CFL Calgary Stampeders

Diedrick named Quarterback/Running Back Coach

Published on February 8, 2005 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Calgary Stampeders News Release


(Calgary) – Today the Calgary Stampeder Football Club named Bill Diedrick Quarterback/Running Back Coach.

"Bill's background speaks for itself," stated Senior Vice-President of Football Operations/Head Coach Tom Higgins. "He brings an enormous amount of knowledge, as well as his CFL experience, to the Stampeders and will be a huge asset to the coaching staff."

"I'm extremely pleased to have Bill join our staff, as he has a remarkable resume holding some great positions," stated offensive coordinator Steve Buratto. "I've tracked his coaching since his days with the Eskimos and we are very fortunate to have him join the Stampeder organization."

Below is a closer look at Bill Diedrick:

Bill Diedrick

Quarterback/Running Back Coach

A proven producer of explosive offenses, Bill Diedrick brings over 30 years of coaching experience. He has spent the last three years as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Teaching a system predicated on balance and unpredictability, Diedrick's offense produced 1,000-yard rushers in both of his first two seasons at Notre Dame while also producing career best passing years for quarterbacks.

In 2004, under Bill's tutelage, Notre Dame's offence was led by running back Darius Walker who played in 11 games, rushing for 786 yards. At the quarterback position, Brady Quinn took the majority of the reps throwing for 2,586 yards and 17 touchdowns. His favorite target was Rhema McKnight, who finished the season ahead of his 2003 numbers. He recorded 42 catches for 610 yards and 3 touchdowns.

In 2003, Diedrick was a key figure in the rapid development of freshman quarterback Brady Quinn, who set freshman records for passing yards, touchdowns, completions and attempts. The 2003 Irish offense was spearheaded by running back Julius Jones(now with the Dallas Cowboys), who rushed for 1,268 yards and 10 touchdowns, and receiver Rhema McKnight, who caught 47 passes for 600 yards and three touchdowns.

Diedrick's inaugural campaign with the Irish in 2002 produced a 10-3 record and a final ranking of 17th. Quarterback Carlyle Holiday made tremendous strides in picking up the West Coast offense, throwing for a career-high 1,788 yards. Notre Dame also had great success running the ball as Ryan Grant became only the seventh player in Notre Dame history to gain over 1,000 yards in a season. Receiver Arnaz Battle also had a career year pulling in 58 passes, which put him third on the single-season list.

Prior to coming to Notre Dame, Diedrick was the offensive coordinator for four years at Stanford where he guided the Cardinal, to unparalleled offensive success.

Diedrick's offense rewrote the Stanford record books in 1999. Stanford produced the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and Biletnikoff Award winner in wide receiver Troy Walters (now of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts), as well as first-team all-Pac-10 quarterback Todd Husak.

In his first season at Stanford in 1998, under his tutelage, the Cardinal threw for 3,516 yards. Husak became only the third quarterback in school history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season as he totaled 3,092.

Diedrick served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington in 1994-95 and the quarterbacks coach in 1996-97. Diedrick also developed three of the top quarterbacks in college football in brothers Damon and Brock Huard and Marques Tuiasosopo. Damon became Washington's all-time leader in passing and total yards. Brock set records in 1996 as the top freshman quarterback in Washington history and, in 1997, he ranked seventh in the nation in passing efficiency. Tuiasosopo holds the career record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

Prior to his appointment at Washington, Diedrick coached in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos (1991-92), where he was the offensive coordinator. He also coached quarterbacks, receivers and running backs during his two-year stint with the Eskimos. Diedrick's 1991 team won the Western Division championship, while scoring 671 points and accumulating over 8,000 yards in total offense.

Diedrick's first tour of duty in the Pac-10 was as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State from 1989-90. There he coached Drew Bledsoe, the eventual No. 1 pick of the 1990 National Football League draft and current starter for the Buffalo Bills. Diedrick's 1989 Cougars offense led the Pac-10 and was 10th nationally in total offense, while Bledsoe was the nation's top-rated quarterback in passing efficiency.

Diedrick coached the quarterbacks and receivers while serving as offensive coordinator at Idaho from 1986-88. During that time, he coached future NFL starting quarterback John Friesz, who was twice named the Big Sky Player of the Year and an All-American.

From 1984-85, Diedrick was the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Montana State. His quarterback earned Big Sky Player of the Year honors.

Diedrick graduated from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash., in 1970 with bachelor's degrees in physical therapy and physical education. He earned a master's degree in education from Hawaii in 1971.

He was a four-year letterman at Eastern Washington in both baseball and football, earning NAIA All-America honors in football in 1967, while leading Eastern to the national finals. He was also an honorable mention All-America in baseball.

Born Oct. 21, 1946, in Spokane, Wash., Diedrick is married to the former Wendy Watson. He is the father of three sons: Mathew, Justin and Joey.

Coaching Experience

Year School/Team Assignment

1970 Hawaii Graduate Assistant

1971 Ferris (Wash.) High School Assistant Coach

1972 Ferris (Wash.) High School Assistant Coach

1973 Ferris (Wash.) High School Assistant Coach

1974 Ferris (Wash.) High School Assistant Coach

1975 Ferris (Wash.) High School Assistant Coach

1976 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1977 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1978 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1979 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1980 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1981 Rogers (Wash.) High School Head Coach

1982 Whitworth College Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Coord.

1983 Whitworth College Asst. Head Coach/Offensive Coord.

1984 Montana State (NCAA I-AA champ) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1985 Montana State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1986 Idaho (NCAA I-AA playoffs) Off. Coord./Quarterbacks/Receivers

1987 Idaho (NCAA I-AA playoffs) Off. Coord./Quarterbacks/Receivers

1988 Idaho (NCAA I-AA semifinals) Off. Coord./Quarterbacks/Receivers

1989 Washington State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1990 Washington State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1991 Edmonton Eskimos (CFL playoffs) Offensive Coordinator

1992 Edmonton Eskimos (CFL playoffs) Offensive Coordinator

1994 Washington Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1995 Washington (Sun Bowl) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1996 Washington (Holiday Bowl) Quarterbacks

1997 Washington (Aloha Bowl) Quarterbacks

1998 Stanford Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

1999 Stanford (Rose Bowl) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2000 Stanford Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2001 Stanford (Seattle Bowl) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2002 Notre Dame (Gator Bowl) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

2003 Notre Dame Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

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