Payam Saadat joined the Vikings as defensive coordinator in January 2018. He was elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2019 to go with his DC duties.
Saadat took over a PSU defense that ranked last in the Big Sky Conference in 2017, and he has transformed it into one of the most opportunistic in the Big Sky Conference with his “flex” attack in his three full seasons.
The Vikings have cut opponent scoring by 13.5 points per game and total offense allowed by 100 yards per game during those three seasons. The 2017 team created only 12 turnovers, but Saadat’s defense has forced 18 turnovers in each of the last three full seasons. In addition, PSU has increased the number of sacks from 7 in 2017 to 31 in 2019 and 27 in 2021 while tackles for loss have increased from 41 to 81 over that span.
In 2019, the Viking defense accomplished something it had not done in 13 years, shutting out a Big Sky opponent. The Vikings beat Idaho, 24-0, for the first shutout of a Big Sky team in 100 games. During PSU’s five wins in 2021, the defense allowed only 7, 13, 10, 21 and 18 points.
Saadat has nurtured a young group in teaching an unconventional defense. Now, he returns perhaps his most experienced group in 2022. Two-time All-American Anthony Adams will lead the defensive backfield once again. He has forced 11 turnovers and broken up 26 passes in the past two seasons. Defensive end VJ Malo will lead the Vikings up front after making 20 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 2021 - both Big Sky Conference-era records for Portland State.
BACKGROUND
Saadat, a veteran of collegiate coaching in the western United States, came to PSU after coaching most recently at Cal Poly. He had three coaching stints at Cal Poly over the years, and has been a defensive coordinator at three schools, including Cal Poly. Saadat was the DC for the Mustangs from 2006-08, followed by five years as the defensive coordinator at Army (2009-13), then two years at Central Washington (2014-15).
“Payam has been known in the profession as being a player’s coach and a great teacher,” Viking Head Coach Bruce Barnum said.
“When I was (offensive coordinator) at Idaho State, he was the defensive coordinator at Cal Poly and he had the most difficult defense we went up against. He brings a unique system of putting pressure on the quarterback and stopping the run.”
Saadat was at Cal Poly in 1996-97, 2004-08 and 2016-17. Among the players Saadat coached at Cal Poly during his second stint were three consecutive Buck Buchanan Award winners — linebacker Jordan Beck in 2004, defensive end Chris Gocong in 2005 and linebacker Kyle Shotwell in 2006. In addition, lineman Chris White was a two-time All-American.
The Cal Poly defense in 2004 ranked first nationally in rushing defense, allowing opponents just 84.3 yards rushing per game. The defense was ninth nationally in scoring defense, giving up 16.6 points per game. The 2004 defensive unit set school records with 50 quarterback sacks (first nationally) and 25 interceptions (second nationally).
In 2005 Cal Poly increased its school record for sacks to 62 and was first in the nation in that department as well as No. 14 in rushing defense, 13th in scoring defense and 22nd in total defense.
In 2006, the Mustangs were sixth in total defense (248.27) and were ranked in the top 20 in five other defensive categories.
Cal Poly earned three conference titles and twice qualified for the FCS playoffs during Saadat's second coaching stint with the Mustangs.
In 2009, Saadat went with Head Coach Rich Ellerson from Cal Poly to Army. Saadat's influence over the Army defense was felt immediately when he arrived at West Point. The Black Knights finished the year ranked 16th in the nation in total defense, 35th in scoring defense and third in pass defense.
In 2010, the Black Knights again stood among the nation's leaders, ranking 29th in total defense and third in the country in turnover margin. Army's 30 takeaways tied for the 12th most in the nation. The Black Knights held four of their 2010 opponents to 21 points or less, including the program's first shutout since 2005, and qualified for the Armed Forces Bowl, the academy's first bowl game in 14 years, defeating SMU 16-14.
In his two seasons at Central Washington, Saadat coached six first-team all-conference players, including one defensive lineman of the year, and one All-American. The Wildcats were 12-9 during Saadat's two campaigns and, in 2014, the Wildcats were ranked in the top 10 in four defensive categories.
A 1994 Washington State graduate, Saadat was in charge of the inside linebackers at Cal Poly in 1996 and 1997, returned to Cal Poly as a linebackers assistant for the 2004 season, was promoted in 2005 to full-time assistant coach and became defensive coordinator in March 2006.
From 1998-2003, Saadat was an assistant at Western Washington, coaching the defensive line and linebackers and serving as special teams coordinator. He also was recruiting coordinator and an assistant strength and conditioning coach. The Vikings qualified for the 1999 NCAA Division II playoffs and Saadat coached two All-Americans on special teams and was named American Football Monthly special teams coordinator of the year in 2002.
Born in Baltimore, Saadat is a 1990 graduate of Saint Monica High School in Santa Monica, and earned his bachelor's degree in biology at Washington State in 1994. During his first coaching job at Cal Poly, he earned his master's degree in kinesiology in 1998.
Saadat was a linebacker for the Cougars and played in the 1992 Copper Bowl and the 1994 Alamo Bowl. As a senior, Saadat earned Washington State team awards for courage, inspiration and strength. He was the first Cougar to win all three awards in the same year.
Saadat coached the Washington State inside linebackers during his redshirt season in 1993 and coached the same position at Santa Monica College in 1995.
Saadat is a certified strength coach and has a background in competition. He was a participant in both the 1998 World Disabled Championships in Birmingham, England and the 1999 National Disabled Championships in Fairfax, Virginia. He was invited to represent Team USA in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in the shot put.
THE PAYAM SAADAT FILE (pronunciation: PIE-um suh-DOT)
5th year at Portland State
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Alma Mater: Washington State, 1994, BS, Biology; Cal Poly, 1998, MS, Kinesiology
Playing Experience: Washington State, 1990-94, linebacker
Date of Birth: December 7, 1972
Family: wife, Erica, daughter, Rowan (17), sons Shyan (15), and Ashkan (13)
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2018-22 Portland State, Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line (2019-22), Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line (2018)
2016-17 Cal Poly, Defensive Line
2014-15 Central Washington, Defensive Coordinator
2009-13 Army, co-Defensive Coordinator
2004-08 Cal Poly, Linebackers (2004-05), Defensive Coordinator (2006-08)
1998-03 Western Washington, Defensive Line, Linebackers, Special Teams Coordinator
1996-97 Cal Poly, Inside Linebackers
1995 Santa Monica College, Inside Linebackers
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE SELECTIONS UNDER PAYAM SAADAT
2018
3rd team: DT Kenton Bartlett
Honorable Mention: DE Larry Ross, DT Semise Kofe
NATIONAL HONORS
1st team CoSIDA Academic All-District 8: DE Noah Yunker
2019
1st team: Anthony Adams, S
Honorable Mention: Anthony Del Toro, DT; Kenton Bartlett, DT; Shawn Richard, DE
NATIONAL HONORS
1st team All-American: Anthony Adams, S
2021
1st team: Anthony Adams, CB
2nd team: VJ Malo, DE
Honorable Mention: Semise Kofe, DT
NATIONAL HONORS
2nd team All-American: Anthony Adams, CB
