Bill Callahan (American football coach)

Bill Callahan

Bill Callahan (born July 31 1956, in Chicago, Illinois, is the head coach of the University of Nebraska football team. He was named head coach of the Cornhuskers in 2004. Callahan was formerly the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League.

Early career

Callahan was a four-year starter at quarterback at Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, Illinois, where he was an NAIA honorable mention All-American in his final two seasons.

College Coaching Career

The Chicago native began his college coaching career in 1980 as a graduate assistant at University of Illinois before being promoted to full time assistant in 1981, coaching tight ends, offensive line, quarterbacks and special teams through 1986.

From 1990-1994, Callahan was offensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has been praised by former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez as being one of the primary reasons why the Badgers were able to turn their program around and eventually win three Rose Bowls in the 1990s. Alvarez cited Callahan specifically for his strong recruiting abilities. Callahan previously served a two-year stint, 1987-1988, as offensive line coach at Northern Arizona University.

Professional Coaching Career

During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders of the NFL. Callahan had spent four seasons as the Raiders offensive coordinator before being named the franchise's 13th head coach prior to the 2002 season.

Callahan led the Raiders to the 2002 AFC Championship Game and a berth in Super Bowl XXXVII in his first season as a head coach, making him just the fourth rookie head coach in NFL history to do so. The Raiders suffered a lopsided defeat, losing 48-21 (in a game that was not as close as the score may have indicated) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coached by his former boss Jon Gruden. The Raiders finished with a 13-6 record in Callahan's first season.

Callahan is the third Raiders head coach to win an AFC West title and lead his team into the conference championship game in his first full season. Only Art Shell (1990) and John Madden (1969) had accomplished this feat.

Under Callahan's guidance, the Raiders led the NFL in passing for the first time in team history and led the league in total offense for just the second time in team history.

During his tenure as not only head coach but also offensive coordinator for the Raiders, Callahan earned a reputation as one of the finest offensive minds in the NFL. The Raider offense led the league in rushing in 2000 and led the league in passing in 2002. In 2002, the Raiders became the first team to win games in the same season while rushing at least 60 times (against Kansas City in a 24-0 win) and passing at least 60 times (against Pittsburgh in a 30-17 win). The Raider offense also set many franchise records during this period, including fewest sacks allowed (28) in 2000, a mark that was broken the following year (27).

Despite the success of his 2002 team, the 2003 Raiders had a losing record. After his team got off to a 2-5 start, many of his players, in particular Charles Woodson, publicly demonized the coach, even suggesting that Callahan was deliberately trying to sabotage the season. Apparently, his accusations of strife and mutiny within the clubhouse were corroborated by others, including veteran receiver Tim Brown. Callahan defenders have described such players as being selfish, washed-up prima donnas. Callahan, his supporters claim, had recognized that the team was aging and needed younger talent. To get it, he would have to cut existing salaries, an assertion that did not sit well with many of the team's veterans. After a lackluster 4-12 season, Callahan was relieved of his coaching duties at Oakland with a record of 17-18 in two years.

Prior to joining the Raiders, Callahan coached the offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995-1997.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Nebraska initially pursued Arkansas Head Coach Houston Nutt, but after Nutt refused to come to Lincoln for an interview, the University of Nebraska was forced to look elsewhere. There is the belief, however, that the intense backlash by Nebraska fans against Houston Nutt was the true cause for Nutt to refuse the offer given by NU's Athletic Director, Steve Pederson. Mike Zimmer, Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator at the time, did go to Lincoln for an interview, but still chose to reject the Cornhuskers. Al Saunders, Kansas City Chief's Offensive Coordinator at the time, also rejected overtures by the Nebraska program. Steve Spurrier was also rumored to have been given an invitation to an interview in Lincoln for the Head Coach position. Along with then Arkansas Head Coach Houston Nutt, who also turn down Nebraska. Nebraska eventually settled on their fifth choice, Bill Callahan, who had recently been fired from the head coaching position at the Oakland Raiders.

In his first season at Nebraska (2004), Callahan finished 5-6, giving the Cornhuskers their first losing season since 1961 and earning him much criticism from Husker fans around the nation.{{fact} He introduced the West Coast offense to a program that has traditionally relied on a strong running attack.

The Cornhuskers finished 8-4 during his second season and won the 2005 Alamo Bowl by narrowly defeating No. 20 Michigan, 32-28. The 8-4 Wolverines were the highest-ranked opponent that Nebraska had beaten since a 20-10 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in October 2001. The Wolverines also were the highest-ranked opponent beaten by Nebraska outside the Cornhuskers' home field in Lincoln since a crushing 66-17 win over Northwestern in the 2000 Alamo Bowl.

In 2006, Nebraska finished 9-5 (including the regular season, the Big 12 Championship loss and a 17-14 loss to Auburn in the Cotton Bowl) and won the Big 12 North for the first time since 1999. The win over then No. 24-ranked Texas A&M marked Nebraska's first ever road win over a ranked Big 12 South team. Currently, Callahan has a record of 25-16 at Nebraska. Callahan is 0-7 against teams ranked higher than 20th, 23-16 against Division I opponents and 14-12 against the Big 12.

In September of 2007, Callahan renegotiated his contract with the University. It was reported he will make $1.75 million per year until the contract expires on January 31 2012. He is also eligible for up to $425,000 in bonuses per season.

Cornhusker coaching staff under Callahan

Position	Name	Joined staff in
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach	Shawn Watson	2006
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach	Kevin Cosgrove'	2004
Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	Ted Gilmore	2005
Defensive Line Coach	Buddy Wyatt	2006
Tight Ends Coach	Joe Rudolph	2007
Safeties Coach/Special Teams Coordinator	Bill Busch	2004
Offensive Line Coach	Dennis Wagner	2004
Cornerbacks Coach	Phil Elmassian	2004
Running Backs Coach	Randy Jordan	2004
Associate AD for Football Operations	Tim Cassidy	2004
Head Strength Coach	Dave Kennedy	2004
Assistant Football Strength Coach	Dave Langworthy	2004
Graduate Assistant Coach	Keith Heckendorf	2006
	Jon Osterhout	2006
	Zac Taylor	2007
Administrative Assistant - Recruiting	Vincent Guinta	2004
Administrative Assistant - Technology	Tim McFadden	2006

Former Nebraska assistants under Callahan.

• Jay Norvell, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach 2004-2007
• John Blake, Defensive Line 2004-2006
• Turner Gill, Quarterbacks Coach 1992-2004, Receivers Coach 2005
• Scott Downing, Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends/Specialists 2003-2005
• Dan McLaughlin, Graduate Assistant 2003-2004
• Angus McClure, Graduate Assistant 2004-2005
• Aaron Stamn , Graduate Assistant 2004-2005

Gill, Downing and McLaughlin were retained by Bill Callahan from the staff of former head coach Frank Solich. Gill had previously been assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach but coached receivers under Callahan. Downing and McLaughlin kept their previous duties on the staff.

External links

• Coach Callahan's web site
• IMG Speakers