Tulsa's Kragthorpe Names Football Coaching Staff
1/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 7, 2003
Tulsa, Okla. - University of Tulsa's newly appointed Head Football Coach Steve Kragthorpe announced his coaching staff today. Kragthorpe has added six new assistant coaches, while retaining three assistant coaches from the previous staff.
Assistant coaches joining the Hurricane staff are offensive coaches Charlie Stubbs, Spencer Leftwich and Bob Schultz. Defensive coaches new to Tulsa are Todd Graham, Keith Patterson and Danny Phillips.
Ti'Andre Sanders and Matt Wells, both offensive coaches, return for their second year, while Sammy Lawanson returns for his fourth season as a defensive assistant coach.
Offensive Coaching Staff
Charlie Stubbs - Offensive Cooordinator and Quarterbacks Coach, 1st year
Spencer Leftwich - Offensive Line Coach, 1st year
TiAndre Sanders - Running Backs Coach, 2nd year
Bob Schultz - Receivers and Special Teams Coach, 1st year
Matt Wells - Tight Ends Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, 2nd year
Defensive Coaching Staff
Todd Graham - Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator, 1st year
Sammy Lawanson - Secondary Coach, 4th year
Keith Patterson - Linebackers Coach, 1st year
Danny Phillips - Defensive Line, 1st year
TODD GRAHAM
Todd Graham joins the Tulsa coaching staff as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He will also coach the Hurricane defensive secondary.
Graham comes to Tulsa after two years as an assistant coach at the University of West Virginia, where he served as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2002. He coached the linebackers during the 2001 season. This past season, the Mountaineer defense ranked 33rd nationally in total defense and 30th in rush defense. He helped WVU register a 9-4 record with wins over nationally-ranked Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh.
Before moving to WVU, Graham was a highly successful high school coach and athletic director at Allen (Texas) High School for six years (1995-2000). His teams made five playoff appearances and won two bi-district championships. In 2000, Allen posted a 9-3 record and captured the 5A Division II bi-district title while defeating four teams ranked among the top-10 in the state of Texas.
Previously, he was the head coach at Carl Albert (Okla.) High School in 1994, ranking 10th in the state's final class 5A poll. Before that, he served three years (1991-93) as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at East Central (Okla.) University, helping win the NAIA Division I National Championship in 1993.
From 1988-90, Graham was an assistant coach at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, where those teams compiled a 25-5 record.
A 1986 graduate of East Central (Okla.), Graham was a two-year NAIA All-America defensive back and three-time all-conference performer. He signed as a free agent with the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals.
Graham, 38 (12-5-64), earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education at East Central University. He and his wife, Penni, have six children: Bo, Hank, Natalie, Haylee, Dakota and Michael Todd Jr.
SAMMY LAWANSON
Sammy Lawanson enters his fourth season as a member of the Tulsa coaching staff. He will coach the defensive secondary.
After coaching linebackers his first two seasons at Tulsa, Lawanson coached the rover/bandit position during the 2002 campaign. He came to Tulsa following one season as the running backs coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the 1999 season.
Before that, Lawanson coached the defensive backs at his alma mater, San Diego State University, as a graduate assistant coach. He also assisted with coaching the special teams at San Diego State. Lawanson spent the 1997 season as a student assistant coach with the Aztecs, assisting with the inside and outside linebacker positions.
As a collegiate player, Lawanson was a two-year starting outside linebacker in 1995 and 1996 at San Diego State. He earned honorable mention all-WAC merits during his junior season. In 1993-94, he was a two-year starter and all-state linebacker at Fresno City College.
Lawanson, 28 (12-22-74), earned his bachelor's degree in history at San Diego State in 1998.
SPENCER LEFTWICH
Spencer Leftwich joins the Tulsa coaching staff as offensive line coach. He spent the past nine years as offensive line coach at North Texas.
During his tenure, North Texas had at least one offensive lineman named to the all-conference team in eight of nine years, including three all-Sun Belt Conference selections during the 2002 season. His offensive line helped pave the way for North Texas to rank 38th nationally in rushing offense in 2002 with 183 rushing yards per game.
He helped UNT win two straight Sun Belt Conference titles the past two seasons, as well as making appearances in the New Orleans Bowl both years.
In 1994, he directed an offensive line that played an instrumental role on an offense that ranked first in the Southland Conference in total offense, recording a school record 4,670 yards.
Previously, he spent two years (1992-93) as the offensive line coach at New Mexico State. In his first season there, NMSU posted its first winning season in 14 years with a 6-5 record in the 1992 campaign.
Leftwich began his coaching career in 1989 at his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, and served as offensive line coach for three years (1989-91). The Lumberjacks won the 1989 Southland Conference title and earned a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship game with a 12-2-1 record.
A 1988 graduate of Stephen F. Austin, Leftwich was a three-year starter at offensive guard and a two-time all-conference selection. Leftwich earned his bachelor's degree in education, and received his master's degree in physical education from East Texas State in 1989.
Leftwich, 37 (4-14-65), and his wife, LaTonne, have three sons: Mack Hays, Cutter and Gage.
KEITH PATTERSON
Keith Patterson comes to Tulsa with 16 years coaching experience on the prep level in Oklahoma and Texas.
Patterson, 38 (5-20-64), spent the past three years (2000-02) as linebackers, defensive backs and special teams coach at Allen (Texas) High School. Before that, he was the head football coach at Ardmore (Okla.) High School for three seasons (1997-99). At Ardmore, Patterson led his team to the District 5A-1 Championship in 1999, while earning district Coach of the Year honors.
Before that, Patterson had his first coaching stint at Allen High School while serving as defensive coordinator for the 1995 and '96 seasons.
In 1994, Patterson was the head coach at Edmond Santa Fe (Okla.) High School. Prior to that, he served as defensive secondary coach at Edmond Memorial High School for two seasons (1992-93). He began his high school coaching career in 1988 at Altus (Okla.) High School, where he coached outside linebackers and defensive backs for four years. He helped lead Altus to a state runner-up finish in Class 4A, while helping Edmond Memorial to a Class 6A runner-up finish in 1993.
Patterson coached for one year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M as wide receivers coach. He helped NEO to a No. 3 national ranking and a victory in the 1987 Mid America Bowl.
He received his bachelor's degree in health, physical education and recreation from East Central (Okla.) University in 1986. Patterson was a four-year letterman at defensive back at ECU from 1982 through 1985, and in '86 served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater. Patterson and his wife, Jana, have two daughters: Fallon and Erin.
DANNY PHILLIPS
Danny Phillips joins the Tulsa coaching staff following one year as a defensive graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University. He will coach the Hurricane defensive line.
At West Virginia, he assisted with coaching the linebackers and coordinated the offensive and special teams scout teams.
Phillips, 33 (12-13-69), was a highly successful high school coach in Texas. Prior to joining the WVU staff, Phillips served as special teams coordinator and linebacker coach at Allen (Texas) High School for five years (1997-2001).
During his tenure, the Eagles won two bi-district titles. In 2000, Allen posted a 9-3 record and captured the 5A Division II bi-district championship while defeating four teams ranked among the top-10 in the state of Texas. The 2001 team registered a 10-3 record and won the bi-district and regional titles.
Phillips began his coaching career at Edmond (Okla.) High School, where he spent three seasons as linebacker coach.
A 1993 graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma, Phillips earned degrees in physical education and biology. A native of Marlow, Okla., he played linebacker at Southeastern Oklahoma.
TiANDRE' SANDERS
TiAndre' Sanders is in his second season as running backs coach for the Golden Hurricane.
Sanders, 31 (7-10-71), came to Tulsa after coaching the running backs and special teams for two years (2000-01) at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas. Before that, he coached the receivers for one season at Willowridge High School in Missouri City, Texas.
He spent the 1999 season with the Shreveport-Bossier City Knights of the Regional Football League. Sanders coached the running backs and served as special teams coordinator.
Sanders spent four years at his alma mater, the University of Houston, from 1995 through the 1998 season. He was the assistant director of football operations for two years (1995-97) while completing his bachelor's degree, then spent two seasons (1997-98) as tight ends coach for the Cougars.
Sanders was a four-year letterman as a running back at Houston from 1990-93. He was a member of the 10-1 team in 1990, and completed his career with 959 rushing yards for an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
A native of Houston, Sanders received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 1997. He and his wife, Shannon, have two daughters, Ashton and Halle, and one son, T.J.
BOB SCHULTZ
Bob Schultz joins the Tulsa coaching staff as wide receivers and special teams coach.
Schultz spent the past three seasons as offensive coordinator at Tarleton State, helping the Texans capture two straight Lone Star Conference division titles. He also doubled as quarterback coach in 2002, and before that served as offensive line coach for two years.
During his tenure, Tarleton State set school offensive records for total yards, first downs, points scored and pass completions.
Last year, his offense averaged 395 yards and 36.5 points per game. In 2001, Tarleton State's offense tallied at least 400 yards in 10 games, while averaging 417.8 yards per game and nearly 37 points. Under his tutelage, the Texans offense led the Lone Star Conference with 401.5 yards per game in the 2000 season.
Previously, Schultz was the passing game coordinator and receivers coach at Stephen F. Austin in 1999. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at Tyler Junior College from 1997 to 1998 and 1991 to 1994, helping the Apaches to three bowl game appearances.
Between his two stints at Tyler JC, Schultz served as receivers and tight ends coach at North Texas for four years (1994-97), helping the Mean Green win the 1994 Southland Conference title.
Schultz, 46 (6-22-56), received his bachelor's degree in physical education and history from the University of Texas in 1980, and his master's degree from Southwest Texas State in 1985. He served as a graduate assistant coach at SW Texas State while completing his master's degree.
CHARLIE STUBBS
Charlie Stubbs joins the Tulsa coaching staff and will serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He brings 15 years experience as a collegiate assistant coach, including eight seasons as an offensive coordinator and three years as passing game coordinator.
In his previous position, Stubbs spent three seasons (1998-2000) as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama. He helped Alabama make appearances in the 1998 Music City Bowl and the Orange Bowl following the 1999 season. Stubbs was named the 1999 SEC Offensive Coordinator of the Year.
He was the offensive coordinator at four different universities, including UNLV, Tennessee-Martin, Memphis and Oregon State. Stubbs was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV for two years (1996-97); one year at Tennessee-Martin (1995), where he also coached the quarterbacks and wide receivers; one year at Memphis (1994) and four seasons at Oregon State (1987-90).
His UNLV teams ranked second in the Western Athletic Conference and ninth nationally in passing offense in 1996, while leading the WAC in 1997 and finishing that season ranked 12th in the NCAA statistics. His Tennessee-Martin offense in 1995 ranked first in the league in passing offense and fifth nationally in NCAA Division I-AA .
At Oregon State, Stubbs began as receivers and tight ends coach for the 1985 and '86 seasons, before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1987. His offenses were ranked in the top-three each season in passing offense, and ranked 10th nationally in 1987 and sixth in 1988. At OSU, he coached under Head Coach Dave Kragthorpe, the father of Tulsa Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe
He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant on LaVell Edwards' staff at BYU in 1983, and in 1984 was a member of the BYU coaching staff that led the Cougars to the national championship. Before that, he was a high school coach at three different schools in South Carolina.
In his career, Stubbs has coached six all-conference quarterbacks and had three quarterbacks earn All-America honors, including Oregon State's Erik Wilhelm, and Freshman All-Americans Jon Denton of UNLV and Tyler Watts of Alabama.
Stubbs began his college playing career at Wofford College, but after suffering an injury transferred to BYU. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1978, and received his master's degree in physical education in 1984, both from BYU.
Stubbs and his wife, Sandra, have four children: Troy, Jay, Kim and Kyle. Troy was a receiver at the Air Force Academy, while Jay played receiver at Alabama.
MATT WELLS
Matt Wells is in his second year with the Golden Hurricane and will once again coach the tight ends. He will also serve as Tulsa's recruiting coordinator.
Wells came to Tulsa after spending the five seasons (1997-01) as an assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy. He coached the wide receivers for the Midshipmen in 2001. For three seasons (1998-2000), he coached the fullbacks and served as the head junior varsity coach and offensive coordinator. In his three years as the JV coach, Wells' teams posted a 20-2 overall record, including the first undefeated JV season in school history with a 7-0 mark in 2000.
Wells, who played his prep football at Sallisaw (Okla.) High School, recruited the state of Oklahoma in each of his five seasons at Navy.
As a three-year letterman at Utah State, Wells played quarterback for four years, and was the starter as a sophomore. During his senior campaign, Wells also played free safety. A three-time All-Big West Academic selection, he was a member of Big West Conference Championship teams in 1993 and 1996.
Wells, 29 (8-10-73), received his bachelor's degree in business marketing from Utah State in 1996. He and his wife, Jen, have a daughter, Jadyn, born September 2002.