Former Linfield QB Brett
Elliott quickly rising in college coaching ranks
By Nick Daschel, Oregonian 12/3/2015
Linfield coach Joe Smith said he and Brett Elliott
didn't talk much about his post-college future while Elliott was the
Wildcats' quarterback during the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
But deep down, Smith knew Elliott had a gift.
And as Elliott's professional career landed him in the Arena Football League,
Smith says he had a suggestion for his former quarterback.
"When you're done playing, get over here
and coach," Smith recalls telling Elliott.
It might be some of the smartest advice Smith
has dispensed during his long Linfield career. Elliott was a good player -- he
started as a freshman at
Utah in 2002, and led Linfield to the NCAA Division III title in 2004
-- but as a coach, Elliott may make his banker very happy some day.
The Lake Oswego High School graduate looks to
be a college coaching name to watch in years to come. Elliott, 33, is a
first-year co-offensive coordinator at James Madison, which, like Portland
State, play a second-round FCS playoff game Saturday. The No. 5-seeded Dukes
(9-2) play host to Colgate.
James Madison made its name this season by
leading FCS in total offense (549.7 yards), and second in scoring (44.8
points).
"Some days I'm pretty good at it, when
they're not throwing it to the other team," Elliott said.
As a coach, it started for Elliott at Linfield,
though he says his passion for the game began under coach Steve Coury at Lake
Oswego. Elliott took up Smith on his coaching offer while still playing Arena
ball, spending three years coaching Wildcat quarterbacks.
"After one season, I knew I wanted to try
coaching. I really liked the players, loved being around the guys,"
Elliott said.
Smith didn't have a full-time position
available at Linfield when it appeared his playing days were ending. So Elliott
tapped another source, calling Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen -- his
quarterback coach at Utah -- to talk possibilities.
On a drive one day in 2011 from Dallas to
Atlanta, where Elliott was preparing for his final Arena season, he spent the
night at Mullen's house in Starkville, Miss. Mullen told him he had a
graduate's assistant position open.
It was Elliott's foot in the door.
Elliott spent three years at MSU, the final 18
months as the Bulldogs' offensive quality control coach. It's an unpretentious,
grinder position that has more to do with video and metrics than on-field
coaching. But spending three years in the Southeastern Conference convinced
Elliott coaching is what he wanted to do for his future.
"It's a big-time commitment, but the
rewards are huge. Those wins are pretty sweet. Once you taste that sweet taste
of victory in the SEC, it's kind of like a drug," Elliott said.
Elliott left an impression as well.
"He's a very sharp and up-and-coming
coach," Mullen told Sports Illustrated of Elliott earlier this season.
"He will be a hot name in coaching soon. He paid his dues the right way,
worked hard and is taking advantage of his opportunity."
As Mississippi State was wrapping up a 2014
season that ended in the Orange Bowl, Elliott began to think about the next
career step. Elliott had some connections leading him to an opening at James
Madison, a place where he had little familiarity.
It didn't take long for Elliott to discover it
was ideal situation. In Vad Lee, Elliott inherited a quarterback who was among
the country's best in FCS. The coaching staff, like Elliott, is mostly young
and hungry.
"It's been a group effort, not a
dictatorship by any means. We're fast, a lot like Oregon, tempo offense, and
our players have bought into it," Elliott said.
Elliott had the Xs and Os, and James Madison
had plenty of Jimmys and Joes.
"We have some dudes. We have some
dudes," he said. "It's been a pretty good year."
As for mentors, Smith remains near the top of
Elliott's list. They talk and text frequently. Smith says Linfield runs plays
this season that Elliott developed while in McMinnville, and Elliott uses some
of the Wildcats' plays at JMU.
"A brilliant mind," Smith says of
Elliott. "He has an unbelievable knowledge of scheme and how to attack a
defense."
Portland State and James Madison are on opposite
sides of the FCS bracket, meaning the only way they could play each
other is the championship game. Elliott says it would make for a special game,
as one of the Vikings' receivers is Stevie Coury, son of the Lake Oswego coach
who was a ball boy when Elliott played for the Lakers.
"I was hoping they would be on our side
(of the bracket), and we would get to go there," Elliott said.
At 33, Elliott has plenty of time to develop
his coaching future. Smith says he "fully expects Brett go to all the way
to the top." Elliott wants to be a head coach some day, but says he rarely
thinks about it.
"It's a crazy business. If you start planning your
career, you get in trouble," Elliott said. "If things come my way,
great. If not, I love it here."
……
With story is Wildcatville photo: Brett Elliott Linfield QB #5 at Maxwell Field 10/1/2005 PLU at Linfield football.
Linfield won, 42-13. Teammates are #7 Kevin
Foreman and #28 Brandon Olson.
