EASTERN 2016 FOOTBALL CELEBRATING 30 YEARS IN THE BIG SKY & 50 AT ROOS (WOODWARD) FIELD!
Before Mitchell and Adams, Baldwin Tutored Nichols, Meyer and a trio of Talented CWU Quarterbacks . . . Prior to the record-breaking careers of Bo Levi Mitchell (2010-11) and Vernon Adams Jr. (2012-2014), Baldwin coached two more of the greatest quarterbacks in school, Big Sky and NCAA FCS history – Erik Meyer (2002-2005) and Matt Nichols (2006-2009). While at Central Washington, Baldwin coached three of its all-time greats – NFL veteran Jon Kitna, former Eastern assistant coach Zak Hill and Mike Reilly. In 2009, Nichols earned prestigious first team NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association, as well as three other All-America honors. He finished fourth in the voting for the Payton Award given to the top player in the FCS, and was also the Big Sky’s Offensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. He broke 14 school records and six Big Sky Conference marks in his 47-game career (45 as a starter) before playing in the East-West Shrine Game and signing a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys (he is now with Winnipeg in the CFL after playing for Edmonton). He passed for 3,830 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior, giving him a total of 12,616 yards and 96 touchdowns in his career. At the time, his career yardage total ranked sixth in FCS history and his touchdown total was 10th. Nichols never missed a game or practice in his collegiate career.
“It just shows his toughness and longevity,” said Baldwin. “A record like that shows a lot of things. A lot of players have talent but get hurt along the way, or this or that, but Matt was constant and was one of those guys week-in and weekout who just brought it. He deserved the records – he worked hard to get them and I am really proud of him.” Nichols completed a career-best 65 percent of his passes in 2009 to give him a passing efficiency rating of 156.5 to rank eighth in the FCS. He was fifth in total offense (327.7 per game) and third in passing offense (319.2).
As a team, the Eagles finished the 2009 season ranked in the top 10 in four offensive categories in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, including passing (3rd, 321.3), total offense (4th, 462.2), scoring (8th, 33.7) and passing efficiency (4th, 154.5). As a junior in 2008 – Baldwin’s first season as EWU’s head coach – Nichols earned honorable mention All-BSC honors as he ranked sixth nationally in passing (299.4) and fifth in total offense (306.9). Eastern ranked seventh nationally in passing (299.9 per game) and 23rd in total offense (398.5). Nichols had a school-record 17 interceptions as a freshman when a youthful Eastern team finished just 3-8. In that learning season, Eastern was 75th in the FCS in total offense (310.3 yards per game), 34th in passing (201.9) and 77th in scoring (19.5). The following season, a more experienced EWU team advanced to the 2007 FCS Playoffs as Nichols won Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors and threw a school-record 34 touchdown passes. “He helped improve my mechanics, my footwork and my accuracy,” Nichols said of Baldwin.
Former Eagle Players & Coaches . . . Where are They Coaching Now? (Only those currently coaching and with NCAA and/or professional experience) Name Junior Adams Steve Amrine Bruce Barnum Jason Belford Josh Blankenship Allen Brown Bill Diedrick Jr. Zak Hill Torey Hunter Steve Kizer Mike Kramer Pete Kwiatkowski Jimmy Lake Tom Mason Jim McElwain Brent Myers Keith Murphy Travis Niekamp Mike Orthmann Heath Pulver Rich Rasmussen Eric Reid Malik Roberson Timm Rosenbach Jody Sears J.D. Sollars Jesse Williams Paul Wulff John Zamberlin
Current Position Wide Receivers Head Coach Head Coach Defensive Line Off. Coord./Wide Receivers Cornerbacks Scout Quarterbacks Scout Head Coach Head Coach Defensive Coordinator Defensive Backs Defensive Coordinator Head Coach Assoc. HC/Offensive Line Special Teams Linebackers Offensive Coordinator Special Teams Chief Administrative Officer Offensive Line Defensive Coordinator Head Coach/QBs Head Coach/Def. Coord. Offensive Coordinator Defensive Line Asst. HC/Run. Game C./OL Asst. Special Teams/Scout
Current School or Pro Team (Previous) Boise State (Eastern Washington) Kelso, Wash., HS (Centralia HS/Idaho State) Portland State (Cornell/Idaho State) Portland State (Weber State/Wash. State) Adams State (Tulsa/Muskogee HS/Union HS) Cal Poly (Eastern Washington) B.C. Lions (Palomar C./Univ. HS/Notre Dame/UW/WSU/UI) Boise State (Hawaii/Eastern Washington) Edmonton Eskimos (Idaho/Eastern Washington) Skyview High School in Wash. (Eastern Washington) Idaho State (Washington State) Washington (Boise State/Montana State) Washington (Boise State/Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Texas-El Paso (Hawaii/SMU/Fresno State) Florida (Colorado State/Alabama) Weber State (UNLV/Louisville) Florida (Southern Ill./New Mexico St./St. Louis Rams) Montana (Louisiana Monroe/Washington State) Arizona Western JC (Idaho State) Colorado State (EWU) Washington (Boise State/Washington State) Northern Arizona (Portland State/Eastern Washington) Portland State (Central Washington) Adams State (UNLV/Montana) Sacramento State (Weber State/Washington State) Glendale CC (Northern Arizona) Ohio University (New Mexico State) Sacramento St. (South Florida/SF 49ers/Wash. State) Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Weber State)
Recent Former Coaches . . . Luther Carr Head Coach Chief Sealth HS in Seattle (Idaho) Dave Christensen Off. Line/Run. Game Coord. Texas A&M (Utah/Wyoming/Missouri) Rick Worman Offensive Coordinator Montreal Alouettes (Mississippi Valley State) Randy Hanson Assistant Secondary Cal Poly (Sacramento Mountain Lions) Todd Sturdy Offensive Coordinator Iowa State (Washington State) Dave Telford Head Coach Stanwood, Wash., HS (Indiana State/Monroe HS HC)
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