Brad Childress

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Brad Childress
Date of birth	June 27, 1956 (age 50)
Place of birth	Aurora, Illinois
Position(s)	Head coach
College	Eastern Illinois
Career Highlights
Career Record	6-10-0
Coaching Stats	Pro Football Reference
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1978-1980 1981-1984 1985 1986-1989 1990 1991-1993 1994-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005 2006-present	University of Illinois (runningbacks coach) University of Illinois (wide receivers coach) Indianapolis Colts (quarterbacks coach) Northern Arizona University (offensive coordinator) University of Utah (wide receivers coach) University of Wisconsin (quarterbacks coach) University of Wisconsin (offensive coordinator) Philadelphia Eagles (quarterbacks coach) Philadelphia Eagles (offensive coordinator) Minnesota Vikings (head coach)

Brad Childress (born June 27, 1956 in Aurora, Illinois, USA) is a professional American football coach. Prior to being selected as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings beginning with the 2006 season, Childress worked as an assistant coach for various college organizations and NFL franchises, most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles.

[edit] Career

Prior to his hiring by the Vikings, Childress had worked exclusively as an offensive coach, working his way up through the ranks in various college and NFL organizations, first as a position coach, culminating with his offensive coordinator position with the Eagles. Since 1978, Childress has worked for four college organizations and three NFL teams:

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, running backs/wide receivers coach (1978–1984)
• Indianapolis Colts, quarterbacks coach (1985)
• Northern Arizona University, offensive coordinator (1986–1989)
• University of Utah, wide receivers coach (1990)
• University of Wisconsin, running backs coach, offensive coordinator (1991-1998)
• Philadelphia Eagles, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator (1999–2005)
• Minnesota Vikings, head coach (2006–Present)

[edit] Hiring by the Minnesota Vikings

On January 6, 2006, Childress was hired to be the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. This choice was the result of a fervent and short-lived selection process. Former coach Mike Tice was informed that his contract would not be renewed shortly after the Vikings' last game of the 2005 season on December 31, and rumors began to circulate about Childress as the new head coach on January 5. Four candidates were interviewed by the Vikings: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, and former Vikings defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.

The short length and small breadth of the selection process was questioned by some in the local media. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who is known as an intense football fan but not as an expert on the game, was criticized for not first hiring a top-shelf personnel manager who would then be tasked with hiring a new head coach. Childress had never played football at the college level or the pros. He had never been a head coach before and never called his own plays either, which he would be doing with the Vikings.

[edit] Coaching Style

Brad Childress with Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren in 2006 after the Vikings broke their 13 home game winning streak.

Brad Childress is considered a 3rd generation West Coast Offense disciple and is part of the Bill Walsh coaching tree. His coaching style borrows heavily from his time at the Philadelphia Eagles working under Andy Reid, who worked under Mike Holmgren, who worked under Bill Walsh. Walsh popularized the West Coast Offense system while winning three Super Bowls with it in the 1980's. Since then many of Walsh's coordinators spread it to others teams successfully. Childress has added his own wrinkles to the system though.

A Star Tribune article quoted Childress as saying this about Holmgren, his mentor's mentor: "For people that know what they're looking at, Mike is the purest of the West Coast guys," Childress said. "He's still running the split-back sweep, which, football-wise, people don't believe you can bring a back on that side of the formation over to this side of the formation and run it around the corner.

"He's still attacking nickels the same way. ... Not that they are not creative, but he has not fiddled with it to the extent that maybe Mike Shanahan, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden, those guys (other West Coast Offense disciples) have."

"I know [Holmgren] has added stuff, too, but as you always go back, you say, 'Geez, there is 72 X Shallow Cross. Holy cow,' " he said. "They are running that base play out of the [original] west Coast offense. It's not too simple for him. It still has merit to it." [1]

When Childress briefly signed Todd Pinkston after being cut from Philadelphia Eagles, Pinkston said the Vikings playbook was pretty much the same as Philadelphia's. One noticeable difference has been an overt effort to stick to the running game more than the Eagles have, resembling Mike Shanahan's style with the Broncos more closely. In his first season he went out of his way to sign offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, fullback Tony Richardson, and running back Chester Taylor. Having made comments on how lack of a running game really hurt them in Philadelphia, he's stuck to the running game more than the Minnesota Vikings have seen in almost a decade. Half-way through the season, Chester Taylor had either run with the ball or been passed to on 44% of the offensive plays. [2]

[edit] Criticism

During Childress' first year as head coach of the Vikings, the offense averaged around one touchdown per game, a significant decline from the Dennis Green and Mike Tice years. Although the Vikings had finished with a winning record the previous year and had significant [salary cap]] space, the Vikings finished the year at a meager 6-10 under Childress.

Much of the blame was placed on Childress' playcalling, particularly the perception that it was predictable and too heavily run-oriented. In week nine, Viking's cornerback Antoine Winfield criticized the Viking's offense and, particularly Childress' predictable playcalling: "You know, run every first and second down, throw third down." [3] Critics, including the team's leading wide receiver Marcus Robinson, also attacked Childress' perceived conservative passing game: "We went three or four games without throwing the ball in the end zone. I mean, just attempt to throw a ball down in there." [4] Two days after his criticism was published, and with only one game left in the season, Robinson was cut from the team despite leading the team in touchdown catches. It was also reported that Childress had limited quarterback Brad Johnson's ability to audible, forcing him to run plays that were destined to fail. [5]. Despite Childress' emphasis on discipline, the Vikings led the league in penalties, and while Mike Tice would bring in referees to practice to watch for penalties, Childress rejected the idea.[6]

Another common complaint has been that Childress does not appropriately communicate with his players and comes off as cold and condescending.[7] Fifteen year veteran and former Super Bowl winning quarterback Brad Johnson was frustrated by his lack of input and suggested that he and Childress communicated on a limited basis [8].

[edit] Personal life

Childress is married and has four children. His wife's name is Dru-Ann, and his children's names are Cara, Kyle, Andrew, and Christopher. He is one of a current triumvirate of Eastern Illinois University alums that are head coaches in the NFL, along with Mike Shanahan and Sean Payton.

[edit] External links

• Vikings set to pick Brad Childress, Minneapolis Star Tribune story
• Rush job of hiring leads to more than a passing concern, column by the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan
• Vikings team coaching bio