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HEAD COACH SCOTT DOWNING Scott Downing was named the 15th head coach in Northern Colorado football history on Dec. 27, 2005. Downing, 49, came to Northern Colorado after three years as recruiting coordinator at the University of Nebraska, where he also coached tight ends and kicking specialists. Downing previously was an assistant coach at Division I-A universities Purdue and Wyoming. He was head coach at his alma mater, Sterling College, an NAIA school in Sterling, Kan. Coach Downing has the ability to change the perception and change the culture here at Northern Colorado, said Director of Athletics Jay S. Hinrichs. He will build with upperclassmen, bring in great recruiting classes and definitely outwork the competition. This job does not come without some great expectations; we know that Coach Downing is the best person for this program. Northern Colorado is in its first season as a member of the I-AA powerhouse Big Sky Conference. It is an honor to become the head football coach at the University of Northern Colorado, Downing said. Our staff will do our very best to carry on the winning tradition and lead us into the Big Sky. My family and I are excited to become part of the Northern Colorado family. As an assistant to head coach Bill Callahan at Nebraska (2003-05), Downing helped coordinate recruiting efforts that landed the Cornhuskers one of the top-rated recruiting classes in the nation. His recruiting efforts helped Nebraska shake off its first losing campaign in 43 seasons in 2004, SCOTT DOWNING Head Coach Sterling College, 1979 improving to 7-4 in 2005 and earning an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan, where NU scored a 32-28 victory. Downing also helped the Cornhuskers punters gain national recognition. He coached current Cincinnati Bengal Kyle Larson, who earned firstteam All-American honors for the Cornhuskers. Larson was also a finalist for the 2003 Ray Guy Award, given to the nation s top punter. In 2004 and 2005, Downing coached Sam Koch, who in 2004 helped NU to a No. 16 national ranking in net punting (38.39 ypp). In 2005, Koch ranked third nationally in punting (45.9/punt) while the Nebraska team ranked second in net punting (39.83 ypp). Before Nebraska, Downing spent six seasons (1997-02) as assistant head coach and running backs and special teams coach at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., under head coach Joe Tiller. He guided the Boilermakers Travis Dorsch to All-American honors as both a kicker and punter. Dorsch won the 2001 Ray Guy Award and finished his career as the Big Ten s all-time leader in field goals (68) and kicking points (355). As running backs coach, he guided Joey Harris to a 1,115-yard rushing season and eight touchdowns in 2002. Downing also spent 10 seasons (1987-96) at the University of Wyoming, the final six under Tiller. From 1987-90, he was the linebackers coach for the Cowboys before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1991. He served in that capacity from 1991-94 and then served as assistant head coach, coaching running backs and special teams in 1995 and 1996. During his time in Laramie, UW made four bowl appearances and won Western 20
Athletic Conference (WAC) titles in 1987, 1988 and 1993 and the WAC Pacific Division title in 1996. Before Wyoming, Downing served as a graduate assistant under legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and was the Huskers freshman head coach in 1986. During his first stint in Lincoln, NU had a 29-7 record and played in the 1985 and 1987 Sugar Bowls and 1986 Fiesta Bowl. Downing earned a bachelor s degree in history in 1979 from Sterling (Kan.) College. He was a four-year letterwinner (1975-78) for the Warriors at offensive guard. He was the squad s co-captain in each of his final two seasons. Following graduation, he was an assistant coach at Sterling for two seasons (1980-81) and was the program s head coach from 1982-83. During his two years as head coach, Sterling was 13-4-1 overall and ranked in the NAIA s final top 20 poll for the first time in school history. Downing was inducted into the Sterling Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Downing and his wife, Karen, have three sons, Matthew (19), Andrew (16) and Zachary (13). Q & A with Coach Downing Q: What is your vision for the program? A: My vision is for us to become a team that is ultimately not only very competitive within the Big Sky Conference, but also one that is very competitive on a national scale. Our ultimate goal is to get into the playoffs on a consistent basis and have an opportunity to compete for a national championship. The vision beyond that is to be the type of team than can play a Division I-A team and have people respect us for the style we play - which would be playing smart, playing hard and being a team that represents itself now. Q: What do you expect out of your players both on and off the field? A: My number one expectation of my players is that they are young men of character. They do what they re supposed to do when they re supposed to do it - whether that be on the football field, in the classroom or off the field. They should be people that coaches, our fans, administration, professors and teammates can count on. Secondly, I want them to be young men of intelligence - both in the classroom and as players. They need to be guys that make the right decisions. I ve always found that the smart guys figure out a way to win games. Lastly, I expect good ability. I m looking for a good combination of those three things. I also want them to have high expectations of themselves. Q: With the new jerseys this year, you ve decided to take the names off the backs. What is significant about that? A: The name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back. Football is the ultimate team sport; you can never win a game all by yourself. You have to rely on your brothers to help you win the game. If we realize that the team is the most important thing, I think we ll make a lot of progress toward hitting our goals. 11 THE DOWNING REPORT Head Coaching Resume Year School Record 1982 Sterling College 7-2 1983 Sterling College 6-2-1 1986 Nebraska (freshman coach) 4-1 3 yrs. Total Record 17-5-1 In 1982, Sterling College finished in the NAIA Top 20 for the first time in program history. Assistant Coaching Resume Year School Record 1980 Sterling College 2-6-1 1981 Sterling College 5-4 1984 Nebraska 10-2 1985 Nebraska 9-3 1986 Nebraska 10-2 1987 Wyoming 10-3 1988 Wyoming 11-2 1989 Wyoming 5-6 1990 Wyoming 9-4 1991 Wyoming 4-6-1 1992 Wyoming 5-7 1993 Wyoming 8-4 1994 Wyoming 6-6 1995 Wyoming 6-5 1996 Wyoming 10-2 1997 Purdue 9-3 1998 Purdue 9-4 1999 Purdue 7-5 2000 Purdue 8-4 2001 Purdue 6-6 2002 Purdue 7-5 2003 Nebraska 10-3 2004 Nebraska 5-6 2005 Nebraska 8-4 23 yrs. Total Record 179-102 In 1984, Nebraska was the Co-Big 8 Champion, Sugar Bowl Champion and finished ranked No. 3. In 1985, Nebraska earned a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. In 1986, Nebraska won the Sugar Bowl. In 1987 and 1988, Wyoming won the WAC and earned a berth in the Holiday Bowl. In 1990 and 1993, Wyoming earned a berth in the Copper Bowl. In 1996, Wyoming won the WAC Pacific Division. In 1997 and 1998, Purdue won the Alamo Bowl. In 1999, Purdue earned a berth in the Outback Bowl. In 2000, Purdue was the Co-Big Ten Champion, its first title in 33 years, earning the Boilermakers a spot in the Rose Bowl. In 2001, Purdue earned a berth in the Sun Bowl, and Downing coached Travis Dorsch to the Ray Guy Award. In 2002, Purdue won the Sun Bowl. In 2003 and 2005, Nebraska won the Alamo Bowl. In 2003, Downing coached Kyle Larson to a finalist spot for the Ray Guy Award. 21
COACHING STAFF Chad Q. Brown was named offensive coordinator at Northern Colorado on Jan. 11, 2006. Chad brings a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, said head coach Scott Downing. He is organized, detail-oriented and has experience with a variety of offense systems. Brown spent the past two seasons on Coach Nick Holt s staff at Idaho where he was the receivers coach as well as the Vandals recruiting coordinator. At Idaho, he coached two of the top receivers in UI history current Northern Colorado wide receivers coach Bobby Bernal-Wood and D.J. Smith. Bernal-Wood capped his career in 2004 by setting the Idaho record for receptions in a single-season (96) and finished that year as the No. 2-ranked receiver in I-A football. In 2005, Smith earned All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors after ranking second in the WAC and 12th nationally in receiving yards/game (100.1) and third in the WAC and 18th nationally in receptions/game (6.7). He set the UI record for receiving yards in a game (269) against UNLV during the 2005 season. Prior to coaching at Idaho, Brown was a graduate assistant coach at Purdue University from 2002 to 2003, coaching alongside Downing during the 2002 season. With the Boilermakers, Brown coached the offensive line and special teams. He spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons at Dartmouth College, coaching tight ends and serving as an assistant recruiting coordinator. In 1998 and 1999, Brown was CHAD Q. BROWN Offensive Coordinator Purdue, 1998 the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. Brown got his coaching start at his alma mater, Purdue, serving as an undergraduate assistant for receivers and quarterbacks in 1997. Brown played wide receiver at Purdue from 1993-96 and received his bachelor s degree in sales and sales management in 1998. He earned his master s degree in geography and regional planning from California University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Brown and his wife, Jen, have one daughter, Emily. He is a native of Lebanon, Ind. THE BROWN REPORT Assistant Coaching Resume Year School Record 1997 Purdue 9-3 1998 Washington & Jefferson College 5-4 1999 Washington & Jefferson College 9-3 2000 Dartmouth 2-8 2001 Dartmouth 1-8 2002 Purdue 7-5 2003 Purdue 9-4 2004 Idaho 3-9 2005 Idaho 2-9 9 yrs. Total Record 47-53 As an undergraduate assistant for receivers and quarterbacks at Purdue in 1997, Brown helped coach the Boilermakers to an Alamo Bowl championship. In 1999, Brown helped coach Washington & Jefferson to a PAC Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. In 2002, Brown helped coach Purdue to a Sun Bowl title. In 2003, Brown helped coach Purdue to a berth in the Capital One Bowl. In 2004, Brown coached current Bears wide receivers coach Bobby Bernal-Wood to a No. 2 finish in the nation for receptions with 98, setting a new Idaho record. Bernal-Wood was named firstteam All-Sun Belt Conference for his performance. In 2005, Brown coached D.J. Smith to All-WAC honors after ranking second in the conference and 12th nationally in receiving yards per game (100.1). Smith also ranked third in the WAC and 18th nationally in receptions per game (6.7). Q & A with Coach Brown Q: What is your philosophy on offense? A: I think the most important thing is to build the offense around the personnel. The scheme isn t more important than the players. The players make the plays. Q: How will you handle opposing defenses? A: When you re on offense, you have to attack. You can t let the defense dictate the game. You have to set the tempo and make them adjust. 22
CODY DETI Defensive Coordinator Wyoming, 1993 THE DETI REPORT Assistant Coaching Resume Year School Record 1994 Wyoming 6-6 1995 Wyoming 6-5 1996 Wyoming 10-2 1997 Purdue 9-3 1998 Purdue 9-4 1999 Purdue 7-5 2000 Princeton 3-7 2001 Princeton 3-6 2002 Princeton 6-4 2003 Eastern Kentucky 7-5 2004 Eastern Kentucky 6-5 2005 Eastern Kentucky 7-4 12 yrs. Total Record 79-59 Cody Deti (pronounced Dee-tie) was named Defensive Coordinator at Northern Colorado on Jan. 11. Cody is the typical son of a coach, said head coach Scott Downing. He has paid his dues as a coach. He brings a wealth of knowledge to our program, as he has coached in the Big Ten, Ohio Valley, Ivy League and Western Athletic Conferences. Deti joins the Northern Colorado staff after spending three seasons on Coach Danny Hope s staff at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Ky. At EKU, Deti coached the defensive secondary and helped the Colonels to a 7-4 overall record and 7-1 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in 2005. Eastern Kentucky, who finished as the conference s runner-up, ranked second in the OVC in total defense (328.5 yards/game) and third in scoring defense (21.2 points/game allowed). Eastern compiled a 19-5 conference record in his three seasons in Richmond. Prior to coaching at EKU, Deti spent three seasons at Princeton University. He joined the Tigers staff in 2000, serving as the co-secondary coach while also coaching outside linebackers. In 2001, he moved to the offensive side of the ball, coaching tight ends, and spent his final season at Princeton as the wide receivers coach. From 1997-99, Deti was a graduate assistant coach at Purdue, where he coached alongside Downing, and coached defensive backs and linebackers. In his time with the Boilermakers, the team made two appearances in the Alamo Bowl and a trip to the Outback Bowl. Deti played defensive back at the University of Wyoming (1992-93), while Downing was the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, before his career was cut short by an injury. He stayed active with the program by serving as a student assistant coach from 1994-96 and was part of the 1996 WAC Championship squad. Deti comes from a long line of football coaches, as his grandfather John was the head coach at Laramie High School for 33 years and his father, also named John, was head coach at Laramie High for 26 years. Deti earned his bachelor s degree in health science from Wyoming in 1997 and his master s degree in history and philosophy of sport from Purdue in 1999. In 1996, Deti helped coach Wyoming to a WAC Pacific Division title. In 1997 and 1998, Deti helped coach Purdue to a Alamo Bowl championship. In 1999, Deti helped coach Purdue to berth in the Outback Bowl. In 2005, Deti helped coach Eastern Kentucky to a runner-up finish in the Ohio Valley Conference. Q & A with Coach Deti Q: What is your ideal defense? A: We re going to hang our hat on being a defense that makes big plays. We ll do that with correct alignment, assignments and technique. If we can do that, we ll put ourselves in position to be successful. Q: What is it about this style that will give opposing offenses a tough time? A: Our style will allow us to be in position to make plays and take pressure off our offense. 23
COACHING STAFF 24 KEITH GRABLE Running Backs/Recruiting Sixth Season Northern Colorado, 2000 Former standout wide receiver Keith Grable is entering his sixth season on staff for the Bears. Grable serves as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2005, Grable coached running back Andre Wilson to 1,034 rushing yards in nine games; the total was the eighth highest in Northern Colorado single-season history. Northern Colorado racked up 1,819 rushing yards that season. Wilson earned first team All-Great West Conference honors for the second consecutive season. During the 2004 season, Grable coached Wilson to the ninthhighest single-season rushing total in school history with 990 yards. Wilson earned first-team All-Great West Conference honors that year. In 2003, Grable helped running back Adam Matthews set the Bears single-season (1,653 yards) and career (3,325 yards) rushing record. As a graduate assistant coach for the Bears, Grable assisted in the BRIAN NATKIN Offensive Line UTEP, 2003 Brian Natkin, a former standout player at the University of Texas- El Paso (UTEP), is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Bears football program. Natkin, who will coach the offensive line, spent the last three seasons as a coach at his alma mater working with head coach Mike Price. The past two seasons he served as a graduate assistant coach in charge of tight ends, where he coached second-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selection Jonas Crafts (2004) and 2005 freshman All-American Jamar Hunt. In 2003, he was a student assistant coach working with both tight ends and the offensive line. The Miners were 8-4 in 2005, played in the GMAC Bowl and finished the year ranked ninth nationally in passing (300.6 yards/game). In 2004, UTEP was also 8-4 and played in the EV1.net Houston Bowl. In his playing days, Natkin became the first unanimous All-American in Miner history. In 2000, he led all tight ends nationally in catches with 64 for 787 yards. He finished his playing career with 172 receptions development of Brad Pyatt into a National Football League performer. Pyatt has played for the Indianapolis Colts since 2003. Grable also helped George Carroll and Eric Nelson become two of the Bears top- 10 receivers of all-time. A four-year varsity letterwinner for the Bears from 1996-99, Grable will always be remembered for his clutch third-down receptions during UNC s national championship runs. Grable ranks 7th all-time at UNC with 1,481 receiving yards and 8th in receptions with 90. He was selected first team All-NCC as a senior. Grable, 28, earned his bachelor s degree from UNC in 2000 and completed his master s degree in 2002 in physical education/ pedagogy. He is a native of Thornton, Colo., and prepped at Horizon High School. He and his twin brother, Dean, played both basketball and football for the Bears during their collegiate playing days. Grable and his wife, Susan, were married on June 26, 2004. The couple welcomed their first child, Jaxon Keith, on Sept. 12, 2004. (second in school history) and 1,934 yards (sixth in school history). Natkin was a three-time first-team All-WAC selection (1998-00) and helped the team to a share of the WAC Championship in 2000. He helped the Miners clinch that title by grabbing eight catches for 110 yards in a victory over Rice. Natkin played professional football with both the Tennessee Titans (2001-02) and St. Louis Rams (2003). Coach Natkin brings an outstanding knowledge and enthusiasm for coaching that we need, said head coach Scott Downing. He will help mold our offensive line into a great unit. Natkin, a native of San Antonio, Texas, received his bachelor s degree in criminal justice in 2003. Natkin s wife, Stacy, was a volleyball standout at UTEP.
DARRELL PERKINS Special Teams/Linebackers Wyoming, 1990 Darrell Perkins begins his first season as special teams and linebackers coach at Northern Colorado. Darrell brings in a lot of experience both as a player and a coach, said head coach Scott Downing. Having grown up in Denver and played in Laramie, he has a great knowledge of the area. He has great organizational skills because of his experience as a coach and his endeavors in the business world. At Northern Colorado, Perkins is in charge of coaching special teams and linebackers, as well as heading camps. Perkins coached defensive backs during the past two seasons (2004 and 2005) at I-AA Charleston Southern on the staff of Coach Jay Mills. The Buccaneers finished the 2005 campaign with a 7-4 record, the program s first-ever winning record, and a 3-1 mark in the Big South Conference, which earned them a share of the conference championship. At CSU, he coached first-team All-Big South defensive back Tavares Shorter, who had 55 tackles, a pair of interceptions and seven pass breakups during the season. Perkins spent the 2002 and 2003 seasons as the secondary coach and special teams coordinator at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant coach at Purdue University from 2000-01, coaching alongside Downing. At Purdue, CRAIG ROBINSON Defensive Line Pacific Lutheran, 1992 Craig Robinson is in his first season as an assistant coach with the Northern Colorado coaching staff. Robinson, who will coach the defensive line, comes to the Bears program after spending the 2004 and 2005 seasons working at the University of Idaho as defensive assistant coach and administrative assistant, where he worked with current Bears offensive coordinator Chad Brown. At Idaho, Robinson was an assistant high school camp director, specialized in recruiting systems, prepared scouting reports and graded special team s performances. Robinson has worked as a Perkins coached defensive backs and worked with the Boilermakers scout team. While in West Lafayette, Perkins was part of Purdue s first Rose Bowl appearance in 33 years, an appearance that followed the 2000 Big Ten Conference Championship. Perkins played collegiate football at Wyoming (1986-89), where he was a two-year starter for the Cowboys under Coach Joe Tiller. As a running back, he helped the Cowboys to back-to-back WAC Championships and two appearances in the Holiday Bowl. Perkins earned his bachelor s degree in business from Wyoming in 1990. After graduation, he worked in private business from 1990-96 and was also a varsity basketball coach at Legacy High School in Fort Collins, Colo. (1993-96) and an assistant varsity football coach at Gateway High School in Aurora, Colo. in 1998 and 1999. A native of Denver, Perkins was a standout athlete at Gateway High, where he was an all-state selection on the gridiron, a team captain for the basketball team and an honorable mention All-American in track and field. Perkins is married to the former Elena Zbitskaya. defensive line coach at several camps including Idaho, Washington and Washington State. Robinson played college football at Wenatchee Valley Junior College (1989-90) and Pacific Lutheran University (1991-92) in Tacoma, Wash. At Pacific Lutheran, he helped the Lutes to a NAIA National runnerup finish in 1991 and earned All- Northwest Conference honors as a defensive lineman. He was also named the squad s Special Teams Player of the Year. Coach Robinson is organized and extremely bright, said head coach Scott Downing. He is on the cutting edge of technology and coaching. We are lucky to have him. 25
COACHING STAFF BOBBY BERNAL-WOOD Wide Receivers Idaho, 2005 Bobby Bernal-Wood is in his first season as wide receivers coach at Northern Colorado. Bernal-Wood had a standout playing career at the University of Idaho in 2003 and 2004. His breakout season came in 2004, as he broke the Idaho singleseason record for receptions with 96 en route to being named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference. Bernal-Wood finished 2004 with 938 receiving yards and three touchdowns, as well as recording five games with double-digit receptions and three games with at least 100 yards. As a Vandal, he played for Bears offensive coordinator Chad Brown, who was the Idaho receivers coach. A native of Seattle, Wash., Bernal-Wood came to Idaho from Butte County College in Calif., where he was a two-time All-Northern California League selection. In 2002, he caught 41 passes for 700 yards and five touchdowns in only eight games. Sean Dunaway enters his first season as assistant coach with the Northern Colorado football program. At Northern Colorado, Dunaway is primarily responsible for video coordination and technology set-up for video analysis. He also assists with practice planning. A 2005 graduate of Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., Dunaway was a tight end on the Mountaineer football team for four years, where he earned two starts and played against some of the toughest I-AA competition in the nation. SEAN DUNAWAY Assistant Coach Appalachian State, 2005 AHMAD LOWE Ahmad Lowe begins his second season as an assistant coach at Northern Colorado. At Northern Colorado, Lowe is in charge of assisting with the secondary. Last season, he worked with standout defensive back Reed Doughty, who led the nation in tackles and was drafted by the Washington Redskins. Lowe was a standout defensive back who started 47 career games at Northern Colorado from 2000-03. He played his freshman season under former Bears coach Joe Glenn. Lowe was a first-team All-North Central Conference selection in 2002 and earned honorable mention status in 2001. During his senior year of eligibility, he finished his undergraduate degree early and played as a graduate student. Lowe graduated from Northern Colorado in 2003 with a degree in communications and is currently working on his master s in communication. Michael Ringler begins his first season as the tight ends coach for Northern Colorado. Prior to coming to Northern Colorado, Ringler was an offensive assistant at Utah. He was also a student assistant and head manager for the Utes during his college days. Ringler graduated from the University of Utah in 2005. Assistant Secondary Second Season Northern Colorado, 2003 MICHAEL RINGLER Tight Ends Utah, 2005 26