Jan. 21, 2008
Dino Babers, who has spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at UCLA and previously served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M, has been hired as Baylor's outside receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, new Bears' head coach Art Briles announced today. Babers' hiring completes Briles' staff.
"This is the final piece of the puzzle to (the hiring of) a great staff," said Briles. "This is a staff that is passionate about guiding young people and representing Baylor on and off the field. I'm pleased and proud of the staff we've assembled at Baylor. They are (all) good people who are focused on helping us move our program forward in a positive manner.
"Dino (Babers) brings a world of knowledge and experience to Baylor," he added. "We are proud and pleased to have him as a part of our Baylor family. I believe he'll make an impact on our student-athletes' lives and help us on the football end, too."
Babers helped the Bruins to bowl bids in each of his four seasons in Westwood, including a trip to the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl. He coached the Bruin running backs the past two seasons after originally joining the staff as wide receivers coach in 2004. In addition, Babers served as the program's assistant head coach during the 2007 season and was its recruiting coordinator in 2006. The past two seasons, Bruin tailback Chris Markey has been Baber's standout pupil, becoming the 14th career 2,000-yard rusher in school history and in 2006, the first Bruin since 1962 to lead the team in both rushing and receptions in the same season.
In 2005, a core group of Bruin receivers emerged under Babers' direction, Joe Cowan, Marcus Everett and Brandon Breazell. Each caught at least 24 passes and scored a combined total of nine touchdowns while helping to make up for the void left due to the season-ending injury to Junior Taylor in the season's third game. In 2004, his first season with the Bruins, Craig Bragg became UCLA's career receptions leader and Taylor enjoyed his best season as a Bruin. The Bruins recorded 22 touchdown receptions in '04, almost doubling the total of the previous season (12).
Babers spent the 2003 campaign as wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh, which followed a two-year stint (2001 and 2002) as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M.
Before moving to College Station, he spent six seasons (1995-2000) as an assistant coach on Dick Tomey's Arizona Wildcats staff, coaching receivers (1995-96), running backs (1997) and quarterbacks (1998-2000). He also spent two seasons (1996-97) as the Wildcats' assistant head coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator for his final three seasons at the school. Arizona averaged a Pac-10 leading 471.9 total-offense yards in 1999 to rank third nationally. In his first year (1998) as Arizona's offensive coordinator, the Wildcats finished 12-1 and produced a 1,000-yard rusher, two 1,000-yard passers and a pair of receivers who combined for 121 receptions.
The Honolulu native has also worked at San Diego State (1994, receivers), Purdue (1991-93, receivers), Northern Arizona (1990, special teams coordinator and defensive backs), UNLV (1988-89, special teams coordinator and running backs) and Eastern Illinois (1987 (running backs). He began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Hawai'i in 1984 and then spent the next two seasons (1985 and 1986) in a similar position at Arizona State before landing a full-time job at Eastern Illinois in 1987.
All-told, 16 players Babers either coached or recruited have landed in the National Football League.
A 1984 graduate of the University of Hawai'i with a bachelor's degree in education, Babers started at three different positions for the Warriors during his collegiate career--outside linebacker, strong safety and running back while earning All-Western Athletic Conference Academic honors. As a senior, he served as the Warriors' special teams captain and was the club's leading rusher. Following his final collegiate season, Babers spent one year in the Canadian Football League before an injury ended his playing career.
Babers, who received his master's degree in education administration and supervision from Arizona State in 1987, and his wife Susan have four daughters-- Breeahnah, Tasha, Jazzmin and Paris.
In addition to Babers, Briles' staff also includes: Randy Clements (co- offensive coordinator), Phillip Montgomery (co-offensive coordinator), Brian Norwood (defensive coordinator), Chris Achuff (defensive tackles), Kendal Briles (inside receivers), Larry Hoefer (linebackers), Kim McCloud (cornerbacks) and Theo Young (defensive ends). Kaz Kazadi is the head football strength coach and Colin Shillinglaw is Briles' director of football operations.
