Brad Bedell
Offensive Line Coach

Former All-American and NFL player Brad Bedell, who most recently spent the 2011 season as an assistant coach at New Mexico State, begins his first season as offensive line coach at Arkansas State.

Bedell also oversaw the offensive line at NMSU, a group that included All-Western Athletic Conference selection Davonte Wallace.  The Aggies' line helped their offense compile 4,024 yards total offense, including over 1,171 yards on the ground and 2,853 through the air.

Prior to New Mexico State, Bedell served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at UC Davis in 2011.  During his one season at UC Davis, Bedell coached two First Team All-Great West Conference selections in offensive linemen Sean Davies and Ray Wilburn.

Bedell went to UC Davis from Northern Colorado, where he was also the Bears' offensive line coach for the 2010 season.  His lone season at the school saw the Bears average 357.8 yards total offense per game, while also ranking 31st in the nation in passing yards (227.0 ypg).  Bedell coached two All-Big Sky Conference choices, including offensive tackle Lee Barbiasz and center Tim McGraw.

Bedell began his coaching career as an offensive intern from 2007-09 at Colorado, his alma mater.  He worked with the Buffaloes coaching staff after ending a six-year NFL career with four teams, including the Houston Texans (2006), Green Bay Packers (2004-05), Miami Dolphins (2003) and Cleveland Browns (2000-01).  Bedell saw action in 40 NFL games, including four as a starter, during his pro career.

"Coach Bedell brings six years of experience as a player in the NFL with him, and he was recognized as one of the top offensive linemen in the nation as a college player," said ASU Head Football Coach Bryan Harsin.  "He has been able to apply what he learned from those experiences to what he is doing on the field and in recruiting as a coach, so he will be a valuable part of this staff and we are excited to have him here at Arkansas State."

His desire to coach led him back to Colorado, where he earned two letters as an offensive guard in 1998 and 1999 and was named a First Team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America as a senior.  He was tabbed Second Team All-America by the Associated Press and named First Team All-Big 12 as a senior as well.  He used a medical redshirt in 1997 after a neck injury sidelined him following the second game of the season, but graded out at 89 percent over his final two seasons.

Bedell played the 1995 and 1996 seasons at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College, where he was a first Team All-America choice and rated as the top junior college offensive lineman and the No. 4 overall junior college recruit in the nation in 1996.  As a sophomore right offensive tackle, he did not allow a sack all season and was called for only one penalty while leading the Mounties to an 8-2 record and win over over Chaffey College in the Southern California Bowl.
 

Eliah Drinkwitz  
Running Backs Coach  

Eliah Drinkwitz will begin his second season as Arkansas State's running back coach in 2013.

In his first season at ASU, he helped lead the Red Wolves to 10-3 record and the Sun Belt Conference championship with a 7-1 league mark.  He also helped lead the A-State to 17-13 victory over then-ranked No. 25 Kent State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.  The win was also ASU's first over a top-25 team since it joined the FBS in 2012.

Drinkwitz coached running backs for an ASU squad that ranked No. 23 in the nation in rushing offense with 206.2 yards per game in 2012.  The Red Wolves rushed for over 200 yards in seven games and scored a Sun Belt Conference-best 31 rushing touchdowns on the year.

Under Drinkwitz' direction, junior running back David Oku was a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection and became the first A-State player to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2008.  Oku ran for 1,061 yards during and also scored 16 rushing touchdowns, the most in the Sun Belt and the most by an ASU player since 1975.

The ASU running back corps was highlighted by Oku, but featured several players that excelled under Drinkwitz.  In fact, the group combined to record 2,168 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns.  The Red Wolves also averaged 5.0 yards per rushing attempt to match the second highest average in school history.  A-State's running backs recorded 272 receiving yards on 36 receptions over the course of the season as well.

"We are excited Coach Drinkwitz will be remaining here at Arkansas State and joining our coaching staff," said Harsin.  "He did an outstanding job here this season, and he was instrumental in the development of the top offense in the conference.  He is young and energetic and an up-and-coming coach with not only a passion for coaching, but also for his players."

The Alma, Ark. native spent the 2010-11 seasons as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Auburn prior to coming to Arkansas State. He assisted with all aspects of the offense during his time with the Tigers.  During the 2010 season he helped the Tigers finish 14-0, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the BCS National Championship behind Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton.  The 2011 season saw Auburn finish 8-5, including a 43-24 victory over Virginia in the Chik-fil-A Bowl.

Prior to Auburn, Drinkwitz coached four seasons at Springdale High School from 2006-09.  He first served as the Bulldogs' offensive line coach and running game coordinator in 2006 before spending the next three years as their offensive coordinator.  During his time as offensive coordinator, Springdale averaged 422 yards of total offense per game while setting school records in completions, receptions and yardage.

Drinkwitz spent the 2005 season  as an assistant coach at Alma High School, where he started his coaching career as a volunteer assistant from 2001-03 while still attending college.  He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Arkansas Tech in 2004, graduating Magna Cum Laude after serving as student body president.

Prior to attending Arkansas Tech, Drinkwitz was an all-conference and all-state selection for the Alma football team and was named an FCA Huddle Leader of the Year.

Drinkwitz is married to the former Linsey Sivils, and they have one daughter, Addison, born March 19, 2010.

Bush Hamdan  
Quarterbacks Coach

Bush Hamdan enters his first season an assistant coach at Arkansas State and will oversee the quarterbacks position.

Hamdan most recently spent the 2012 season as wide receivers coach at the University of Florida, helping guide the Gators to an 11-1 record and a No. 3 ranking in the BCS standings.  He will also help coach Florida against Louisville in the Sugar Bowl on January 2.

Hamdan spent the 2011 season as tight ends coach at Sacramento State and the 2010 campaign as a coaching intern on the Maryland staff, but will be reunited with Harsin for the first time since playing quarterback at Boise State from 2005-08 while Harsin was the Broncos' offensive coordinator.

"Coach Hamdan played quarterback for me at Boise State, and I had the opportunity to become very familiar with his outstanding knowledge and understanding of the game," said ASU Head Football Coach Bryan Harsin.  "He gained valuable experience as wide receivers coach at the University of Florida this year, and he did a terrific job as a member of their coaching staff to help them get to a BCS bowl game.  We are excited to welcome Coach Hamdan to our program and the Arkansas State University family."

Hamdan's lone season at Maryland saw the squad produce a 9-4 record, including a 51-20 victory over East Carolina in the 2010 Military Bowl.  As a senior quarterback under Harsin at Boise State, Hamdan won the 2008 Bronco Excellence Award.

The Gaithersburg, Md., native graduated from Boise State with a bachelor's in communications in 2008. He went on to complete his master's in athletic administration from Idaho State.

A highly-decorated high school quarterback, Hamdan was a member of the Super 44 Prep Team and All-Metro in Washington, D.C. During his prep career, he passed for more than 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns.
 

Kent Riddle  
Assistant Head Coach, Tight Ends Coach and Special Teams Coordinator  

Kent Riddle begins his first season at Arkansas State as the Red Wolves' assistant head coach, tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.

Riddle comes to Arkansas State after spending the last two seasons as special teams and tight ends coach at North Texas, but has also coached at Colorado (2006-10), Boise State (2001-05), Army (1995-2000) and Oregon State (1993-94).  With over 20 years coaching experience at the FBS level, Riddle has coached in six bowl games and has been the position coach for three All-Americans, 10 all-conference performers and four NFL players.

"I worked with Coach Riddle at Boise State, we have a great relationship and he is a guy I highly respect as both a coach and person," said ASU Head Football Coach Bryan Harsin.  "He was instrumental in the building process at Boise State and really helped develop that program during his time there.  He is experienced, has been very successful and is a great fit for Arkansas State."

During his two seasons as special teams coach at North Texas, he oversaw the efforts of All-Sun Belt Conference players Brelan Chancellor and Will Atterberry.  Chancellor recorded a school-record 1,094 kickoff return yards in 2011 to become the first player in North Texas history to produce 1,000 yards in a season, while Atterberry earned all-conference honors in both 2011 and 2012 as a punter.

Riddle's tight end corps combined to record 47 receptions for 415 yards and three touchdowns during his two years with the Mean Green, led by Andrew Power with 16 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown in 2011 and Drew Miller with 18 receptions resulting in 136 yards and two scores in 2012.

Riddle made the move from Boise State to Colorado in 2006 with then-head coach Dan Hawkins, spending five seasons with the Buffaloes as their tight ends coach and special teams coordinator.  At Colorado he coached two All-Americans, including placekicker Mason Crosby and punter Matt DiLallo.  In 2007, Colorado was one of just six schools in the nation to rank among the top half of all teams in net punting, punt returns, kickoff returns, punt return defense and kickoff return defense.

Riddle spent the 2001-05 seasons at Boise State as running backs and special teams coach, working alongside Harsin for the 2005 campaign when the Broncos played in the MPC Computers Bowl.  Many of his special teams units during those five seasons regularly finished ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation, including a kickoff return team that was in the top 21 every season and a punt return squad that placed in the top 18 his last four years.

He was able to assemble one of the most accurate kicking games in the country during that span as well as Boise State kickers converted 96.8 percent of their PAT kicks (330-of-341) and 73.1 percent of their field goal tries (68-of-93).

In 2005, Boise State ranked 12th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.2 avg.), anchored by Lee Marks, who was 10th nationally as an individual (27.9 avg.).  The Broncos were also 18th in punt returns (12.8 avg.), with Quinton Jones second in the country with 20.9 yards per return that included three touchdowns.  The coverage units were exceptional as well as Boise State was 17th in punt return defense (5.9 avg.) and 29th in kickoff return defense (18.7 avg.)

Riddle coached placekicker Tyler Jones at Boise State to an All-American season and a spot as one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award in 2005.  In 2003, the Broncos ranked 15th in the country in both kickoff and punt returns, following up a 2002 campaign when both finished 13th in the NCAA.

The Broncos also led the WAC in punt returns and kickoff coverage in 2003, allowing just 17.0 yards per return.  In 2001, David Mikell was seventh in the nation in kickoff returns (28.4 avg.), leading the team to a 19th-place national ranking.

His first three seasons at Boise State saw the Broncos produce a 1,000 yard rusher each year.  David Mikell earned honorable mention All-WAC honors in 2003 after rushing for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Brock Forsey was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2002, rushing for 1,611 yards (11th in the NCAA) and a national-best 26 touchdowns.  Forsey was also a First Team All-WAC performer in Riddle's first season after picking up 1,207 rushing yards.

Riddle joined the Boise State coaching staff after serving as an assistant coach at Army for six seasons.  At Army, his first full-time coaching position, he coached fullbacks from 1995-98 before making the move to special teams coach and recruiting coordinator for the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

He worked his first five years there under head coach Bob Sutton, and he was retained when Todd Berry was named coach in 2000.  In 1996, he helped coach Army to its only 10-win season in history as the Black Knights went 10-2 and made an appearance in the Independence Bowl.

Prior to joining the Army staff, Riddle began his coaching career in 1991 as a student assistant coach at Oregon State.  In 1992, he was promoted to a graduate assistant position, first serving one year as the video G.A. before working as an offensive G.A. coach in both 1993 and 1994.  He helped tutor the running backs while also overseeing the preparation of the defensive scout team his last two seasons.

He earned his bachelor's degree from Oregon State in 1992 after completing his playing career for the Beavers as a quarterback for coach Dave Kragthorpe.
 

Anthony Tucker
Wide Receivers Coach

Anthony Tucker is in his first season at Arkansas State as the Red Wolves' wide receivers coach.

Tucker comes to Arkansas State after spending the last two seasons at Idaho State, where he coached outside wide receivers for a squad that ranked among the top 10 in the nation in passing yards in back-to-back years.  Led by All-America wide receiver Rodrick Rumble, the Bengals averaged 351.6 passing yards per game last season to rank fourth nationally, while the 2011 team held the nation's ninth-best average at 300.6 yards per game.

The Tucker-coached Rumble was named to multiple All-America teams during his career, which he finished as Idaho State's all-time leader in receptions (223) and receiving yards (2,863).  Under Tucker's direction, Rumble finished among the top-10 players in the nation in receptions and receiving yards as both a junior and senior.

Prior to joining Idaho State, Tucker served the 2010 season as Colorado's Offensive Technical Assistant under then-head coach Dan Hawkins.  He was part of Colorado's staff that included current A-State assistant head coach Kent Riddle as well, and during his time with the Buffaloes he also worked briefly with current ASU assistant coach Brad Bedell and director of strength and conditioning Jeff Pitman.

Tucker went to Colorado after spending the 2006-09 seasons as Lakewood (Calif.) High School's Passing Game Coordinator and Wide Receivers Coach.  He also coached the wide receivers in the Best of the West Quarterback and Wide Receivers Skills Camp in 2008 and 2009 in Lakewood.

Tucker spent four seasons in the NFL, singing as a free agent with the New York Giants in 1999 and later earing a spot on the team's practice squad in 2000.  He was allocated to NFL Europe from the Giants in 2001 and played for the Amsterdam Admirals.  He signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2002 and then suffered a career-ending leg injury.

"Coach Tucker is another great addition to our coaching staff," said Harsin.  "The experience he brings as not only a proven wide receivers coach, but also an NFL-caliber player at the position will strengthen our offense and make him a great resource for our players.  He has an extensive knowledge of the game and a solid background with several of our coaches already on staff, so he is a tremendous fit for our program."

A three-year letterman at Fresno State, Tucker started at wide receiver his last two seasons with the Bulldogs.  Tucker earned his bachelor of science degree in criminology in 1999 from Fresno State, where he was a WAC Scholar-Athlete, member of the dean's list three times and earned President's List honors one time for having a 4.0 GPA.

Tucker was a football and track and field star at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, Calif., under coach John Barnes, the winningest coach in Orange County history.  Tucker helped his team complete a perfect 14-0 record his senior season in 1993 to win the school's third straight CIF championship.  He was a team captain on the track, where he participated in hurdles and sprinting events.