NDSU?s Bradley Resigns; Garza Named Defensive Coordinator, Wash Run Defense Coordinator
2/21/2006 6:00:00 AM | Football
North Dakota State University head football coach CRAIG BOHL announced today that defensive coordinator CASEY BRADLEY has resigned.
With the departure of Bradley, current NDSU defensive backs coach WILLIE MACK GARZA will be elevated to defensive coordinator and Bison defensive line coach TODD WASH will be the run defense coordinator. Bohl stated NDSU will open a nationwide search to fill the assistant coach/ linebackers position.
North Dakota State's defense led the Great West Football Conference in scoring defense (13.7 ppg), pass defense (150.3 ypg), total defense (272.4 ypg) and turnover margin (+1.00) in 2005. In the NCAA Division I-AA final statistics, the Bison would have been No. 2 in scoring defense; No. 7 in total defense, pass defense and turnover margin, and No. 24 in rush defense (122.1 ypg).
BRADLEY has been an assistant at North Dakota State for the past 10 seasons, including the last six as an assistant head coach. He was elevated to defensive coordinator in December 2004, the same position he held from 1997-2002 under former NDSU head coach BOB BABICH (currently the assistant head coach/linebackers coach with the Chicago Bears).
Bradley was the head coach at Fort Lewis College for four months (December 1995-March 1996) and was defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at Fort Lewis for four seasons (1992-95). Prior to the Fort Lewis job, he was a graduate assistant coach at NDSU for two seasons (1990-91).
Bradley played his college football at North Dakota State (1984-88) where he was a free safety and punter, a four-time academic all-North Central Conference selection, and a valuable member of the 1988 national championship football team.
Bradley holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from NDSU in 1989 and a master's degree in athletic administration from NDSU in 1992.
Casey and his wife, Michaela, have three children, Carter, Anna and Eli.
A former standout at the University of Texas, GARZA came to North Dakota State in February 2005 after one season as the defensive secondary coach at Tarleton State University, a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference.
Prior to coaching at Tarleton State, Garza spent three seasons at Texas Christian University, where he had the responsibility of coaching the Horned Frogs' cornerbacks. He groomed two-time all-conference cornerback Jason Goss, who tied the school record with eight interceptions during the 2002 season and finished tied for fifth in career picks with 14.
During Garza's stay at TCU, the Horned Frogs won the 2002 Conference USA title and played in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, 2002 Liberty Bowl and the 2001 Gallery Furniture Houston Bowl.
Garza was the defensive backs coach at Western Michigan under Gary Darnell from 1997-2000 before moving to TCU in 2001. Garza went to Western Michigan from Texas, where he played and coached for Darnell. Western Michigan ended the 2000 season with a 9-3 record, dropping the Mid-American Conference championship game to Marshall. The Broncos finished in the Top 20 nationally in all four defensive categories, including fourth in scoring defense, ninth in total defense and 13th in pass defense. Western Michigan held opponents to less than 100 yards passing on four occasions.
Garza spent the 1994-96 seasons as a graduate assistant in Austin, working with the UT cornerbacks and special teams. Before that, he was a four-year starter for the Longhorns as a cornerback and free safety. Garza was the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year, an all-conference selection, and a Freshman All-American in 1988. He played for three years under David McWilliams and one season under John Mackovic.
Garza received his bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, and he is working toward a master's degree in the same field.
He was an All-America prep running back at Refugio High School and three-time all-state pick as a running back and defensive back. He was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame in April 2000.
WASH
returned to Fargo in January 2005 from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Mo., where he was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the Lions. Members of the powerful Division II MIAA (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association), Missouri Southern State went 5-6 in 2004 following a 1-10 campaign in 2003.Wash was an assistant coach on the NDSU staff for two seasons (2002-03). He coached the defensive line for the Bison and also worked with the kickoff team.
Wash previously worked as defensive coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. In addition to working with UNK's defensive unit as a whole, he also coached linebackers and guided the punt return team.
Wash was at Fort Lewis as head coach and defensive coordinator from May,1996, until January of 2000, when he took the job at Nebraska-Kearney. He began as a defensive line coach at Fort Lewis and moved up to head coach/defensive coordinator after just one season.
A two-time all-North Central Conference outside linebacker at North Dakota State, Wash played on two national championship teams with the Bison (1988 and 1990). A preseason All-America and team captain in 1991, he went to camp as a free agent signee with the then-Houston Oilers in 1992.
He holds two degrees from NDSU, including a bachelor's degree in physical education (1994) and a master's in athletic administration (1996). Todd and his wife, Darci, are the parents of two daughters, Alyssa and Jenae, and a son, Marcus. Darci was an all-american basketball player for NDSU and played on three national championship teams.
North Dakota State completed the 2005 season with a 7-4 record under the direction of Bohl, and tied for third place in the Great West Football Conference with a 3-2 record. The Bison were ranked in the I-AA Top 25 for 10 out of 12 weeks during the season.
North Dakota State is scheduled to begin spring practice on March 24. NDSU will have 15 practice sessions culminating with the annual Spring Game on April 22. The Bison open the 2006 season against Concordia University-St. Paul on August 31.
