Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Secondary
Rod Perry is in his third year on the Oregon State staff and serves as the team’s secondary coach. He joined the staff after 24 seasons in the National Football League and has made immediate contributions to the Beaver defense.
Senior Rashaad Reynolds (6 Ints) earned Pac-12 Conference Second Team honors and was the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl MVP after scoring two touchdowns during the 2013 season. First-year cornerback Steven Nelson (6 Ints), a junior college transfer, earned membership on the league’s honorable mention team. The Beavers finished sixth in the country for interceptions with 19, with the secondary collecting 18 of the total.
In 2012, cornerback Jordan Poyer earned consensus All-America honors and Reynolds was on the Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention team. Beaver defenders intercepted 20 passes, tied for seventh in the nation.
Perry’s credentials are impressive, including playing (Rams) or coaching (Colts & Panthers) in three Super Bowls. Perry coached in Super Bowl XXXVIII for the Carolina Panthers following the 2003 season vs. the New England Patriots. From 2007-11 he was the special assistant to the defense for Indianapolis. He also was on the staff of the AFC championship Colts team of 2010.
His professional coaching career began in 1989 with the Seattle Seahawks (1989-91/secondary) and also has included positions with the Los Angeles Rams (1992-94/secondary), Houston Oilers (1995-96/defensive backs), San Diego Chargers (1997-2001/defensive backs) and Carolina Panthers (2002-06/secondary). He spent three years on the Chargers’ staff under head coach Mike Riley.
In the NFL, Perry coached players that earned eight Pro Bowl honors (including two alternates). Colts safety Bob Sanders was the 2007 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the 2008 Colts allowed just six touchdown passes -- the lowest 16-game total in NFL history.
Perry embarked on his coaching career in 1985 at Columbia University, before moving on to Fresno City College in 1986 and Fresno State in 1987-88. While at Columbia he coached for current Beaver offensive coordinator John Garrett’s father, head coach Jim Garrett.
He is a 1983 graduate of Fresno State University, but played collegiately at the University of Colorado, earning All-Big Eight Conference honors as a senior and Honorable Mention All-America in 1974. Prior to Colorado, Perry attended Fresno City College and was a Junior College All-American where his jersey number is retired. The native of Fresno attended Hoover High School where his jersey number is also permanently retired.
Following his college career Perry was a 1975 NFL Draft fourth round selection of the Rams, where he earned 1978 and ’80 Pro Bowl honors as a cornerback. Perry, who concluded his NFL career playing the 1983 and ’84 seasons with the Cleveland Browns, is a member of the Rams’ 40th Anniversary Team and started in the 1980 Super Bowl. He also played his first two seasons with the Rams with OSU and State of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame member, and current OSU broadcaster, Steve Preece.
Perry and his wife Patrice have three children, Rodney, Ryan and Miranda. Rodney was a 2001 MLB Draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies (OF) as well as a member of the Penn State football and baseball teams, and Ryan was a two-year football letterman at the University of Hawai’i. Both work with the Beaver football team in various capacities.
PERRY PROFILE
Assignment: Secondary
Recruiting Area: Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, Bakersfield, Central California
Year at OSU: 3rd
Age: 60
Hometown: Fresno, California
Education: Bachelor’s Degree, Fresno State, 1983
Wife: Patrice
Children: Rodney, Ryan, Miranda
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Oregon State, 2012-present (Secondary); Indianapolis Colts (2007-11); Carolina Panthers (2002-06), San Diego Chargers (1997-2001); Houston Oilers (1995-96); Los Angeles Rams (1992-94); Seattle Seahawks (1989-91); Fresno State (1997-98); Fresno City College (1986); Columbia (1985); Cleveland Browns – player (1983-84), Los Angeles Rams – player (1975-82)
OSU HIGHLIGHTS
2013
Rashaad Reynolds (CB) – Pac-12 Second Team/Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl MVP
Steven Nelson (CB) – Pac-12 Honorable Mention
Interceptions (25) -- Tied for 6th in NCAA
Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl champions
2012
Jordan Poyer (CB) -- Pac-12 First Team/Consensus All-America
Rashaad Reynolds (CB) – Pac-12 Honorable Mention
Total Defense (354 yds p/g) – 3rd in Pac-12
Scoring Defense (20.6 pts) – 2nd in Pac-12
3rd-Down Pct. Defense (29.3%) – 6th in NCAA
Interceptions (20) – Tied for 7th in NCAA
