Jan. 16, 2007
University of New Mexico head football coach Rocky Long announced today that Dave Baldwin has been named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Baldwin replaces Bob Toledo, who became head coach at Tulane last month.
Baldwin, 51, spent the past four years (2003-06) as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Michigan State under John L. Smith. He has also been a head coach for 11 seasons, including stops at San Jose State and Cal State Northridge.
“We’re very fortunate to get a guy with Dave’s experience and talent to be here at the University of New Mexico,” said Long. “Dave’s strength is that he brings a variety of experience and knowledge of several different offensive schemes. He was very successful at the top level of the Big Ten. Michigan State put up some big offensive numbers not only in the conference, but nationally as well.”
In 2006, quarterback Drew Stanton was one of five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented annually since 1987 to the nation’s top senior quarterback. Stanton finished his MSU career first in completion percentage (first at .642), and second in pass completions (543), pass attempts (846), passing yards (6,524) and total offense (8,036).
Wide receiver Kerry Reed ranked second in the Big Ten and 29th in the nation in receptions per game (5.33) in 2006. He also ranked fifth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (64.58). Wide receiver Matt Trannon set a single-game school record with 14 catches against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 9, and left MSU as the program’s all-time receptions leader with 148 career catches.
“I’m excited to be working under the tutelage of Rocky Long and the program he’s developed over the past 10 years,” said Baldwin. “It’s a great challenge with the talent that returns on offense. I look forward to meeting the kids and getting started.”
In 2005, Michigan State ranked among the NCAA leaders in all four offensive categories: No. 20 in rushing offense (201.8 yards per game), No. 11 in passing offense (school-record 295.5 ypg.), No. 5 in total offense (school-record 497.3 ypg.) and No. 18 in scoring offense (33.8 ppg). The Spartans finished second in the Big Ten in passing offense and total offense while ranking third in rushing offense and fourth in scoring offense. Michigan State’s per game averages for passing offense (No. 10) and total offense (No. 4) ranked among the Top 10 season totals in Big Ten history.
The 2005 Spartans produced top 10 single-season totals in six different offensive categories, including first downs (No. 1: 284), total yards per game (No. 1: 497.3 ypg.), total offense (No. 2: 5,470 total yards), passing yards (No. 3: 3,250), total points (No. 4: 372) and scoring average (No. 5: 33.8 ppg.).
Drew Stanton became just the second quarterback in Spartan history to reach the 3,000-yard passing milestone in a season, joining Jeff Smoker who threw for 3,395 yards in 2003. Stanton completed 67 percent of his attempts for 3,077 yards and a school-record 22 touchdowns. He ranked second in the Big Ten and No. 10 in the NCAA in passing efficiency with a 153.4 rating.
Five Spartans had at least 28 receptions in 2005, including Jerramy Scott (49 for 722), Matt Trannon (40 for 573), Kyle Brown (36 for 546 yards), Kerry Reed (31 for 438) and Terry Love (28 for 430). All five of those receivers had at least two touchdown grabs. Michigan State was the only NCAA I-A team to have five players with at least 400 receiving yards each.
The Spartans amassed a school-record 705 total yards in a 61-14 victory over Illinois in the 2005 Big Ten opener, breaking the previous single-game mark of 698 against Purdue in 1971. The 705 total yards was the third-best single-game figure for a league game in Big Ten history while the 61 points ranked as the Spartans’ highest total since scoring 76 against Northwestern in 1989. In addition, MSU tied the Big Ten single-game record with seven TD passes.
In 2004, Michigan State offense was tops in the Big Ten and ranked No. 10 in the NCAA in total offense (460.0 yards per game) while piling up a school single-season record 5,520 total yards. In addition, Michigan State finished second in the Big Ten and No. 10 nationally in rushing, averaging 238.5 yards per game. In Big Ten play, the Spartans rushed for a league-best 265.8 yards per game. Michigan State featured a well-balanced ground attack, with four players gaining more than 600 yards.
In 2003, Baldwin earned national recognition for how quickly he helped Smoker grasp the spread offense. Smoker, a second-team All-Big Ten selection, led the league in passing (261.2 ypg.) and total offense (252.2 ypg.). His 302 pass completions, 488 pass attempts and 3,395 passing yards all represent the top single-season totals in Spartan history.
Michigan State amassed a school single-season record 3,510 passing yards in 2003. The Spartans also produced 363 total points and 4,776 total yards – the fifth- and sixth-best single-season figures in Spartan history, respectively. The Spartans committed just 18 turnovers – the Big Ten’s fourth-lowest total (No. 15 in the NCAA). In 2003, Michigan State played five complete games without committing a turnover, including a streak of four straight contests (Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota).
Baldwin came to Michigan State following one season at Baylor where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Kevin Steele. In 2002, senior wide receiver Reggie Newhouse earned second-team All-Big 12 honors and set Baylor single-season records for receptions (75) and receiving yards (1,140). Newhouse also ranked among the NCAA leaders in catches (No. 18 at 6.25 per game) and receiving yards (No. 18 at 95.0 per game).
Baldwin spent the 2001 season as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati under Rick Minter, helping the Bearcats to a 7-5 record and a trip to the Motor City Bowl. Cincinnati ranked among the Conference USA leaders in every offensive category, finishing second in passing offense (269.8 yards per game), third in total offense (416.3 yards), third in scoring offense (29.1 points) and fourth in rushing offense (146.5 yards). Baldwin coached 2001 C-USA Freshman of the Year Gino Guidugli, who finished second in the league in passing (257.3 yards) and third in passing efficiency (137.5 rating). The Bearcat offense also produced C-USA’s leading receiver in LaDaris Vann, who caught 6.64 passes per game.
Baldwin previously served as head coach and offensive play-caller at San Jose State for four years (1997-2000), where he compiled an 18-27 record (.400), including three straight wins over Stanford (1998-2000).
In 2000, San Jose State produced a 7-5 record – its best mark in eight years – including victories over Stanford (40-27) and ninth-ranked TCU (27-24) that ended the nation’s longest winning streak at 12 games. The Spartans ranked among the NCAA leaders in every offensive category in 2000, finishing No. 26 in rushing offense (189.1 yards per game), No. 26 in total offense (417.3 yards), No. 30 in scoring offense (31.2 points) and No. 40 in passing offense (228.3 yards). San Jose State’s offense also featured the nation’s fourth-leading rusher in Deonce Whitaker, who averaged 157.7 yards per game.
His 1999 San Jose State team knocked off Rose Bowl-bound Stanford, 44-39. The Spartans again finished among the national leaders in passing offense in 1999, ranking No. 30 at 249.0 yards per game.
San Jose State opened the 1998 season with a 35-23 victory at Stanford – its first win over a Pac-10 opponent in eight years.
His 1997 Spartan squad produced a 4-7 record overall, including a 4-4 mark in Western Athletic Conference play. It marked the first time in four years that the Spartans had reached the .500 mark in league games. In 1997, San Jose State also posted its first win over a ranked opponent since 1990, upsetting No. 24 Air Force, 25-22.
Prior to taking over the San Jose State head coaching position, Baldwin posted a 9-12 record (.429) in two seasons at Cal State Northridge (1995-96). In 1996, he guided Cal State Northridge to a 7-4 mark – the school’s first winning season in four years at the NCAA I-AA level.
Baldwin produced a 31-21 record (.596) in five years as a head coach at the junior college level. In 1994, he led Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College to an 8-3 ledger, including a trip to the Lions Bowl. He went 23-18 (.561) in four seasons at Santa Barbara City College (1990-93). In 1991, Baldwin earned California Community College Region III Coach of the Year honors after helping the Vaqueros to a 9-2 record and a berth in the Potato Bowl.
He spent 10 years as an assistant coach under Jack Elway, first as a graduate assistant at Cal State Northridge in 1979 and then as receivers coach at San Jose State for four years (1981-84) and Stanford for four seasons (1985-88). While coaching at San Jose State, he also worked alongside offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dennis Erickson. In 1988, Baldwin became the Cardinal passing game coordinator.
The 1986 Stanford team finished 8-4 and earned a trip to the Gator Bowl. It marked the only postseason appearance for the Cardinal in the 1980s.
During his four-year stint as an assistant at San Jose State, the Spartans produced three winning seasons, including the 1981 Pacific Coast Athletic Association championship and a berth in the California Raisin Bowl. Baldwin also tutored four Spartan receivers that went on to play in the National Football League: Mark Nichols, Stacey Bailey, Mervyn Fernandez and Tim Kearse.
Baldwin began his coaching career in 1978 as an assistant coach at Granada Hills (Calif.) High School.
Baldwin earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education, health and recreation from Cal State Northridge in 1978. He was a three-year letterman for the Matadors at wide receiver from 1976-79. Baldwin received a master’s degree in physical education administration from St. Mary’s College (Calif.) in 1986.
Married to the former Kathleen Keiley, Baldwin and his wife are the parents of three children: Sean (28), Ryan (22) and Keiley (20). Kathleen is a special education instructor.