A veteran offensive coach with an immense understanding of the quarterback position; that's what Houston Nutt wanted, and no one fits that bill better than Dave Rader, who was named Ole Miss' co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Feb. 1, 2010. Rader, who returned to collegiate coaching after three years in private business, brought a wealth of experience to Nutt's staff, having served nine years as an assistant coach and 12 years as a head coach. This marks Rader's fourth stint in the Southeastern Conference, most recently on Mike Shula's Alabama staff from 2003 to 2006. Rader was head coach at Tulsa from 1988 to 1999 where he posted a 49-80-1 mark in 12 seasons. He guided the Golden Hurricane to the Independence Bowl in 1989 and the Freedom Bowl in 1991. His 1991 team was ranked 21st nationally, and he was selected as Kodak Region 4 Coach of the Year and a finalist for National Coach of the Year. While head coach at Tulsa, he produced four All-Americans, three first-team Academic All-Americans and 11 NFL draft picks. Rader began his coaching career at Alabama, as one of the first coaches hired by Ray Perkins in 1983. The two had been together with the New York Giants when Perkins was head coach and Rader a quarterback. While serving on that staff, the Tide went 22-12-1 and played in the Sun and Aloha Bowls. Rader then moved to Mississippi State under Rockey Felker where he spent the 1986 season as offensive coordinator and running backs coach. He moved to Tulsa, his alma mater, in 1987 as assistant head coach in charge of quarterbacks under George Henshaw. A year later he was appointed head coach and spent the next 12 seasons at Tulsa. Following the 1999 season at Tulsa, Rader worked in private business in Tulsa for four years before returning to Alabama in 2003. Among the quarterbacks he has tutored to the professional ranks are NFL QBs Gus Frerotte, Brodie Croyle, John Parker Wilson and T.J. Rubley as well as AFL signal-caller John Fitzgerald. Born in Wichita, Kan., Rader graduated from Rogers High School in Tulsa, where he was a football and baseball standout. He played collegiately at Tulsa and was the Golden Hurricane starting quarterback in 1977 and 1978. He threw for 2,674 career yards and guided Tulsa to a 9-2 record in 1978, passing for 1,683 yards and 14 TDs. He was selected in the 11th round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers but was later picked up by the Giants. A former board member of the FCA, Big Brothers & Sisters and Heritage Family Services, Rader has served on the American Football Coaches Association's Football Issues and Ethics committees. He was inducted into the Independence Bowl Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame in 1988. Rader earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Tulsa in 1980. He and his wife Janet have three children, sons Daniel and Jordan and daughter Kendal. |
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