Dave Rader
5/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dave Rader
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
* Third Year at Alabama (May 13, 2003)
(Sixth Year Overall)
No stranger to Alabama football, Dave Rader, the Tide quarterback coach from 1983-85 while current head coach Mike Shula was an Alabama quarterback, begins his fourth season in his current stint as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
Under Rader’s influence, quarterback Brodie Croyle became the Tide’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards, pass attempts and completions last season. Croyle ranked 44th in the country in pass efficiency. Running back Kenneth Darby became only the fourth back in Bama history to post back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons after rushing for 1,062 yards in 2004 and 1,242 in 2005. He can become the first Alabama player to have three, 1,000-yard rushing season. He ranked 27th in the country and second in the SEC in rushing, averaging 103.5 yards per game.
The Alabama rushing attack ended the 2004 season ranked 4th in the SEC and 26th nationally despite losing its entire backfield to season-ending injuries over the course of the season. Darby finished the regular season ranked fourth in the SEC and 42nd in the nation with an 88.5 average.
Rader was head coach at Tulsa from 1988-99 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 Region 4 Coach of the Year and was 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 Alabama 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 one season as offensive coordinator. He moved to Tulsa, his alma mater, in 1987 as assistant head coach in charge of quarterbacks under George Henshaw, a former Tide assistant. A year later he was appointed head coach and spent the next 12 seasons at Tulsa. For the next three years, Rader worked in private business in Tulsa.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, 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 touchdowns.
He was drafted in the eleventh round of the NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers but was later picked-up by the Giants.
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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THE RADER LEDGER | |
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Born: |
March 9, 1957 |
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Education: | |
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1980 |
Tulsa |
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Playing Experience: | |
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1975-78 |
Tulsa |
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1979 |
New York Giants |
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Coaching Experience: | |
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2003-Present |
Alabama, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
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1988-99 |
Tulsa, Head Coach |
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1987 |
Tulsa, Assistant Head Coach |
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1986 |
Mississippi State, Offensive Coordinator |
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1983-85 |
Alabama, Quarterbacks/Receivers |
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Bowl Participation | |
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As a coach: 2006 Cotton Bowl,2004 Music City; 1991 Freedom; 1989 Independence; 1985 Aloha Bowl, 1983 Sun Bowl As a player: 1976 Independence | |
