University of Richmond Athletics
Garrett Named Offensive Coordinator And QB Coach
01/20/2016 | Football, Spider Athletic Fund
2016 SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – University of Richmond Head Coach Danny Rocco has announced the hiring of John Garrett as the Spiders' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Garrett brings a wealth of knowledge to the Spider family, both as a player and a coach, from both the collegiate and pro ranks. He most recently spent the 2015 season as quality control specialist for the offense at the University of Florida, after serving as the offensive coordinator at Oregon State in 2014.
“I'm very excited to bring John on board as our offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He is a Princeton graduate and has a tremendous appreciation for the student-athlete experience. He has put together an outstanding coaching career in both at the collegiate level and the NFL,” Rocco said.
During the 2014 season at Oregon State, Garrett worked under current Nebraska Head Coach Mike Riley and saw the Beavers average nearly 26 points per game. The biggest win came against top-10 Arizona State when Garrett's offense put up 35 points to upset the Sun Devils.
“John and I worked together for two seasons on Al Groh's staff at the University of Virginia. We ran a pro style offense at UVA, very similar to the offense we ran here at Richmond last season, “ Rocco added. “John's experiences in this offense will be a great resource for us as we prepare for our 2016 season. He is an outstanding football coach and an even better person. I look forward to welcoming John and his family to the University of Richmond.”
“It's a great thrill to come to the University of Richmond and be part of a fantastic University and an incredibly successful football program. I've known Danny for over 10 years and he's a tremendous football coach and an even better person. I'm excited to have the opportunity to coach with him again and with the other members of the staff, who I have great respect for,” Garrett said. “The program has had great success under Coach Rocco, particularly last season, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to continue the success of the offense. My family and I are thrilled to be a part of the University of Richmond, as well as the Richmond community as a whole. We're very happy to be back in the Commonwealth.”
Prior to his time in Corvallis, Garrett spent the 2013 season as the wide receivers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was on staff with the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-12, where his brother, Jason, is the head coach.
As a player, Garrett was on the practice squad and active roster for the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989, and on the practice squad for the Buffalo Bills in 1991. Garrett also spent training camp with the Cowboys in 1988 and with the Bengals in 1990.
Garrett began his coaching career in 1990 as a volunteer assistant at his alma mater of Princeton University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history. His first professional appointment came in 1992 as a pro personnel assistant, college scout and coaches' assistant for the Buccaneers; a position he held through the 1994 season.
In 1995 Garrett was appointed the offensive assistant/wide receivers coach with the Bengals and stayed with the team through the 1998 season. He was the Arizona Cardinals' quarterbacks coach for the 1999 and 2000 seasons before returning to the Bengals as an offensive assistant coach in 2001, tight ends coach in 2002 and as a scout in 2003.
He re-joined the college ranks in 2004, where for three years he was the University of Virginia's wide receivers coach and in 2006 added the title of assistant head coach for offense.
Garrett's father, Jim, spent 38 years in the NFL as a scout and assistant coach. His brother, Judd, is the current Director of Pro Scouting for the Cowboys. John and his wife, Honor, have four children (John, Jr., Honor, Olivia, and Caroline).
The 2016 season features six home games, including games against FCS playoff squads Colgate and JMU. Season tickets are available now through the Richmond Spiders Ticket Office or by clicking this link.