MSU hires Youngstown OC/QB Coach to same position

[CatBlitz22]

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Brian Wright, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Youngstown State for the past five years and a nine-year veteran of the Penguin coaching staff, has joined the Montana State program in the same capacity, Bobcat coach Rob Ash announced Friday.

Wright helped produce explosive offenses in terms of yards and points at YSU. The Penguins regularly gained over 350.0 yards per game, gaining nearly 10,000 in the 2006 and '07 seasons combined. In the past five seasons, Youngstown State scored 30 points or more in 29 games.

"Brian is a highly-talented offensive football coach," Ash said. "He coached in an excellent conference, has considerable playoff experience, and is recognized as a outstanding quarterbacks coach. He displays a poised, professional demeanor, and I believe he is a perfect fit for our coaching staff and our philosophy here at Montana State."

Former Bobcat assistant Jeff Mills, who also coached under Ash at Drake, suggested Wright for the Bobcat post, Ash said. A 1994 graduate of the College of Wooster, Wright began coaching as a senior after a knee injury prematurely ended his playing career.

Wright worked as a graduate assistant at Walsh from 1995-96, becoming an offensive graduate assistant at Youngstown State in 1997. He worked with receivers on the Penguins' I-AA National Championship squad that season. In 1998 he moved back to Walsh as receivers coach, taking over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the NAIA school the next season. He remained there through the 2000 campaign.

Ash indicated that Bobcat tight ends coach Dale Ploessl will continue to coordinate the Bobcat running game.

BRIAN WRIGHT

2001-09 Youngstown State University (WRs 2001-04, OC/QBs 2005-09)

1998-2000 Walsh University (WRs 1998, OC/QBs 1999-2000)

1997 Youngstown State University (Graduate Assistant)

1995-96 Walsh University (Graduate Assistant)

1994 College of Wooster (Student Assistant)

[bpcats]

Does anybody have any info on the type of offense that he runs and what we can expect?

[guinzone]

Worst spread in the history of college football. I wish him the best of luck, but of all the assistants YSU fans wanted gone, it was him. Our offense was atrocious this past year. We were way too predictable!

All he does is use the short passing game and draw plays. Forget about some deep passes, they do not exist in his offense.

[CatBlitz22]

Worst spread in the history of college football. I wish him the best of luck, but of all the assistants YSU fans wanted gone, it was him. Our offense was atrocious this past year. We were way too predictable!

All he does is use the short passing game and draw plays. Forget about some deep passes, they do not exist in his offense.

Well I'm hoping since he won't be the sole signal caller that that won't be the case. I have a feeling that the deep ball will be a bit more prominent.

[guinzone]

If you read any of the two YSU forums, you'd realize how much we disliked this guys play-calling. It was terrible. Trust me, I'd love to tell you that you picked up a quality Offensive Coordinator, but you didn't. Maybe things will change up in Bozeman, but don't hold your breath.

[helenadave]

So which qb can throw the "deep ball"? Do you mean by the "deep ball" 25 yards?

[GOKATS]

So which qb can throw the "deep ball"? Do you mean by the "deep ball" 25 yards?

I'm so honored you saved your very first post for that assinine remark. Now, why don't you go pound some sand up your vagina...............

[uofmman1122]

As much as it makes me happy to hear YSU fans come out and say how terrible this guy *might* be, it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to suck at MSU. I'd be willing to bet he has better talent to work with at MSU, anyways.

[guinzone]

We had a FBS transfer qb. One FBS transfer rb. One JUCO transfer rb. The best wide receiving corp in a decade.

Our talent wasn't bad, our coaching was bad.

[canyoncat]

I am not 100% sure this was a good hire. YSU didn't exactly put up great numbers while he was the OC there. Their numbers were pretty average I think. My question is, how much input did the HC have while Wright was the OC at YSU? Did he not let Wright turn it loose on offense, or did Wright have total charge of the offense?

However, sometimes a change of venue and having totally new people to work with (players and coaches) can be a positive. All I know is MSU has some really good talent coming back on offense plus some really good players coming in the fall. We will find out what he can do then. Hopefully he proves the YSU fans wrong.

[guinzone]

Our head coach was our defensive coordinator. He was in the sideline huddle coaching the D not paying any attention to the offense after our defense came off the field.

[dbackjon]

Our head coach was our defensive coordinator. He was in the sideline huddle coaching the D not paying any attention to the offense after our defense came off the field.

That was kinda dumb...but probably a big reason y'all were happy to see him go.

[canyoncat]

Our head coach was our defensive coordinator. He was in the sideline huddle coaching the D not paying any attention to the offense after our defense came off the field.

That was kinda dumb...but probably a big reason y'all were happy to see him go.

Thanks for the info. Maybe with Coach Ash (who is pretty involved with everything) they'll make a good team and get our offense going even better. We made some good improvement last year, but still have a ways to go.

[guinzone]

In 2006 Brian Wright was pretty damn good getting us to the final four, but when we went to the spread it was just ugly. I am warning you folks, he cannot run an effective spread. Can he run an offense under center, for sure, but not out of the spread.

[CatBlitz22]

In 2006 Brian Wright was pretty damn good getting us to the final four, but when we went to the spread it was just ugly. I am warning you folks, he cannot run an effective spread. Can he run an offense under center, for sure, but not out of the spread.

I don't know if I would consider our offense a spread, but it's probably a combo of that and and some others.

[Catattack]

“We’re going to run our offense. We’re not going to change dramatically. We’re going to adapt and there are going to be tweaks, but we’re going to keep our basic concepts and improve on what we’ve done in the past, improving our execution and performance by just making subtle but important changes.” MSU head football coach Rob Ash

[canyoncat]

In 2006 Brian Wright was pretty damn good getting us to the final four, but when we went to the spread it was just ugly. I am warning you folks, he cannot run an effective spread. Can he run an offense under center, for sure, but not out of the spread.

Did you try to change from a power team to the spread in one year? Did you even have the players to run the spread when you first went to it? I agree with CatBlitz22, we are more of a combination of power and spread at this time.

[guinzone]

In 2006 Brian Wright was pretty damn good getting us to the final four, but when we went to the spread it was just ugly. I am warning you folks, he cannot run an effective spread. Can he run an offense under center, for sure, but not out of the spread.

Did you try to change from a power team to the spread in one year? Did you even have the players to run the spread when you first went to it? I agree with CatBlitz22, we are more of a combination of power and spread at this time.

After Appy State drilled us in the semi's, our coaching staff had the genius idea of going to the spread. Of course we did not have the athletes at the time to run it and it was just pathetic to watch!

[canyoncat]

Thanks for the info guinzone! We'll see how Wright works out in a matter of months.

[guinzone]

Like I said, I wish him luck, but I doubt anything would change with him.