeridge, Locey returned to his alma mater to coach with Beck while completing his master's degree at the University of Oregon (1983). Locey honed his coaching skills under Rutschman, and was a part of two NAIA national title teams in 1984 and 1986 before leading the Wildcats to the 2004 NCAA crown.
His family includes wife, Susan, and daughters Danika, Braelyn and Rachelle.
Mike Cavanaugh, Offensive Line
Mike Cavanaugh is in his sixth season as Oregon State's offensive line coach.
Cavanaugh's line has enabled the Beaver offense to be one of the best in the nation during his tenure. He has had three offensive linemen drafted during his tenure and 2007 draftee Adam Koets earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants while Kyle DeVan started at guard for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2010 Super Bowl. He has also coached OSU All-Americans Andy Levitre (OT) and Jeremy Perry (OG).
In 2009 several injuries forced the offensive line to adapt while playing several young linemen. Gregg Peat, the veteran of the group, earned first team All-Pac-10 honors, while center Alex Linnenkohl was an honorable mention selection. With two walkons and a true freshman in the starting lineup protecting and blocking, quarterback Sean Canfield, running back Jacquizz Rodgers and receiver James Rodgers all earned first team all-league acclaim.
In 2008 his line helped running back Jacquizz Rodgers become the first freshman ever to earn Pac-10 Conference Offensive MVP honors. Levitre, a second round NFL Draft selection of Buffalo, and guard Adam Speer earned all-league honors to go along with Rodgers. His line was one of the best in the nation at protecting the quarterback, allowing an average of one sack per every 21 attempts.
In 2007 his group assisted Beaver running back Yvenson Bernard finish his career sixth in the Pac-10 Conference for career yards with 3,862, second all-time at OSU. Guard Roy Schuening earned first team all-league honors while Levitre earned second team and DeVan honorable mention. Schuening was drafted in the fifth round by the St. Louis Rams while DeVan went the free agent route.
The 2006 team featured sophomore guard Jeremy Perry earning first team All-Pac-10 honors, Koets and DeVan garnered second team acclaim, and Schuening and Levitre earned honorable mention. Koets was a sixth round pick of the Giants. Oregon State was the only program in the Pac-10 to have all five of its starters earn postseason honors.
Cavanaugh's '06 group was so highly regarded by the Beaver coaching staff and players that head coach Mike Riley elected to run a dive play for a two-point conversion with 23 seconds remaining in the 2006 Sun Bowl, earning Oregon State a 39-38 victory over Missouri.
In 2005 three of "Cavs" offensive linemen earned postseason honors, including Perry as the Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year and College Football News Freshman All-America. Running behind the likes of Perry, Bernard was the nation's ninth-best running back in terms of yards per game (120.1).
Cavanaugh, a 1986 graduate of Southern Connecticut University, spent six seasons at the University of Hawai'i as the offensive line coach. He coached five NFL draft selections during his Warrior tenure.
The 46-year-old Cavanaugh helped Hawai'i finish in the top 17 for total offense in each of his last four seasons, including second in 2002 at 495.6 yards per game. Hawai'i was sixth in 2003 at 488.1, seventh in 2001 at 462.7 and 17th in 2004 at 434.0. The Warriors are known for their passing attack, yet during the Cavanaugh tenure the team allowed just one sack on every 26 attempts.
During his career at the Manoa campus, the Warriors played in four bowl games, including a 23-17 victory over Oregon State in the 1999 Oahu Bowl.
Cavanaugh began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Albany in New York. In 1987 he was the offensive line coach at Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn., and from 1988-91 he was at Alma College in Michigan. While at Alma he served as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach for the first three seasons and then as the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the final year.
Cavanaugh then was the offensive line coach and strength coach at Murray State in Kentucky for the 1992 season, and offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut for 1993 and '94. He was the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Ferris State University in Michigan for the 1995 and '96 seasons and helped the program win a pair of Midwest Intercollegiate Conference titles. The '95 team advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals.
He moved on to the National Football League in 1997 as the assistant offensive line/quality control coach for the San Diego Chargers, a position he held for two years, before joining the Hawai'i staff.
Cavanaugh played college football at New Haven from 1981-82 before transferring to Southern Connecticut State where he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1986. The Wallingford, Conn., native is married to the former Laurie Gilbride and the couple has two sons, Shane and Blair. Laurie's brother is Kevin Gilbride, the offensive coordinator, of the 2008 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Reggie Davis, Running Backs Coach
Reggie Davis is in his third year as the running backs coach.
Davis has coached OSU running back Jacquizz Rodgers into a Heisman candidate for the 2010 season. In 2009, "Quizz" earned first team All-Pac-10 Conference, second team All-America and broke the OSU record for single season rushing touchdowns with 21. In his first year on the staff he assisted Rodgers become the first freshman in the history of the Pac-10 Conference to earn its Offensive MVP award after rushing for 1,253 yards and earning All-America honors for his efforts.
Davis coached the running backs for three seasons at UNLV prior to coming to Corvallis. He also coached the tight ends and assisted with the special teams for current Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego.
The Long Beach, Calif., native also spent over three years as a speed and strength coach in San Diego, following two years as a tight end and special teams player for the San Diego Chargers. During his Chargers stint he played for current Oregon State head coach Mike Riley and caught 13 passes in 26 games, including a touchdown in a six-reception 1999 game against the Chicago Bears.
He also worked with football players during two summers at Hoover High School in San Diego, instructing individuals on life skills and weight lifting techniques.
Davis played college football at the University of Washington, where he was a member of the team for five years (1994-98), lettering four times. He was the co-team captain as a senior and helped the Huskies to four bowl games. Davis graduated with a degree in sociology.
Reggie and his wife Jennifer have five children, Kayla and two sets of twins, DeSean and Jalen, and Jordan and Tyson.
Keith Heyward, Cornerbacks Coach
Keith Heyward is in his third year as a full-time assistant coach at Oregon State, but has been associated with the university at times since 1997.
His 2009 cornerbacks were one of the youngest groups in the nation after graduating a pair of NFL draftees from the 2008 season. In the '08 season Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes were drafted by Pittsburgh and San Diego, respectively, earned Pac-10 Conference honors and played in postseason all-star games. His backfield helped the Beavers' pass defense rank third in the Pac-10.
Heyward came to OSU after spending the 2007 season as the inside linebackers coach at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. He helped the Mustangs finish first in the Great Western Conference for rush defense and third for total defense.
Prior to his one season at Cal Poly, he served as the graduate assistant coach for defense at Oregon State for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, where he assisted in the development of two current NFL players (Keith Ellison & Sabby Piscitelli). During that span the Beaver defense ranked first in the Pac-10 Conference against the run, for quarterback sacks and tackles-for-loss yardage. The '06 team produced a 10-4 record, including ending USC's 27-game league winning streak and defeating Missouri in the Sun Bowl.
He is considered one of the best cornerbacks to ever play at Oregon State, starting 35 consecutive games and lettering four seasons (1997-2000). He played a pivotal part in the rebirth of Beaver football and was on the school's most successful team as a senior, defeating Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and ending the year No. 4 in the country with an 11-1 record.
Heyward was a 2000 Pac-10 Conference Honorable Mention selection and in 1997 Riley named him Rookie of the Year. For his career he made 88 tackles, 23 pass breakups and notched five interceptions.
Heyward is a 2002 OSU graduate in communications. Following his college playing career he was on the professional rosters of the British Columbia Lions, Scottish Claymores and Los Angeles Avengers. He also participated in the preseason camps of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. In addition, Heyward also has been employed in the private sector.
He is a graduate of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Greg Newhouse - Linebackers Coach
Greg Newhouse is in his 14th season at Oregon State, the longest tenure of any football coach in the program. He has experience at OSU coaching the linebackers, his current position, the defensive line and as defensive coordinator.
Newhouse started his OSU career in 1997 and has played a significant role in the rebirth of the program. He has coached in all of the Beavers' nine recent bowl games, winning six. His players have earned 32 Pac-10 All-Conference honors, including linebacker Keaton Kristick a first team honoree in 2009. Overall, he has coached some of the program's and conference's best defensive players in modern-day history.
OSU has become known as one of the premier schools in the country for developing linebackers, with four earning all-conference honors last season - Keaton Kristick, Keith Pankey, Dwight Roberson and David Pa'aluhi.
In 2007 all three starters, Derrick Doggett, Alan Darlin and Joey LaRocque earned Pac-10 Conference second team honors. His group helped Oregon State lead the nation for rush defense (70.6), finish fourth for quarterback sacks and sixth for tackles-for-loss. Overall the defense was eighth nationally. LaRocque was drafted by the Chicago Bears.
His 2006 group included the same trio of linebackers who formed one of the top units in the nation. In '07 the threesome combined for 257 tackles, with Doggett and Darlin ranking among the top 10 in the conference for tackles-for-loss. The Beaver defense finished fourth for quarterback sacks, first in the conference for red-zone defense and first in the nation for tackles-for-loss yardage with 528.
In 2005 as the defensive line coach, Newhouse helped the program finish first in the Pac-10 and 17th in the nation for rush defense (108.0), and finish first in the conference for fewest first downs allowed (219). The 2004 team finished second in the Pac-10 Conference and 18th in the nation for total defense, allowing 313.3 yards per game. The unit also ranked second in the league for pass defense (117.3), first (8th in NCAA) for pass efficiency defense (100.9) and second for red zone defense and third down conversion defense. He also helped the 2003 team rank among the top 20 defensive units in several categories, including seventh for total defense.
Newhouse began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Nevada in 1975, but then was promoted to full time prior to the season with the assignment of coaching the defensive backs. He also coached at Nevada in 1977, working with the secondary, after a one-year stint at Chaffey Junior College as special teams and defensive backs coach. From 1978-79 he was on the staff at UNLV, coaching linebackers, kickers and punters, and from 1980-82 he worked at Cal State Fullerton with the secondary and punters.
Newhouse moved to the professional ranks in 1983 with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, working as the secondary coach his first season. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1984, a role he served through the '87 season.
He returned to college football in 1988 at the University of Hawai'i, where he spent two seasons coaching the secondary and punters. In 1990 he was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at New Mexico.
Newhouse joined Riley for the first time at San Antonio (1991-92) in the World League of American Football, serving as the club's defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He remained in pro football after the World League disbanded, working as the defensive line and linebackers coach with the Edmonton Eskimos (1993-94) of the CFL. In 1995 he was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach with the Birmingham Barracudas of the CFL, and in '96 he had the same role with Edmonton.
Newhouse is a 1976 graduate of the University of Nevada with a bachelor's degree in education. While at Nevada he lettered two seasons as a cornerback. He also attended Golden West College in Huntington, Calif., for two years, where he was a two-year letterman as a cornerback and safety.
Greg and his wife, Catherine, have one son, Jesse.
Bruce Read - Special Teams Coordinator
Bruce Read is in his third tenure as the special teams coordinator at Oregon State, and 2010 marks his second year in his current capacity. His previous tenures included the 1997-98 and 2004-06 seasons. In addition to his college resume, Read has coached special teams in the NFL for three clubs, 2007-08 with the Dallas Cowboys, 2002-03 with the New York Giants and 1999-2001 with the San Diego Chargers.
Read is considered the best special teams coach in OSU history with many Beavers achieving outstanding accomplishments. In 2009, Suaesi Tuimaunei earned first team All-Pac-10 for his play on coverage teams and kicker Justin Kahut was a second team honoree. Kahut led the conference for scoring with 111 points, and James Rodgers finished in the league's top five for punt and kickoff returns.
In 2006, Sammie Stroughter earned third team All-American honors in part for his punt return abilities and placekicker Alexis Serna garnered second team All-Pac-10. Stroughter set the school record with three punt returns for touchdowns and Serna, at the time, had a school record 106 consecutive made extra point attempts - he eventually made 144 consecutively. Both players are in the professional ranks, Stroughter is a receiver/returner for Tampa Bay and Serna is in the CFL with Winnipeg.
In 2005 Read coached First Team All-Pac-10 selections punter Sam Paulescu and Serna. Serna was the '05 recipient of the Lou Groza Award, recognizing the nation's premier kicker, and an Associated Press Second Team All-American.
Read spent the 2002 and 2003 seasons as the special teams coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League. During the `03 season, the Giants improved in six of eight statistical special teams categories.
Read accompanied Riley to San Diego in 1999 to coach the Chargers' special teams. The Chargers led the NFL in 2001 with a kickoff return average of 26.0 yards - 4.4 yards more than the NFL average for that season. Ronny Jenkins led the league with a 26.6 yards per kickoff return average and scored two touchdowns. For his career with the Chargers, the team consistently rated above the average mark in most statistical categories, and in his first year with the club the team improved 18 spots in the NFL's special teams category to sixth. In 2001 the Chargers were third for special teams and punter Darren Bennett played in the Pro Bowl.
While at Oregon State during his first tenure, Beaver special teams units blocked 15 kicks. During the 1998 season, OSU was second in the Pac-10 with a .654 (17-26) field goal percentage and was third for kickoff return average at 23.1 yards. In 1997, kicker Jose Cortez ranked tied for third for field goal conversions with 11.
Read began his coaching career in 1985 working alongside his father, head coach Don Read at the University of Montana. He was named a full-time assistant in 1987, where he would serve the next 10 years as a special teams coach. While at Montana the program broke over 30 records for special teams, and blocked 27 punts and 22 kicks. Montana claimed three Big Sky Conference titles (1993, '95, '96) and won the 1995 NCAA Division I-AA title.
Read is a 1986 graduate of Portland State with a bachelor's degree in social science.
He and his wife Christina, have two sons, Justin and Joshua.
Joe Seumalo - Defensive Line Coach
Joe Seumalo (pronounced Say-u-malo) is in his fifth year at Oregon State and he is credited with developing one of the best defensive lines in the nation.
Defensive tackle Stephen Paea earned first team All-Pac-10 honors last season as well as being the co-recipient of the league's Morris Trophy, awarded to the top defensive lineman as voted on by the Pac-10's offensive linemen. Led by Paea, the Beavers rushing defense ranked among the top 25 in the country. His defensive line helped OSU play in its fourth consecutive bowl game.
In 2008, his Beaver defense was the only unit in the NCAA to hold an opponent (Pittsburgh) scoreless in a bowl game (Sun). The defense ranked second overall in the Pac-10 for fewest yards allowed per contest (312.) and quarterback sacks (39), and fifth for yards lost (456) via tackles-for-loss. His 2008 team also featured two of the best defensive ends in the history of the program, Victor Butler and Slade Norris. Butler earned the Sun Bowl's MVP honor after making five tackles-for-loss, including four quarterback sacks. Butler's 21.5 tackles-for-loss overall in '08 set a school record and he matched the Beaver mark for sacks (12) and forced fumbles (4) for a season. Three of his defenders earned All-Pac-10 honors, with Butler (Dallas) and Norris (Oakland) being selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
In 2007, the Beavers led the nation against the run (70.6), were fourth for quarterback sacks (3.4 per game), sixth for tackles-for-loss (8.2 pg) and eighth for total defense overall (306.2 yds p/g). The team accounted for more yards (537) lost via tackles-for-loss than any other team. Of the 13 teams the Beavers faced in 2007, 12 gained under their season average for rushing yards. All four of his starters on the Beaver defensive line earned Pac-10 postseason honors.
Seumalo's first year with the program was very successful as he was part of a defensive unit that ranked first in the Pac-10 for quarterback sacks and led the nation for tackles-for-loss yardage (528). Linemen Ben Siegert and Jeff Van Orsow both earned Pac-10 postseason recognition after the two made among the biggest plays in OSU history. Siegert blocked a school record two field goals in the win over Oregon, including the Ducks' game-winning attempt. Van Orsow deflected John-David Booty's two-point conversion attempt to preserve a 33-31 win over USC, ending the Trojans' 27-game conference win streak.
Seumalo arrived at Oregon State after one year as the defensive line coach at San Jose State University. Prior to his stint in the Bay Area, he spent four years as the defensive line coach at Cal Poly University in San Luis, Obispo.
At Cal Poly, he was part of a coaching staff that molded one of the top Division I-AA defenses. In 2004, the nationally-ranked Mustangs were third in the country for rushing defense and ninth in scoring defense yielding just 16.6 points per game. One of his linemen, All-American Chris Gocong, led all I-AA players in quarterback sacks with 17.5 and was second in tackles-for-loss at 21.5. Gocong went on to finish second in the 2004 Buck Buchanan Award voting for the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision classification.
The 2003 Cal Poly defense was 24th nationally in rushing defense yielding 121.1 yards per game and was among the best pass rushing teams with 40 quarterback sacks. Overall, the Mustangs averaged 39 sacks a season in his four years.
A defensive lineman at the University of Hawai'i from 1985 through 1988, Seumalo was a second-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice in his senior season. While at Hawai'i he played for a coaching staff that included current OSU assistant coach Greg Newhouse. Seumalo went on to play in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Roughriders in 1989, the Edmonton Eskimos in 1994 and for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe in 1995. He once again played for Newhouse in Edmonton.
The 1995 graduate of Hawai'i began his coaching career in 1994 at Kaiser High School in Honolulu. During his five seasons as an assistant coach at Kaiser, he also served as a guest coach for the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1996 and the Hawai'i Hammerheads of the Indoor Football League in 1999.
Seumalo moved to the college ranks in 1999 as a graduate assistant at Hawai'i, where he was part of a staff that included current OSU offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh. In his two seasons, he coached the defensive ends and assisted with the special teams.
He and his wife, Karen, have three sons, Andrew, Isaac and Noah, and one daughter, Jessi.
