Keith Heyward - Football Coach - Oregon State University Athletics

Keith Heyward

Title:
Defensive Coordinator

Hometown: Woodland Hills, Calif.
Education: Oregon State, 2002 – communications

NOTABLES
16 Of 17 seasons spent as a collegiate coach on the West Coast
12 Bowl games as a collegiate coach, 14 overall
88 Tackles in a four-year career at Oregon State
59 Total INTs while co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Oregon
10 Wins three times - 2019 (Oregon), 2006 (OSU) and 2000 as a player at Oregon State
19 Players selected in the NFL Draft

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2023)
• Served as a defensive quality control coach during the 2023 season

UNLV (2022)
• Spent one season as UNLV’s defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach
• UNLV intercepted 15 passes, most in the Mountain West and 14th nationally
• UNLV ranked in the top half of the Mountain West for red zone defense, third down defense and sacks
• Inside linebacker Austin Ajiake tallied 133 tackles, most in the MWC and ninth nationally
• Defensive lineman Adam Plant Jr. placed seventh in the league with 8 sacks

CALIFORNIA (2021)
• Coached outside linebackers at California in 2021
• Cal’s defense finished fourth in the Pac-12 in total defense at 366.3 ypg
• Bears also finished fourth in sacks at 25
• Coached future NFL Draft pick Cameron Goode

OREGON (2017-20)
• Coached safeties all four seasons. Served as co-defensive coordinator for his last three seasons and assistant head coach for last two
• UO defense jumped from 126th nationally in points per game (41.4) in 2016 to ninth (16.5) in 2019
• Oregon also improved from 518.4 yards per game (126th) to 329.1 yards per game (22nd). Ducks also went fromn 246.5 ypg (121st) to 108.9 (13th) in rushing defense, and 271.9 ypg (113th) to 220.1 (53rd) in pass yards allowed
• Oregon intercepted 59 passes during his tenure; UO was only team in country with at least 15 for three straight seasons from 2017-19
• Verone McKinley III named a Freshman All-American in 2019
• Fourteen all-conference selections during his tenure as co-defensive coordinator
• Coached future NFL Draft picks Jevon Holland, Brady Breeze and Ugo Amadi

LOUISVILLE (2016)
• Defensive backs coach for the Cardinals in 2016
• Louisville finished 9-4 and played in the Citrus Bowl
• Cardinal defense ranked 14th in the nation in total defense
• Coached future NFL Draft picks Jaire Alexander and Josh Harvey-Clemmons

USC (2014-15)
• Passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Trojans for two seasons
• 2015: CB Iman Marshall named Freshman All-American. Cornerback-wide receiver Adoree’ Jackson named Hornung Award finalist and All-Pac-12
• 2014: Su’a Cravens named First-Team All-America. Jackson earned Freshman All-America honors. DB Josh Shaw selected in fourth round of NFL Draft
• Coached future NFL Draft picks Leon McQuay and Keyvon Seymour

WASHINGTON (2012-13)
• Secondary coach with the Huskies for two seasons
• Guided Washington’s pass defense to No. 23 national ranking in 2012
• Desmond Trufant selected in first round of the NFL Draft by Atlanta
• Safety Sean Parker ended collegiate career with 11 interceptions
• Coached future NFL Draft picks Marcus Peters

OREGON STATE (2008-11)
• Secondary coach at his alma mater for four seasons
• Coached future NFL Draft picks Brandon Hughes, Keenan Lewis, Jordan Poyer, Brandon Hardin, Al Afalava, James Dockery and Suaesi Tuiaunei
• Beavers ranked second in the Pac-10 in 2011, allowing 214.4 yards passing per game
• Eight members of OSU secondary earned all-conference honors during his tenure

CAL POLY (2007)
• Linebackers coach with the Mustangs
• Helped Cal Poly finish first in the Great Western Conference for rush defense. CP also finished third for total defense

OREGON STATE (2005-06)
• Graduate assistant for defense at OSU
• Helped develop future NFL player Keith Ellison and Sabby Piscitelli
• OSU defense ranked first in the Pac-10 against the run, in addition to sacks and tackles for loss yardage
• 2006 Beavers finished with program’s second-ever 10-win season

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
• Oregon State – four-year letterman (1997-2000)
• Started 35 consecutive games, and was a part of OSU’s 2000 11-win season
• 2000 Pac-10 Honorable Mention selection
• Totaled 88 tackles, 23 pass breakups and five interceptions
• Part of professional rosters with the British Columbia Lions, Scottish Claymores and Los Angeles Avengers. Also saw action in preseason NFL camps with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks

BOWL GAMES
2020   Fiesta Bowl
2019   Rose Bowl
2018   Redbox Bowl
2017   Las Vegas Bowl
2016   Citrus Bowl
2015   Holiday Bowl
2014   Holiday Bowl
2013   Fight Hunger Bowl
2012   Las Vegas Bowl
2009   Las Vegas Bowl
2008   Sun Bowl
2006   Sun Bowl
2001   Fiesta Bowl
1999   O’ahu Bowl