Biography

Dirk Koetter enters his first season as the Falcons offensive coordinator after being hired on January 15, 2012. Known for his expertise in the passing game, Koetter has 30 years of coaching experience, including five seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2007-11). He also brings with him 22 years of coaching expertise on the college level, including nine seasons as a college head coach (Arizona State, 2001-06 and Boise State, 1998-2000).

During the 2010 campaign, Koetter led an offense that saw RB Maurice Jones-Drew lead the NFL in rushing with 1,606 yards on 343 carries. In five seasons in Jacksonville, he coached four different players to the six Pro Bowl selections, including Jones-Drew who earned three trips to the Pro Bowl.

Through Koetter’s first four years with the Jaguars the team’s offense ranks 13th in the NFL in total yards (338.6 per game), sixth in rushing (134.2), fifth in third-down conversions (43.0%), fifth in average per rush (4.5), ninth in fewest giveaways (101) and fifth with only 52 interceptions thrown.

From 2002-06, the Jaguars did not have an offensive player voted to the Pro Bowl. In just four seasons, Koetter has coached four different players who have earned a total of five Pro Bowl selections during his stint as offensive coordinator. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis were both named to the Pro Bowl in 2010.

In four seasons under Koetter, the Jaguars have produced 400-plus yards of offense in 14 games. Prior to 2007 the Jaguars had only nine games in 12 seasons with 400-plus yards. The Jaguars have compiled two of the three highest rushing totals in franchise history under Koetter and have ranked in the top 10 among NFL teams in rushing three of the last four seasons.

In his first season with the Jaguars, Koetter directed a record-breaking season by the offense as the unit set franchise records for points (411, 25.7 avg.), touchdowns (50), touchdown passes (28) and yards per play (5.6). The Jaguars ranked seventh in the NFL in offense (357.4), tied for the second-highest ranking in franchise history, totaled 400-plus yards in a team-record seven games and scored 24 or more points in 10 consecutive games for the first time in team history. Quarterback David Garrard in his first season as the starter ranked third in the NFL with a 102.2 passer rating and threw an NFL-low three interceptions. Garrard threw for a career-high 3,620 yards in 2008 including the first two 300-yard games of his career and set the single-season franchise record with 23 touchdown passes in 2010 despite missing two games.

Koetter led Arizona State to four bowl games in his six sea¬sons and finished with a 40-34 record. While also serving as offensive coordinator, Koetter helped the Sun Devils average nearly 30 points per game over six seasons and the team was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in passing offense in five of his six seasons.

Koetter molded Arizona State's all-time leading passer in Andrew Walter, its top career receiver in Derek Hagan and the top tight end in school history in Zach Miller. Walter, who played his final three seasons under Koetter, left as the Pac-10's career leader for touchdown passes with 85, surpassing John Elway who threw for 77 touchdowns at Stanford from 1979-82. Hagan, who was a third-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2006, finished with a school-record 14 100-yard receiving games. Miller finished the 2006 season as the school's all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards for a tight end and was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award.

In 2005, ASU finished second in the nation in total offense, averaging 519.1 yards per game and third in the nation with 373.4 passing yards per game. In 2004, Koetter led ASU to a 9-3 record and finished the season ranked 19th in the Associated Press Poll. After finishing 4-7 in his first season at ASU, Koetter directed the program to an 8-6 mark in 2002 and a berth in the Holiday Bowl.

Prior to taking over ASU, Koetter spent three seasons as head coach at Boise State where he compiled a 26-10 mark and two consecutive bowl victories. He was a two-time Big West Coach of the Year honoree and two-time conference champion.

A native of Pocatello, Idaho, Koetter played four seasons at Idaho State (1978-81) as the team won a Division I-AA national championship. He graduated in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree the following year in athletic administration. Following his graduation, he became head coach at age 23 at Highland High School, where he compiled a career record of 19-4 and won the 1984 state championship.

Koetter spent the 1985 season as offensive coordinator at San Francisco State and from 1986-88 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Texas El-Paso. Prior to taking over at Boise State, Koetter served as offensive coordina¬tor/quarterbacks coach at Missouri from 1989-93 and offensive coordinator at Boston College (1994-95) and Oregon (1996-97).

Koetter, 52, and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Kaylee and Kendra, and two sons, Derek and Davis.

COACHING BACKGROUND:

1985 -- San Francisco State – Offensive Coordinator

1986-88 -- Texas-El Paso – Offensive Coordinator/QB coach

1989-93 -- Missouri – Offensive Coordinator/QB coach

1994-95 -- Boston College – Offensive Coordinator

1996-97 -- Oregon – Offensive Coordinator

1998-2000 -- Boise State – Head Coach

2001-06 -- Arizona State – Head Coach

2007-11 -- Jacksonville Jaguars – Offensive Coordinator

2012 -- Atlanta Falcons – Offensive Coordinator