Fresno State Athletics
Nussmeier Hired to Direct Bulldog Offense
2/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 27, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Pat Hill is getting pretty good at hiring offensive coordinators.
For the fourth straight year, Hill must replace one. Each time he's reached into the NFL ranks as he announced the hiring of Doug Nussmeier, who spent the last two seasons (2006 and 2007) as the quarterbacks coach of the St. Louis Rams.
"In Doug Nussmeier we have found an excellent teacher and coach," said Hill. "He's had success developing quarterbacks in the Big 10 and the NFL, which is attractive. In addition he played the position at a very high level in college and in the pro ranks. 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 replaced Jim McElwain, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Alabama.
In two seasons coaching the Rams, Nussmeier helped Marc Bulger have one of his best seasons in 2006. Bulger, named to his second Pro Bowl, finished the season with 370 completions in 588 attempts (62.9 percentage) for 4,301 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 92.9 passer rating. His 4,301 yards is the fourth-best passing yards season in Rams' history (29th in NFL history) and gave Bulger his first 4,000-yard passing season.
Nussmeier was quarterbacks coach at Michigan State three seasons prior to joining the Rams' staff. After a five-year NFL playing career, Nussmeier entered his first season as a coach in the NFL in 2006. In 2005, Nussmeier tutored Drew Stanton, who accounted for a Spartans single-season record 3,415 total yards.
In 2003, quarterback Jeff Smoker earned second-team all-Big 10 honors and led the league in passing (261.2 yards per game). Smoker's 2003 season is the best in Spartans history, as he completed 302 of his 488 attempts for 3,395 yards and 21 touchdowns, all single-season school records.
"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. Having grown up on the West Coast I have been familiar with the tradition of the Bulldog program. It's great to be a part of the Bulldog family."
In 2002, Nussmeier served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.
Nussmeier made his coaching debut in 2001 as quarterbacks coach for the CFL's British Columbia Lions.
Nussmeier finished his professional playing career with the Lions in the CFL in 2000, helping the club to the Grey Cup Championship. Originally a fourth-round selection (116th overall) of the New Orleans Saints in the 1994 NFL Draft, Nussmeier played five years in the NFL, with the Saints (1994-97) and with the Indianapolis Colts (1998).
Nussmeier, who was coached at Idaho by Rams head coach Scott Linehan when Linehan was the Vandals' quarterbacks coach, still ranks among the NCAA Division I-AA all-time leaders in passing (ninth with 10,824 career yards) and total offense (10th at 309.1 yards per game).
He is one of only three quarterbacks in NCAA history to throw for at least 10,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards (1,230), joining Alcorn State's Steve McNair (1991-94) and Central Florida's Daunte Culpepper (1996-98). Nussmeier set several Vandals career records for passing yards, including touchdown passes (91), passing efficiency (175.2), completion percentage (.609), and total offense (12,054 yards; 308.4 yards per game).
In 1993, Nussmeier won the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the Division I-AA player of the year, leading the Vandals to an 11-3 record. He set a school-record with 33 touchdown passes, and his 172.2 passer rating ranks as the seventh-best single-season mark in Division I-AA history.
A native of Lake Oswego, Ore., Nussmeier and wife, Christi, have a son, Garrett, and a daughter, Ashlynn.
Join the State - Fresno State! - Red Wave, Bulldog football new season tickets and a special 3-game mini plan package are on sale now! The season will feature 5 home games, highlighted by Big 10 power Wisconsin and WAC Champion Hawai'i. Click here to secure your tickets to the game versus Wisconsin by purchasing a season ticket or mini plan today.
