Cyclone Football Camps
Defensive Coaching Staff
 

Curtis Bray
Defensive Line Coach

Curtis Bray, who has 16 seasons of Division I coaching experience on the defensive side of the ball, the last two years at Temple, has joined the Iowa State football coaching staff. ISU head coach Paul Rhoads made the announcement Wednesday.

“I worked with Curtis for six years at Pitt, so I know the man,” Rhoads said. “I know his character, coaching style and work ethic.  That made the choice an easy one.  He is a real professional who is going to make a strong contribution to our program. If you have any doubt, look at the players he brought to Pittsburgh who are now in the NFL.”

With Bray as linebackers coach last fall, Temple posted its most wins (5) since the 1990 season. The Owls were 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference, marking the first time in school history that TU won four conference games in back-to-back seasons. Defensively, Temple was third in the MAC scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.

“The opportunity to work with Paul Rhoads in the best conference in college football figured large in my decision,” Bray said. “I am excited to be a Cyclone.”

In 2007, during its inaugural season of Mid-American Conference play, the Temple defense reached new heights. TU led the MAC in five defensive statistical categories, including red zone defense, which also ranked first nationally.

Prior to joining the Owls, Bray spent seven seasons as an assistant at Pittsburgh, including four seasons directing the linebackers.

Under Bray's direction in 2006, current Washington Redskins linebacker H.B. Blades ranked fourth nationally in tackles en route to FWAA First Team All-American and Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors at Pittsburgh. Blades, a three-time first-team all-conference selection, became the first Panther linebacker to earn All-America honors since Jerry Olsavsky in 1988. Bray, who recruited western Pennsylvania and Ohio while having collateral duties in all phases of special teams, instructed defensive ends at his alma mater from 2000 to 2002 before moving to linebackers. Among the players to graduate to the NFL under his instruction are Claude Harriott, J.J. Horne and Bryan Knight.

It was Bray who recruited current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Clint Session and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to Pittsburgh. The reigning Big East Conference player of the year, linebacker Scott McKillop, was also recruited to Pitt by Bray.

The Panthers competed in five bowl games during Bray's coaching tenure, winning the 2001 Tangerine Bowl and the 2002 Insight Bowl, while competing in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl after winning the 2004 Big East title. In 2003, he participated in the NFL Minority Fellowship program for the Denver Broncos and worked with the linebackers and defensive coordinator Larry Coyer during training camp.

Bray served as defensive ends coach at Villanova from 1997 to 1999. He helped the Wildcats emerge as a national power in Division I-AA. In 1997, Villanova captured the Atlantic 10 Championship and was named the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Team of the Year with a perfect 11-0 regular season mark.

Prior to Villanova, Bray was the defensive line coach at Western Kentucky (1995-96) and the defensive coordinator at Duquesne (1993-94). Bray also coached the linebackers and handled special teams for the Dukes, who ranked 11th nationally in total defense in 1994.

Bray was a standout linebacker for Pitt from 1988 to 1991 and finished his career with 170 tackles despite an array of injuries his final two collegiate seasons. One of his most memorable performances occurred at Penn State in 1988, when he had a sack for a safety and a key interception to lift the Panthers to a 14-7 victory.

A native of Monroeville, Pa., Bray is a 1988 graduate of Gateway High School, where he enjoyed an exceptional athletic career. In 1987, he became the first defensive player to be honored as the Gatorade National High School Football Player of the Year and also was a first-team USA Today All-American. Bray excelled in track and field as well, capturing the state javelin championship as a senior. He was named the Monroeville Citizen of the Year in 1998.

Born May 9, 1970, Bray graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He and wife Heather have a three-year-old daughter, Sydney Nicole, and a one-year-old son, Colden Charles.

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Wally Burnham 
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers - DCL 

Wally Burnham, the assistant head coach at South Florida whose Bull defense ranked 10th nationally last season, has joined the Iowa State football coaching staff as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Burnham brings 40 years of experience to Ames, including a decade as a linebacker coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State. The native of Pell City, Ala. coached nine years at South Florida, the last eight campaigns as defensive coordinator. Burnham’s South Florida defenses have ranked among the top 30 nationally in six of the last seven years. The Bulls ranked 10th nationally in total defense (287.6 yards per game) and run defense (95.2 yards per game) last season. The No. 10 national total defense ranking was the highest in school history.

“We are truly getting one of the nation’s premier defensive minds in Wally Burnham,” Rhoads said. “He has four decades of experience as a coordinator, including successful stops at Florida State and South Carolina.  He has sent a long list of former players to the National Football League. Wally knows the Florida high schools like no other man. This guy played for and coached with Bobby Bowden and played for Bear Bryant. His achievements speak for themselves.”

The stellar efforts of the 2008 South Florida defense followed in the footsteps of the 2007 Bull defenders. Led by All-Americans Mike Jenkins, George Selvie and All-Big East performers Ben Moffitt and Trae Williams, the defense led the country in fumbles recovered (19), tied for the lead in turnovers forced and was third in tackles for loss (113). Overall, the Bulls were 28th nationally in total defense and were especially stout in the running game, only allowing eight rushing TDs all season.

“The number one reason I am coming to Iowa State is Paul Rhoads,” Burnham said. “Paul is great teacher and motivator. I am looking forward to building up the Iowa State football program.  It is a great opportunity for me.”

Burnham was South Florida’s sole defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008 and co-defensive coordinator the previous five seasons.

Since 2000, the USF defense has improved from 32nd among all I-AA programs nationally to 38th among I-A schools in 2001 and all the way to 17th in Division I-A in 2002, 2003 and once again in 2005. Also in 2002, the Bulls ranked No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin thanks in large part to a ball-hawking defense that was also ranked seventh nationally against the run.

Burnham played a large role in the development of USF linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who became the school’s all-time leader in tackles and the highest-ever drafted Bull when the Kansas City Chiefs took him in the second round in 2003. Maurice Jones, another Burnham pupil, signed a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. USF linebacker Stephen Nicholas was named to the All-Big East first-team all-conference squad in 2006. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons.

Developing NFL linebackers is nothing new for Burnham, who coached nine linebackers at Florida State who were drafted into the NFL and a 10th player who signed as a free agent. Among his standout linebackers at FSU were Derrick Brooks, Marvin Jones, Paul McGowan, Jesse Solomon and Garth Jax. Jones and McGowan each won the Butkus Award, and Jones added the Lombardi Award.

Prior to joining USF, Burnham was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at South Carolina between 1994-98. Upon arriving at South Carolina, literally just days after Florida State's 1993 National Championship win, Burnham instituted a new 4-3 scheme for the Gamecocks, and he quickly molded what became to be considered the most improved defense in the SEC. The defense ranked as high as 22nd in the nation under Burnham, and it was a crucial factor in South Carolina's win over West Virginia in the 1996 Carquest Bowl.

Prior to coaching at South Carolina, Burnham was a nine-year assistant (1985-93) to Bobby Bowden at Florida State, where he was on the 1993 National Championship staff.

At Florida State, Burnham coaches linebackers in a program that won nine straight bowl games during his tenure. FSU also finished among the nation’s top four teams in eight of his nine seasons, including the 1993 National Championship.

A 1963 graduate of Samford (secondary education), Burnham began playing collegiately for Bear Bryant at Alabama during the 1960 and 1961 seasons. He transferred to Samford, where he was a Little All-America linebacker in his senior season. Burnham played for Bowden one year at Samford. Burnham also has a master's degree in athletic administration from West Alabama.

He began coaching at the high school level in 1967, before first joining the college ranks at North Alabama in 1971, where he remained the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator through 1976, before moving to East Tennessee State as defensive coordinator for two seasons (1977-78).

In 1979, Burnham was defensive coordinator at Richmond, and he then moved on to Memphis State as linebackers coach in 1980. In 1981-82, Burnham was defensive coordinator at Lamar, and he then made the jump to the USFL, where he was the linebackers coach for the Arizona Wranglers, who reached the 1984 USFL Championship Game. Burnham joined Bowden at Florida State after two seasons (1983-84) with the Wranglers.

Burnham and his wife, Barbara, have three children, Patrick, Allison and Shane. Shane was a four-year letter winner, and three-year starting linebacker at South Carolina from 1994-97.

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Shane Burnham 
Defensive Tackles 

Shane Burnham will be joining his father on the Iowa State football coaching staff. Shane, who was the linebackers/defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator at Elon the last four seasons, will work with ISU’s defensive tackles under his father Wally. The elder Burnham is coming to Iowa State as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Cyclone head coach Paul Rhoads made the announcement Thursday.

“In all of our hires, in addition to their position assignments, I was looking for individuals who have recruited certain areas of the country,” Rhoads said. “Shane fits what we needed on the defensive side of the ball and in recruiting background. I liked that he has coached all positions in the front seven. In addition to on-field success, Shane has recruited well on the west coast of Florida.  He recruited a significant number of players on the current Elon roster. The pieces all fit.”

Elon finished the season ranked 19th in the final FCS coaches poll. The Phoenix were third in the Southern Conference and 29th nationally in total defense, allowing 388.9 net yards per contest. Elon landed second in the conference and 30th in the country in scoring defense, allowing just 21.3 points per performance.

“I am looking forward to the chance to work with Paul Rhoads,” Shane Burnham said. “I was aware of what he accomplished as a defensive coordinator at Pittsburgh and Auburn. The chance to coach at Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference and the opportunity to work with my father turned this chance into a perfect storm for me.”

Elon was strong in special teams under Burnham. Senior kicker Andrew Wilcox led the FCS in field goals with 1.83 made per game. He was ranked third in the SoCon and 18th nationally in scoring with 8.25 points per performance. Senior Bo Williamson led the conference and ranked 21st in the country with 25.33 yards per kickoff return.

Burnham joined the Phoenix staff for the 2005 season after serving at The Citadel as a linebackers coach in 2004. At Elon, he coached current Jacksonville Jaguar Chad Nkang to SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and All-America honors.

As special teams coordinator, Burnham saw the Elon punt return unit rank 17th nationally by averaging 11.93 yards per return in 2007.  Senior Michael Mayers, a first-team All-SoCon selection as a return specialist, ranked seventh in the country by averaging 28.77 yards per kickoff return that fall.

Previously, Burnham was a linebackers coach at Richmond for four years (1998, 2001-03). While there, he coached All-Atlantic 10 Conference selections Adrian Archie and Mark Thompson. He also helped the Spiders claim a conference title and an NCAA I-AA playoff berth during his tenure.

A 1998 graduate of South Carolina, Burnham earned a bachelor’s of science degree in exercise science while collecting four varsity letters for the Gamecocks’ football team. The two-year starter was named his team’s most outstanding inside linebacker as both a junior and a senior.

During his senior campaign, Burnham served his squad as a captain and was honored to the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team. Also as a senior, the three-time Academic All-SEC choice received his team’s leadership award and was named the Honda/Jefferson-Pilot Scholar-Athlete of the Week for his performance in games against both Kentucky and Auburn.

Shane Burnham is married to the former Meagan Drolet, a former swimmer at Virginia Tech.