Andy Avalos - Football Coach - University of Oregon Athletics

Andy Avalos

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Edge

In just four seasons as a defensive coordinator, Andy Avalos has established himself as one of the premier coordinators in college football. Avalos was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, honoring college football’s top assistant coach, during his first season on Mario Cristobal’s staff in 2019.

Oregon finished last season ninth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 16.5 points per game. The Ducks ranked 13th nationally in rushing defense (108.93 ypg) and 22nd in total defense (329.1 ypg). Avalos’ defense disrupted opposing offenses, finishing second in the country in interceptions (20), sixth in passes defended (76), 13th in sacks (41.0) and 21st in tackles for loss (97.0).

Before coming to Oregon, Avalos spent seven seasons coaching at Boise State, where he was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator during his final three seasons (2016-18). During his first four seasons on the Boise State staff, he served as both the defensive line coach (2012-13) and linebackers coach (2014-15).

Avalos started his coaching career in his hometown of Corona, Calif., where he coached linebackers at Corona High School. He then spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Colorado before coaching two seasons at Nebraska Kearney and one at Sacramento State.

Winning championships is nothing new for Avalos. In addition to Oregon’s Pac-12 Conference title in 2019, the Ducks’ defensive coordinator claimed five conference championships in his 10-year career as a full-time collegiate coach before joining Cristobal’s staff. Boise State won three Mountain West titles (2012, 2014, 2017) during his time at his alma mater, while also winning the MWC Mountain Division title four times (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018). Nebraska Kearney won a pair of conference titles in Avalos’ two seasons, winning the league outright in 2009 before sharing the title in 2010. As a player, Avalos won three WAC championships (2002, 2003, 2004) in his four years as a starting linebacker.

Avalos has had success in the postseason, going 5-3 in bowl games as a coach and 2-1 as a player. In addition to Oregon’s 2020 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin, Avalos has been part of coaching staffs that won the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl, 2015 Poinsettia Bowl, 2014 Fiesta Bowl and the 2012 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. As a player, Avalos helped Boise State win the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl and the 2002 Humanitarian Bowl. Including Oregon’s win over Utah in the 2019 Pac-12 Conference championship game, Avalos’ teams have won three of four conference title games. BSU won two Mountain West championship games (2014, 2017) with Avalos on staff.

OREGON (2019-Present)
In Avalos’ first season at the helm of the Ducks’ defense, Oregon improved significantly in nearly every major statistical category on its way to a Pac-12 Conference title, a win in the Rose Bowl and a 12-2 overall record while ranking among the nation’s elite units.

The Ducks allowed just 16.5 points per game, which ranked ninth in the nation and second in the Pac-12, and was 8.9 points less than Oregon gave up during the 2018 season. Oregon also ranked 13th in the country and second in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (108.93 ypg), an improvement of over 35 yards per game from 2018’s defense that finished 43rd in the nation and fifth in the conference.

Avalos’ defense also improved from 55th nationally to 22nd in total defense, allowing 56.8 fewer yards per game, and from sixth to second in the Pac-12 Conference. Oregon’s passing defense allowed 21.5 fewer passing yards per game than the 2018 team, moving up from 82nd in the country to 53rd and from eighth in the Pac-12 to second.

Disruption of opposing offenses was a staple of Oregon’s defensive success under Avalos in 2019. The Ducks led the Pac-12 in sacks (41), tackles for loss (97) and interceptions (20), all improvements over 2018’s numbers. Oregon finished second in the nation in picks, up from 11th the previous year, and was 13th in sacks (up from 49th) and 21st in TFL (up from 72nd). The Ducks also ranked sixth in the country and first in the Pac-12 in passes defended.

Oregon showed marked improvement in limiting opponents’ success in third and fourth down conversion attempts, as well as in the red zone.

Eight of Avalos’ players on defense garnered postseason recognition in 2019. Senior linebacker Troy Dye, who was picked in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, earned Associated Press first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Dye was joined on the AP first-team by freshman Kayvon Thibodeaux, while sophomore Jevon Holland and junior Deommodore Lenoir claimed second-team accolades. Thomas Graham Jr. and Jordon Scott were named honorable mention all-league by the coaches.

Thibodeaux earned Pac-12 Conference Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league’s coaches, while also claiming first-team Freshman All-America recognition from The Athletic, USA Today and 247Sports. Safety Verone McKinley III claimed FWAA first-team Freshman All-America honors, while outside linebacker Mase Funa was a second-team Freshman All-America pick by The Athletic.

BOISE STATE (2012-2018)
In each of Avalos’ three seasons as defensive coordinator (2016-18), Boise State finished in the top four in the Mountain West Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and third down defense. The Broncos won 31 games over those three seasons and held 17 of their 27 opponents to 20 points or less.

A former standout linebacker at Boise State, Avalos took over the defense at his alma mater in 2016 after two seasons as the program’s linebackers coach and two seasons coaching the defensive line. Boise State advanced to the Mountain West Conference championship game in both 2017 and 2018, allowing only 33 points combined and an average of 332.6 yards per game.

From 2016-18, Avalos helped the Boise State defense hold 20 opponents to 20 points or less, while the Broncos ranked tied for sixth nationally with 10 defensive touchdowns over that span.

Avalos’ defense produced 21 All-Mountain West Conference selections from 2016 to 2018, including eight first-team choices. Nine more Broncos coached by Avalos earned All-Mountain West honors in 2019 with two of those earning first-team honors, including conference defensive player of the year Curtis Weaver. Highlighting the MWC honorees was first-round 2018 NFL Draft pick Leighton Vander Esch (No. 19 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys), who was the 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year. Vander Esch earned second-team All-Pro honors and an invitation to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season.

Over Avalos’ seven seasons at Boise State, the defense ranked in the top 25 nationally in turnovers forced six times, highlighted by top-10 performances in 2012, 2014 and 2015. During Avalos’ two seasons overseeing the defensive line (2012-13), three Broncos combined to earn five All-Mountain West Conference honors, including two-time first-team honoree DeMarcus Lawrence. Named an All-American in 2013, Lawrence was taken in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys and has been named to the Pro Bowl twice.

SACRAMENTO STATE (2011)
Avalos served as linebackers coach in his one season with the Hornets. He coached current Denver Broncos inside linebacker Todd Davis to All-Big Sky honors on a team that picked up a nonconference win at Oregon State to open the season.

NEBRASKA KEARNEY (2009-10)
Avalos started his full-time coaching career at Nebraska Kearney, where he served as the Lopers defensive line coach. During his two seasons in Kearney, UNK compiled a 20-4 record, including a 17-1 record in conference games.

In Avalos’ first season, the Lopers finished conference play undefeated (9-0) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs, ending with a final record of 11-2.

Eight players Avalos coached earned all-conference honors is his two seasons at Nebraska Kearney, with Mason Brodine claiming first-team honors following both seasons. Brodine was also one of two players coached by Avalos to earn all-region honors, joining Josh Rohde.

COLORADO (2006-08)
Avalos spent three seasons as a graduate assistant on Dan Hawkins’ staff at Colorado. During his time in Boulder, Avalos coached Brad Jones, who was a member of 2011 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

PLAYING CAREER & PERSONAL
A four-year letterwinner for the Broncos, Avalos earned first-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors at outside linebacker in each of his final two seasons. He completed his career ranked fourth all-time with 365 tackles, and led the Broncos in that statistical category in each of his final three seasons. He was named during the 2016 season to the All-Blue Team, a list of the 30 greatest players at Boise State since the inception of blue turf in 1986.

Avalos and his wife, Summer, have two daughters, Paityn and Paige.

NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED
2020 (RD 4) LB Troy Dye – Oregon – Minnesota Vikings
2020 (RD 5) DE Curtis Weaver – Boise State – Miami Dolphins
2018 (RD 1) OLB Leighton Vander Esch – Dallas Cowboys
2017 (RD 6) LB Tanner Vallejo – Buffalo Bills
2016 (RD 2) DE Kamalei Correa – Baltimore Ravens
2014 (RD 2) DE DeMarcus Lawrence – Dallas Cowboys
2009 (RD 7) LB Brad Jones – Green Bay Packers

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2019 Pac-12 Conference – Oregon (Defensive Coordinator)
2019 Pac-12 North – Oregon (Defensive Coordinator)
2018 MWC Mountain Division* – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2017 Mountain West Conference – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2017 MWC Mountain Division – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2016 MWC Mountain Division* – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2014 Mountain West Conference – Boise State (Linebackers)
2014 MWC Mountain Division – Boise State (Linebackers)
2012 Mountain West Conference* – Boise State (Defensive Line)
2010 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference* – Nebraska Kearney (Defensive Line)
2009 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – Nebraska Kearney (Defensive Line)
2004 Western Athletic Conference – Boise State (Player)
2003 Western Athletic Conference – Boise State (Player)
2002 Western Athletic Conference – Boise State (Player)
*-Co-Champions

BOWL GAMES
2020 Rose Bowl – Oregon (Defensive Coordinator)
2018 First Responder Bowl – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2017 Las Vegas Bowl – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2016 Cactus Bowl – Boise State (Defensive Coordinator)
2015 Poinsettia Bowl – Boise State (Linebackers)
2014 Fiesta Bowl – Boise State (Linebackers)
2013 Hawaii Bowl – Boise State (Defensive Line)
2012 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas – Boise State (Defensive Line)
2007 Independence Bowl – Colorado (Graduate Assistant)
2004 Liberty Bowl – Boise State (Player)
2003 Fort Worth Bowl – Boise State (Player)
2002 Humanitarian Bowl – Boise State (Player)

DIVISION II PLAYOFFS
2009 Second Round – Nebraska Kearney (Defensive Line)

ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2017 WLB Leighton Vander Esch – Boise State (Phil Steele – 4th)
2017 DE Curtis Weaver – Boise State (Phil Steele – 4th, SB Nation — HM)
2013 DE DeMarcus Lawrence – Boise State (Walter Camp – 2nd)

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2019 DB Verone McKinley III – Oregon (FWAA – 1st)
2019 DE Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon (The Athletic, USA Today, 247Sports – 1st)
2019 OLB Mase Funa – Oregon (The Athletic – 2nd)
2017 DE Curtis Weaver – Boise State (FWAA, USA Today)

ALL-REGION SELECTIONS COACHED
2010 DE Mason Brodine – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Daktronics – 2nd)
2009 DL Josh Rohde – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Daktronics – 1st)

CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR COACHED
2019 DE Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon – Pac-12 (Freshman Defensive Player of the Year)
2017 WLB Leighton Vander Esch – Mountain West (Defensive Player of the Year)

ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS COACHED
2019 LB Troy Dye – Oregon – Pac-12 (AP – 1st, Coaches – 2nd)
2019 DL Kayvon Thibodeaux – Oregon – Pac-12 (AP – 1st, Coaches—HM)
2019 DB Jevon Holland – Oregon – Pac-12 (AP – 2nd, Coaches—HM)
2019 DB Deommodore Lenoir – Oregon – Pac-12 (AP – 2nd, Coaches—HM)
2019 DB Thomas Graham Jr. – Oregon – Pac-12 (Coaches—HM)
2019 DL Jordon Scott – Oregon – Pac-12 (Coaches—HM)
2018 DL Jabril Frazier – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2018 DB Tyler Horton – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2018 DE Curtis Weaver – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2018 DL Durrant Miles – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2018 DB Kekoa Nawahine – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2018 DB Avery Williams – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2017 DB Tyler Horton – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2017 WLB Leighton Vander Esch – Boise State -- Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2017 DE Curtis Weaver – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2017 DL Jabril Frazier -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2017 DL David Moa -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2017 DB Kekoa Nawahine -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2017 LB Tyson Maeva – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2017 DL Durrant Miles – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2017 DB DeAndre Pierce – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2016 DL Sam McCaskill – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2016 DL David Moa – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2016 DB Chanceller James -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2016 DB Jonathan Moxey -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2016 LB Ben Weaver -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2016 LB Tanner Vallejo – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2015 LB Tanner Vallejo -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2014 LB Tanner Vallejo -- Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 2nd)
2013 DL DeMarcus Lawrence – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2013 DL Ricky Tjong-A Tjoe – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2012 DL Mike Atkinson – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2012 DL DeMarcus Lawrence – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2012 DL Ricky Tjong-A Tjoe – Boise State – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – HM)
2011 LB Todd Davis – Sacramento State – Big Sky (Coaches – HM)
2010 DE Mason Brodine – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 1st)
2010 DT Josh Rohde – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 1st)
2010 DE Cory Morten – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 3rd)
2010 DE Alex Paicurich – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 3rd)
2010 DT Justin Thiel – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 3rd)
2009 DE Mason Brodine – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 1st)
2009 DT Josh Rohde – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 1st)
2009 DT Caleb Tyler – Nebraska Kearney – Rocky Mountain Athletic (Coaches – 3rd)