Brad Childress
Date of birth	June 27, 1956 (1956-06-27) (age 51)
Place of birth	Aurora, Illinois
Position(s)	Head coach
College	Eastern Illinois
Career Highlights
Career Record	12-16-0 as of Dec. 2nd 2007
Championships       Won	2004 NFC Championship
Coaching Stats	Pro Football Reference
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1978-1980 1981-1984 1985 1986-1989 1990 1991-1993 1994-1998 1999-2002 2003-2005 2006-present	University of Illinois (runningbacks coach) University of Illinois (wide receivers coach) Indianapolis Colts (quarterbacks coach) Northern Arizona University (offensive coordinator) University of Utah (wide receivers coach) University of Wisconsin-Madison (quarterbacks coach) University of Wisconsin-Madison (offensive coordinator) Philadelphia Eagles (quarterbacks coach) Philadelphia Eagles (offensive coordinator) Minnesota Vikings (head coach)

Brad Childress (born June 27, 1956 in Aurora, Illinois, U.S.) is a professional American football coach. He attended High School at Marmion Academy. Prior to being selected as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings beginning with the 2006 season, Childress worked as an assistant coach for various college organizations and NFL franchises, most recently with the Philadelphia Eagles. is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The Paramount Theatre under renovation, downtown Aurora. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... A diagram showing typical football positions In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time. ... The head coach in sports coaching is the coach who is in charge of the other coaches. ... This is a list of athletic conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). ... Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois. ... The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League. ... A Corner of Main Quad The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, or simply Illinois), is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious campus in the University of Illinois system. ... City Indianapolis, Indiana Other nicknames The Horseshoes Team colors Blue and White Head Coach Tony Dungy Owner Jim Irsay General manager Bill Polian Mascot Blue League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1953–present) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) American Football Conference (1970-present) AFC East (1970-2001... Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public university in Flagstaff, Arizona in the United States. ... The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U or the UU), located in Salt Lake City, is the flagship public research university in the state of Utah, and one of 10 institutions that make up the Utah System of Higher Education. ... University of Wisconsin redirects here. ... City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team colors Midnight Green, Black, White, and Silver Head Coach Andy Reid Owner Jeffrey Lurie General manager Tom Heckert Fight song Fly, Eagles Fly Mascot Swoop League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1933–present) Eastern Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern Conference (1953-1969) Capitol... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Viktor the Viking League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Paramount Theatre under renovation, downtown Aurora. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... Marmion Academy (formerly Marmion Military Academy) is a Catholic high school for young men located in Aurora, Illinois. ... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Viktor the Viking League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division... NFL redirects here. ... City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team colors Midnight Green, Black, White, and Silver Head Coach Andy Reid Owner Jeffrey Lurie General manager Tom Heckert Fight song Fly, Eagles Fly Mascot Swoop League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1933–present) Eastern Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern Conference (1953-1969) Capitol...

Prior to his hiring by the Vikings, the disliked Childress had worked exclusively as an offensive coach, working his way up through the ranks in various college and NFL organizations, first as a position coach, culminating with his offensive coordinator position with the Eagles. Since 1978, Childress has worked for four college organizations and three NFL teams: An offensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League (or at others levels of American football) who is in charge of the offense. ...

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, running backs/wide receivers coach (1978–1984)
• Indianapolis Colts, quarterbacks coach (1985)
• Northern Arizona University, offensive coordinator (1986–1989)
• University of Utah, wide receivers coach (1990)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, running backs coach, offensive coordinator (1991-1998)
• Philadelphia Eagles, quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator (1999–2005)
• Minnesota Vikings, head coach (2006–Present)

A Corner of Main Quad The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, or simply Illinois), is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious campus in the University of Illinois system. ... City Indianapolis, Indiana Other nicknames The Horseshoes Team colors Blue and White Head Coach Tony Dungy Owner Jim Irsay General manager Bill Polian Mascot Blue League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1953–present) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) American Football Conference (1970-present) AFC East (1970-2001... Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public university in Flagstaff, Arizona in the United States. ... The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U or the UU), located in Salt Lake City, is the flagship public research university in the state of Utah, and one of 10 institutions that make up the Utah System of Higher Education. ... University of Wisconsin redirects here. ... City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Team colors Midnight Green, Black, White, and Silver Head Coach Andy Reid Owner Jeffrey Lurie General manager Tom Heckert Fight song Fly, Eagles Fly Mascot Swoop League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1933–present) Eastern Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern Conference (1953-1969) Capitol... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Viktor the Viking League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division...

Hiring by the Minnesota Vikings

On January 6, 2006, Childress was hired to be the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. This choice was the result of a fervent and short-lived selection process. Former coach Mike Tice was informed that his contract would not be renewed shortly after the Vikings' last game of the 2005 season on December 31, and rumors began to circulate about Childress as the new head coach on January 5. Four candidates were interviewed by the Vikings: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Al Saunders, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell, and former Vikings defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell. is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City Minneapolis, Minnesota Other nicknames The Vikes, The Purple People Eaters Team colors Purple, Gold, and White Head Coach Brad Childress Owner Zygi Wilf General manager Rob Brzezinski Fight song Skol, Vikings Mascot Viktor the Viking League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1961–present) Western Conference (1961-1969) Central Division... Michael Peter Tice (born February 2, 1959 in Bayshore, New York) is an American football NFL coach, best known as the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. ... City Kansas City, Missouri Team colors Red, white and yellow Head Coach Herman Edwards Owner The Hunt Family (Clark Hunt, chairman)[1] General manager Carl Peterson Mascot K.C. Wolf (1989-present) Warpaint (1963-1988) League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League... Al Saunders (born February 1, 1947 in London, England) is an American football coach. ... City Indianapolis, Indiana Other nicknames The Horseshoes Team colors Blue and White Head Coach Tony Dungy Owner Jim Irsay General manager Bill Polian Mascot Blue League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1953–present) Western Conference (1953-1969) Coastal Division (1967-1969) American Football Conference (1970-present) AFC East (1970-2001... Jim Caldwell is the current quarterback coach for the NFLs Indianapolis Colts. ... Ted Cottrell is a retired NFL football coach. ...

The short length and small breadth of the selection process was questioned by some in the local media. Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who is known as an intense football fan but not as an expert on the game, was criticized for not first hiring a top-shelf personnel manager who would then be tasked with hiring a new head coach. Childress had never played football at the college level or the pros. He had never been a head coach before and never called his own plays either, which he would be doing with the Vikings. Zygi Wilf Zygmunt Zygi Wilf (born April 22, 1950 in Germany) is the principal owner of the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Wilfs parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Wilf, are both Holocaust survivors in Poland. ...

Coaching Style

Brad Childress is considered a third generation West Coast Offense disciple and is part of the Bill Walsh coaching tree. His coaching style borrows heavily from his time at the Philadelphia Eagles working under Andy Reid, who worked under Mike Holmgren, who worked under Walsh. Childress apparently enjoyed working under Reid the best as he is a well-known bottom. Walsh popularized the West Coast Offense system while winning three Super Bowls with it in the 1980's. Since then many of Walsh's coordinators spread it to others teams successfully. In American football, West Coast Offense (WCO) is one of two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: (A) the Air Coryell system; or (B) more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh. ... William Ernest Walsh (November 30, 1931 – July 30, 2007) was an American head football coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford University, and the inventor of the West Coast Offense. ... A coaching tree is similar to a family tree except it shows the relationships of coaches instead of family members. ... For the football (soccer) player, see Andy Reid (footballer). ... Michael George Holmgren (born June 15, 1948 in San Francisco, California) is a National Football League American football coach, and was named as the sixth head coach of the Seattle Seahawks on January 8, 1999. ... In American football, West Coast Offense (WCO) is one of two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: (A) the Air Coryell system; or (B) more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh. ... The winning Super Bowl team receives the Vince Lombardi Trophy. ...

A Star Tribune article quoted Childress as saying this about Holmgren, his mentor's mentor: "For people that know what they're looking at, Mike is the purest of the West Coast guys," Childress said. "He's still running the split-back sweep, which, football-wise, people don't believe you can bring a back on that side of the formation over to this side of the formation and run it around the corner. The Star Tribune is the largest newspaper in Minnesota and is published seven days each week in an edition for the Minneapolis-St. ...

"He's still attacking nickels the same way. ... Not that they are not creative, but he has not fiddled with it to the extent that maybe Mike Shanahan, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden, those guys (other West Coast Offense disciples) have." In American football, a nickelback is a cornerback who serves as the fifth defensive back on defense. ... Michael Edward Shanahan (born August 24, 1952) is an American football coach of the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. ... For the football (soccer) player, see Andy Reid (footballer). ... Jon Gruden (born August 17, 1963 in Sandusky, Ohio) is the current head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. Prior to taking over as coach of Tampa Bay, he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for 4 years. ...

"I know [Holmgren] has added stuff, too, but as you always go back, you say, 'Geez, there is 72 X Shallow Cross. Holy cow,' " he said. "They are running that base play out of the [original] west Coast offense. It's not too simple for him. It still has merit to it." [1]

When Childress briefly signed Todd Pinkston after being cut from Philadelphia Eagles, Pinkston said the Vikings playbook was pretty much the same as Philadelphia's. One noticeable difference has been an overt effort to stick to the running game more than the Eagles have, resembling Mike Shanahan's style with the Broncos more closely. In his first season he went out of his way to sign offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson, fullback Tony Richardson, and running back Chester Taylor. Having made comments on how the lack of a running game really hurt them in Philadelphia, he's stuck to the running game more than the Minnesota Vikings have seen in almost a decade. Half-way through the season, Chester Taylor had either run with the ball or been passed to on 44% of the offensive plays. [2] Todd Pinkston (born April 23, 1977) is an American professional football player who is currently playing for the Washington Redskins. ... Michael Edward Shanahan (born August 24, 1952) is an American football coach of the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. ... City Denver, Colorado Other nicknames Orange Crush (1977-1979 defense) Team colors Orange, Broncos Navy Blue, and White[1] Head Coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen General manager Ted Sundquist Mascot Miles League/Conference affiliations American Football League (1960-1969) Western Division (1960-1969) National Football League (1970–present) American... Steven Hutchinson (born November 1, 1977 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a National Football League offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings. ... Antonio Richardson (born December 12, 1971 in Frankfurt, Germany), is a fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. ... Chester Lamar Taylor (born September 22, 1979 in River Rouge, Michigan) is an American football running back with the Minnesota Vikings. ...

Criticism

During Childress' first year as head coach of the Vikings, the offense averaged around one touchdown per game, a significant decline from the Dennis Green and Mike Tice years. Although the Vikings had finished with a winning record the previous year and had significant salary cap space, the Vikings finished the year at 6-10 under Childress. Dennis Denny Green (b. ... Michael Peter Tice (born February 2, 1959 in Bayshore, New York) is an American football NFL coach, best known as the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Much of the blame was placed on Childress' playcalling, particularly the perception that it was predictable and too heavily run-oriented.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Childress is married and has four children. His wife's name is Dru-Ann, and his children's names are Cara, Kyle, Andrew, and Christopher. He is one of a current triumvirate of Eastern Illinois University alums that are head coaches in the NFL, along with Mike Shanahan and Sean Payton. He has recently joined Minnetonka Country Club in Minnetonka Minnesota Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois. ... Michael Edward Shanahan (born August 24, 1952) is an American football coach of the Denver Broncos in the National Football League. ... Sean Payton (born December 29, 1963 in San Mateo, California) is the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. ...

External links

• Vikings set to pick Brad Childress, Minneapolis Star Tribune story
• Rush job of hiring leads to more than a passing concern, column by the Star Tribune's Jim Souhan
• Vikings team coaching bio