Portland State University Athletics

Mike Preston takes over as tight ends coach at Portland State in 2014. Preston spent the past two seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Lindenwood, a Division II program in Missouri.

At Portland State, Preston will lead a position group with limited experience. Returners Cam Sommer and Tyson Heller each played in reserve roles in 2013. Adam Futter was a member of the scout team and Jacob Nall moves over from defensive end to play tight end in 2014.

"Mike brings a ton of experience to coaching tight ends. Originally, we interviewed him for the offensive line job and he was so impressive we had to figure out a way to get him on our staff. He is a great recruiter as well with good experiences at a lot of places," said Viking Coach Nigel Burton.

Preston has coached at all levels of college football. Prior to coaching at Lindenwood, he was at Yale for three seasons. Yale had a 16-14 record during that span. The Bulldogs improved their rushing yards and total offensive yards every year that Preston was at the school. 

Preston previously coached Ottawa, Wingate, La Verne, Western Illinois, and Washington. He coached the tight ends at Wingate in 2008 and helped the team go 8-3. He was the offensive coordinator at La Verne from 2005-07. At La Verne, he helped coach the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, and defense line. Preston coached the defensive line at Western Illinois after his stint at Ottawa. His coaching career began at Washington from 1997-2000 where he was the offensive assistant and offensive line coach. At Washington, he was a part of the program which won the 2001 Rose Bowl.

Preston played collegiately at the University of Puget Sound from 1991-93. He received a degree in Sociology from Washington in 2005.

Preston's wife, Carrie, played on the women's basketball team at Portland State from 1995-99.

THE MIKE PRESTON FILE
1st year at Portland State

Hometown: East Wenatchee, WA
Alma Mater: Washington, 2005 (Sociology)
Playing Experience: Puget Sound, 1991-93, Offensive Line
Date of Birth: August 16, 1972
Family: Wife, Carrie

COACHING EXPERIENCE:
2012-13 Lindenwood, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
2009-11 Yale, Offensive Line
2008 Wingate, Tight Ends
2005-07 La Verne, Offensive line/Offensive Coordinator
2003    Western Illinois, Assistant Defensive Line
2002    Ottawa, Offensive Line
1997-00 Washington, Offensive Assistant/Offensive Line

RECRUITING AREAS
Out of state: ?Central California