Craig Stutzmann Explained

Craig Stutzmann
Current Title:Offensive coordinator
Current Team:San Jose State Spartans
Current Conference:MW
Birth Date:July 14, 1980
Birth Place:Hilo, Hawaii
Alma Mater:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Player Years1:1998–2001
Player Team1:Hawaii
Player Years2:2002
Player Team2:BC Lions
Player Positions:Wide receiver
Coach Years1:2003
Coach Team1:Kalaheo (OC)
Coach Years2:2004
Coach Team2:Saint Louis (HI) (AC)
Coach Years3:2005–2007
Coach Team3:Saint Louis (HI)
Coach Years4:2008
Coach Team4:Hawaii (GA)
Coach Years5:2009
Coach Team5:Portland State (WR)
Coach Years6:2010
Coach Team6:Memphis (GA)
Coach Years7:2011
Coach Team7:Rhodes (WR)
Coach Years8:2012–2013
Coach Team8:Weber State (WR)
Coach Years9:2014–2015
Coach Team9:Emory & Henry (OC/QB)
Coach Years10:2016–2019
Coach Team10:Hawaii (Passing game coordinator/QB)
Coach Years11:2020–2021
Coach Team11:Washington State (Co-OC/QB)
Coach Years12:2022
Coach Team12:Utah Tech (OC/QB)
Coach Years13:2022
Coach Team13:Green Bay Packers (AC)
Coach Years14:2023
Coach Team14:Texas State (Passing game coordinator/WR)
Coach Years15:2024–present
Coach Team15:San Jose State (OC)

Craig Keola Stutzmann (born July 14, 1980) is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive coordinator for the San Jose State Spartans. He was previously the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Washington State Cougars. He played college football for the Hawaii Warriors.

Playing career

Stutzmann was a four-year letterman at the University of Hawaii, where he played wide receiver. He started in three seasons as a slotback in June Jones' run and shoot offense, garnering two honorable mentions in all-WAC selections on his way to 2,025 career receiving yards.[1] He made headlines in the final game of his college career in 2001 when he was ejected in the game against BYU for punting a football into the stands and jumping into them after scoring a touchdown.[2] Stutzmann has stated that he does not regret doing the punt and that he probably would've practiced to punt it higher.[3] He spent one season with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League after his college career before getting into coaching.

Coaching career

Early career

Stutzmann began his coaching career as Kalaheo High School in 2003, serving as the offensive coordinator for the football team. He was hired by his alma mater Saint Louis School in 2004 as a varsity assistant before being named the head coach of the junior varsity team in 2005.[4] He was named a graduate assistant on the coaching staff at Hawaii in 2008, before leaving to join Jerry Glanville's staff at Portland State in 2009 as a wide receivers coach. After Glanville resigned from Portland State in 2009, Stutzmann left and accepted a position at Memphis as a graduate assistant. He was named the wide receivers coach at Rhodes College in Memphis in 2011, only spending one season there before being named the wide receivers coach at Weber State in 2012.[5] He was named the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Emory & Henry in 2014, spending two seasons there before accepting a position on the coaching staff at Hawaii in 2016.[6] [7]

Second stint at Hawaii

Stutzmann was hired at Hawaii as the team's passing game coordinator under former teammate Nick Rolovich. He was also named the quarterbacks coach after Zak Hill left to be the offensive coordinator at Boise State.

After Rolovich left to be the next head coach at Washington State, Stutzmann was rumored to be a top candidate to replace Rolovich as head coach at Hawaii, garnering support from the Hawaii fanbase and received an endorsement from Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who played at Saint Louis while Stutzmann was coaching at the school.[8] [9]

Washington State

After Todd Graham was hired as Rolovich's successor at Hawaii, Stutzmann was officially added to Rolovich's staff at Washington State.[10] [11] He was named the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, sharing coordinator duties with Brian Smith. Washington State fired Stutzmann, along with Rolovich and three other assistants, for failing to comply with Washington's COVID-19 vaccination mandate.[12]

Utah Tech

In January 2022, Stutzmann was announced as the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Utah Tech, formerly known as Dixie State.[13]

Green Bay Packers

On May 11, 2022, Stutzmann was announced as a member of the Green Bay Packers Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship program.[14]

San Jose State

Stutzmann joined San Jose State in 2024 as their offensive coordinator.[15]

Football strategy

After playing under the run and shoot for Jones and working alongside Rolovich as a coach, Stutzmann designed a spread offense variant called the "Spread-N-Shred" that he first implemented at Emory & Henry; the name was coined by Bristol Herald Courier writer Allen Gregory.[16] The system is described as a "wide-open offense" that places offensive players across the field to misalign defenses.[17] [18]

Personal life and education

Born in Hilo, Hawaii and raised in Honolulu, Stutzmann attended Saint Louis School before attending the University of Hawaii. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Hawaii in 2002, and his master's in education from Hawaii in 2010.

Stutzmann and his wife, Briana, have one son.[19] His younger brother Billy Ray, also a wide receiver at Hawaii under Rolovich, was an offensive assistant at the US Naval Academy[20] before being terminated in September 2021, also for refusing to take a COVID vaccine.[21] [22] [23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: January 30, 2016. Rainbow Warriors hire former WR Stutzmann as assistant. June 23, 2020. KHON2. en-US.
  2. Web site: Stutzmann's finishing kick was unexpected, but worth waiting for . June 23, 2020. the.honoluluadvertiser.com.
  3. Web site: December 23, 2019. To UH coaches and players alike, playing BYU still a deep source of motivation. June 23, 2020. KHON2. en-US.
  4. Web site: Allen . Gregory. E&H's Stutzmann has a Heisman connection. June 23, 2020. HeraldCourier.com. December 22, 2014 . en.
  5. Web site: Rhodes College Football Hires Craig Stutzmann as Wide Receivers Coach. June 23, 2020. Rhodes College Athletics. en.
  6. Web site: July 19, 2016. Wright On: Hilo boy Stutzmann has a grasp for tradition in Xs and Os. June 23, 2020. Hawaii Tribune-Herald. en-US.
  7. Web site: Stutzmann tweets he's leaving Emory & Henry. June 23, 2020. HeraldCourier.com. January 29, 2016 . en.
  8. Web site: Fans' vote: Online momentum swells for Stutzmann in UH vacancy. June 23, 2020. WarriorSportsNetwork.com. en-US.
  9. Web site: January 16, 2020. Marcus Mariota endorses Craig Stutzmann for University of Hawaii head football coach. June 23, 2020. Honolulu Star-Advertiser. en-US.
  10. Web site: January 23, 2020. Brian. McInnis. Hawaii football: Craig Stutzmann thanks islands in Twitter post. June 23, 2020. www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com. en-US.
  11. Web site: February 4, 2020. Washington State football announces Nick Rolovich's first staff is finalized. June 23, 2020. CollegeFootballTalk . en-US.
  12. Web site: Cougars Make Leadership Change with Football Program . October 19, 2021 . Washington State University Athletics . en.
  13. News: FB - Craig Stutzmann Tabbed as New Offensive Coordinator . January 15, 2022 . dixiestateathletics.com . DSU Athletic Media Relations . January 14, 2022.
  14. News: Wednesday's Transactions . May 31, 2022 . . . May 11, 2022 . en.
  15. News: Weiner. Matt. San Jose State Hires Craig Stutzmann As New Offensive Coordinator. Mountain West Wire. USA Today. January 22, 2024. January 22, 2024.
  16. News: 'Bows Getting Reacquainted With Now-Coach Stutzmann In Spring Ball. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. April 6, 2016. January 22, 2024.
  17. News: Haag. Michael. Baylor prediction: Can Bears protect home field, start year strong?. The Dallas Morning News. August 31, 2023. January 22, 2024.
  18. News: Brice. John. San Jose State makes bold offensive coordinator hire. Footballscoop. January 22, 2024. January 22, 2024.
  19. Web site: Idaho State Athletics - Craig Stutzmann - 2010 Football Coaching Staff - Idaho State University. June 23, 2020. isubengals.com.
  20. News: Tsai . Stephen . Former Hawaii receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann joining Navy coaching staff . The Star Advertiser . July 11, 2020 . January 15, 2019.
  21. News: Bumbaca. Chris. September 14, 2021. Navy football fires assistant coach Billy Ray Stutzmann for not receiving COVID-19 vaccine. USA Today. September 14, 2021.
  22. Web site: Navy assistant coach Billy Ray Stutzmann fired after failing to receive exemption for COVID-19 vaccine. October 20, 2021. CBSSports.com. September 13, 2021 . en.
  23. Web site: Lawson. Theo. September 13, 2013. 'I'm not going to talk about that.' Washington State's Nick Rolovich remains mum on vaccine status with 36 days until deadline. live. October 20, 2021. NBC Right Now. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020155614/https://www.nbcrightnow.com/sports/washington_state_university/im-not-going-to-talk-about-that-washington-states-nick-rolovich-remains-mum-on-vaccine/article_f12cb6d5-47a9-58d1-b5e1-6433b114af98.html . October 20, 2021.