Gaels' Football Coach Names Four Assistant Coaches
4/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Moraga, CA (April 12) - Saint Mary's head football coach Tim Landis named four new additions to his offensive coaching staff, including three newcomers and retaining the services of one former Saint Mary's assistant. The newcomers are Ian Shields, Kurt Bryan, and Brian Cowan, while Jim McDonald will be retained as the offensive line coach.
"I've got a great mixture of coaches," commented head coach Tim Landis. "With the guys from Davidson, we have guys that know the system. The new guys will bring a breath of fresh air to what we've been doing. The guys that have been at Saint Mary's (McDonald and Eddie Ford) will provide continuity within the staff. With those three pieces to the puzzle in a staff, that's all I can ask for."
Ian Shields will become the offensive coordinator and the running backs coach after spending the past three seasons with Eastern Oregon University. While at Eastern Oregon, Shields was the offensive coordinator and the quarterbacks coach. The Mountaineer offense averaged 32.3 points and 447 total yards of offense per game in 1999. Prior to joining the Mountaineers coaching staff in 1997, Shields was the Graduate Assistant coach at Oregon State University from 1994-96.
"The key ingredient to any coaching staff is a good offensive coordinator," stated Landis. "Ian has really evolved the spread option offense into more of a throwing game, and that's what I was looking for in an offensive coordinator." A former starter in the Pac-10 at quarterback for Oregon State, Shields is very knowledgeable and one of the bright young coaches on the country. He was a three-sport athlete at Oregon City High School and was an all-state selection in football, basketball and baseball. Shields was named the state of Oregon 4A Football Player of the Year in 1988.
Jim McDonald will return for his 30th season at Saint Mary's and 20th as the offensive line coach. McDonald will be responsible for coaching the tackles and tight ends. With McDonald as the offensive line coach, Saint Mary's has experienced great success. In 1995, the offense ranked 33rd in the nation in total offense with 376.7 yards per game, tenth in scoring (33.4 ppg) and averaged 176.2 yards per game on the ground. In 1993, Saint Mary's ranked eighth in the nation in passing offense (289.7 ypg). McDonald had a three-year stint as the head coach at Saint Mary's from 1974-76, compiling a 9-20 overall record.
"Coach McDonald's experience in the program is phenomenal and I saw him as a vital part of the puzzle in putting together a staff," stated Landis. "He'll be able to draw the past traditions of Saint Mary's football to the present." Brian Cowan, a former standout lineman for Landis at Davidson College, will work together with McDonald as an offensive line coach. Cowan will instruct the interior line, coaching the guards and centers. The Vidalia, GA native spent the past two seasons as the offensive line coach at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
"The great thing about Brian is he's a young guy who's played in our system," commented Landis. "He's spent the last two years coaching it on his own, now he comes back to us. He'll make the transition for us very smooth. "
Kurt Bryan, the wide receivers coach, brings a wealth of coaching experience to the staff. He spent the past three seasons at Menlo College and was the wide receivers coach in 1997. He coached the defensive backs last season and was the tight ends coach in 1998. Bryan was the head coach at Piedmont High School from 1993-96 and was named the ACCAL Coach of the Year, leading his team to an undefeated season and claimed the ACCAL title. Bryan earned his bachelor's degree from Chico State in 1987 and was an offensive assistant with the Wildcats in 1984-85.
"I'm real excited about having Bryan on our staff. He's real energetic and a huge student of the game," stated Landis. "His knowledge of the area will be a big asset to our program."
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