Dana Holgorsen
Resume ... Dana Holgorsen, 39, is in his first year as the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State. Despite his relative youth and inexperience, Holgorsen is considered to be a "hot" prospect for teams looking for a new head coach.
Holgorsen grew up in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and played for Iowa Wesleyan. After graduating in 1993, Holgorsen coached quarterbacks, receivers, and special teams for Valdosta State for three seasons, during which time he earned a master's degree in health and physical education. In 1996, Holgorsen moved on to Mississippi College, where he held down the same three coaching jobs - quarterbacks, receivers, and special teams - for three more years. After one year at Wingate, Holgorsen moved on to Division 1-A, as an assistant at Texas Tech.
From 2000-2004, Holgorsen was the inside receivers coach at Texas Tech, coaching future NFL receivers like Michael Crabtree and Wes Welker. In 2005, Holgorsen was moved up the coaching ladder for the Red Raiders, taking on the role of co-offensive coordinator as well as the inside receivers coach. Buff fans do not need to be reminded that during the past decade, Texas Tech has had one of the most prolific passing offenses in NCAA history, and Holgorsen helped make it all the better. During his tenure as offensive coordinator, the Red Raiders increased their offensive numbers from 324.8 yards per game to 529.6 yards per game.
Holgorsen took what he had learned from Mike Leach and took it to Houston in 2008, where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two seasons. While Holgorsen was with the Cougars, Houston ranked in the top ten nationally in passing offense, total offense, and scoring offense both seasons.
In 2010, Holgorsen has been the offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, through games of November 13th, are ranked 2nd in passing offense nationally (359.1 yards per game), 1st in total offense (547.5 yards per game), and 3rd in scoring offense (45.0 points per game). Oklahoma State is currently 9-1, and ranked 12th in the nation.
Positives
- Just glance at the numbers. Whether at Texas Tech, Houston, or Oklahoma State - wherever Holgorsen goes, the offense explodes. Holgorsen may be a disciple of Mike Leach at Texas Tech, but he has taken the passing show on the road, and been successful - quickly - in two schools since then.
- Holgorsen is 39, and is in a position to establish a name for himself with a national program. It seems like it is just a matter of time before a BCS school takes on Holgorsen as their choice to head a program on his own. Without an alma mater to return to, Holgorsen would not necessarily see Colorado as a site from which to jump to another school, and the NFL has not shown an inkling for completely adapting the Mike Leach style of offense.
Negatives
- Holgorsen has not been a head coach at any level. This is a complaint about many "hot" assistant coaches, but with the limitations (facilities, fan base, recruiting) Colorado poses, this is not a factor to be completely overlooked.
- Holgorsen is from the midwest, and has coached east of Colorado his entire career. There would be no recruiting ties to the Pac-12 region, seen as crucial by many Buff fans.
- Holgorsen is a Mike Leach disciple. Why would you take the student if the teacher is available? - A question sure to come up if Holgorsen becomes a prime candidate and Mike Leach is still available.
