Head Football Coach Dan Gritti has announced the hiring of Craig Stutzmann as the Wide Receivers Coach.
"I am excited for the opportunity to join Coach Gritti's coaching staff at Rhodes College. I look forward to working with Rhodes' student-athletes and being a part of a prestigious academic institution."-Coach Stutzmann
Craig Stutzmann will enter his first season at Rhodes College after spending last season at Idaho State University where he was in charge of the development of the Wide Receivers. He went to Idaho State after serving as the graduate assistant coach at the University of Memphis.
"Having played for and worked with such coaching greats as June Jones, Mouse Davis and Jery Glanville, Coach Stutzman has always been on the cutting edge of offensive football. Coach Stutzman's unique perspective and skill set will serve as an important foundation for our program as we continue to rebuild Rhodes Football for the twenty first century and beyond." -Coach Gritti
While at Memphis, Stutzmann oversaw the receivers, teaching fundamentals and techniques to all players and conducted and led receiver meetings. Other responsibilities at Memphis included signaling in offensive players, film break down, assembling opponent scouting reports, putting together offensive game plans, coordinating defensive and special team scout teams along with recruiting Hawai'i, California, Washington, Oregon and American Samoa. Stutzmann also put together recruiting lists, evaluations and created offensive play books.
Before Memphis he was the assistant coach at Portland State from July 2009 to December 2009 under Jerry Glanville. While at Portland state he oversaw the wide receivers and slot backs. He took charge of implementing the pass game and oversaw the kickoff returners where Aaron Woods was ranked fourth in the nation for all-purpose yards at 175.36.
Stuzmann served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater Hawaii for just over a year in 2008 and 2009. His responsibilities included overseeing the wide receivers and slot backs along with the punt and kickoff returners.
Before jumping into coaching at the collegiate ranks, the Bengal receiver coach coached four years at Saint Louis High School from 2004-08 while teaching physical education classes. From 2003 to 04 he was a teacher and the offensive coordinator at Kalaheo High School.
Stutzmann graduated from Hawai'i with a degree in political science in 2002 where he was a three-year starter and all-WAC player under June Jones from 1999-01. As a senior in 2001, he was named team-captain for Hawai'i. He played for the CFL's British Columbia Lions in 2002. In 2003, Stutzmann coached at Kalaheo High School.
He is a member of the Polynesian Coaches Association and coached the receivers and quarterbacks in the 2010 Hawaii All-Poly Camp.
Stutzmann and his wife Briana have one son, Baylor.
