It is no coincidence that Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Brad Davis has coached the most consistently well-performing group on the team over the last four years; there has been a steady stream of talented players on the offensive line, and Davis is good at his job.
Davis has maintained quality and consistency from his players up front and never was it more evident than in 2012. The Vikings had their most balanced offense (216.5 yards rushing 222.2 yards passing per game). PSU had its most yards of total offense in 11 years (438.7 per game), best rushing average in 11 years (5.3 yards per game), the most points per game in 13 years (34.8), and remarkably, his line allowed only five sacks all season as the Vikings attempted 343 passes (sixth in the nation). Nationally, PSU was 16th in rushing, 16th in total offense and 11th in scoring.
Four of his five starters earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2012: Kyle Ritt, Mitch Gaulke, Cornelius Edison and Mitchell Van Dyk.
In 2010 and 2011, Davis’ line led the Viking running game as a two-time Big Sky Conference leader in rushing yards. In 2011, the Vikings had the fewest sacks allowed in the league - just 11 despite nearly 300 pass attempts - ranking as 13th-best in the nation.
Now beginning his fifth season, Davis is a well-respected assistant by players and coaches. He has talent to work with once again with veterans Gaulke, Van Dyk and Edison who combined for 32 starts last season and have 59 overall. As Run Game Coordinator, he plays a vital role in the Vikings’ Pistol Offense, which is run-based, offering increased assistance to Offensive Coordinator Bruce Barnum.
“The first season we ran (the Pistol), we came within 15 yards of a school rushing record. The second year we easily broke that record based on Brad’s outstanding work with the offensive line,” said Viking Head Coach Nigel Burton. “Keep in mind, a lot of these guys were not recruited for a run-based offense, so it was an amazing job by Brad.
“It is a good thing to increase his responsibility, and it allows Bruce to focus a little more on the pass as well as lean on Brad in terms of game-planning and play-calling.”
Indeed, Davis ability to develop young players and maintain the Vikings’ depth on the offensive line has been vital.
BACKGROUND
Davis came from a similar position at North Carolina where he worked in 2008. He also spent two years as a defensive line graduate assistant at Texas A&M, as well as coaching at Doane College and Wayne State.
Davis is a 2003 graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he was a starting offensive lineman for Bob Stoops. He competed on two Big XII Championship teams, and played in the Independence Bowl (1999), the Orange Bowl (2000), the Cotton Bowl (2001) and the Rose Bowl (2002). Davis was the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in 2002.
Davis earned a bachelors degree in Social Studies Education from Oklahoma in 2003. He earned a masters in Kinesiology and Sports Management from Texas A&M in 2008.
THE BRAD DAVIS FILE
5th year at Portland State
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Alma Mater: Oklahoma, 2003
Playing Experience: Oklahoma, offensive lineman, 1998-2002
Date of Birth: February 17, 1980
Family: Wife, Anecia; son, Bradley, born September 2012
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2009-13 Portland State, Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
2008 North Carolina, Offensive Line Graduate Assistant
2006-07 Texas A&M, Defensive Line Graduate Assistant
2005 Doane College, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
2005 Wayne State College, Offensive Line Graduate Assistant
2003-04 Southern University Lab School, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
RECRUITING AREAS
Oregon leagues: Portland Interscholastic, Lewis and Clark
Out of state: Seattle and Western Washington
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE VIKINGS UNDER BRAD DAVIS
2009
HM: OL Matt Leunen, C Tyler Staley, OL Moses Punzal
2010
HM: C Adam Kleffner, OL Dustin Waldron, OL Kyle Ritt
2011
2nd team: OL Dustin Waldron
HM: C Mitch Gaulke, OL Kyle Ritt
2012
HM: C Mitch Gaulke, OL Kyle Ritt, OL Mitchell Van Dyk, OL Cornelius Edison
