A familiar face returned in 2018 to lead the Illinois State football offensive attack in Kurt Beathard, who begins his third season as the program’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach in his second stint on the coaching staff.
Led by a strong rushing attack and the legs of All-American James Robinson, the Redbird offense was able to fight through a slew of injuries to key players at wide receiver and quarterback to rally and make a run in the FCS playoffs in 2019. With eight starters returning in 2020, the Redbird offense looks to get its firepower back as the team looks to make its second-straight appearance in the postseason. The Redbirds rebounded to finish in the top half of the league in team offensive categories in 2018. ISU ranked third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in scoring offense (31.8 ppg) and fourth in total offense (418.1 ypg) as three players earned All-MVFC honors.
Beathard previously served as the Redbirds’ offensive coordinator from 2014-15, presiding over two of the most successful offensive seasons in Illinois State football history. In his first season leading the Redbird offense in 2014, Beathard’s offensive unit set 15 single-season school records, including points (574), total touchdowns (76), total offense yards (6,954) and rushing yards (3,619). Illinois State finished the season ranked No. 4 nationally in passing efficiency (155.58), No. 9 in scoring offense (38.3) and No. 17 in total offense (463.6) and powered its way to a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and an appearance in the FCS National Championship game in Frisco, Texas.
Quarterback Tre Roberson earned Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year honors in his first season with the Redbirds. A transfer from Indiana, Roberson finished the season ranked in the top 5 in the FCS in five different offensive categories, including passing touchdowns with 30.
The 2015 season saw the Redbirds earn a share of the Missouri Valley Football Conference championship for the second-straight year with a 9-2 regular season record and a 7-1 record in conference play. ISU went on to finish the season 10-3 overall, marking just the third time in school history the Redbirds had won 10 or more games in a season, and headed into the FCS playoffs as the No. 2 overall seed. That season, the Redbirds finished in the top five of the ISU record books in rushing touchdowns (39), points (451) and rushing yards per game (234.2).
Following the season, Roberson earned First-Team All-MVFC honors for the second-straight year and finished the season with 2,225 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air. Roberson finished his time at ISU ranked No. 1 in career yards per rush (6.14), passing efficiency (150.3), average yards per attempt (9.0) and completion (16.7) and ranks No. 5 in career passing yards (5,446) and touchdowns (48). He also leads all quarterbacks with 22 rushing touchdowns and 1,806 yards rushing.
In all, Beathard has 15 years of experience as an FCS offensive coordinator, previously serving as offensive coordinator for Gardner-Webb (2012), Eastern Kentucky (2003-06), Bucknell (2002) and Western Carolina (1996-2001) prior to his first stint at Illinois State. He also spent time as a collegiate assistant at Youngstown State, Illinois, Pacific, Towson, James Madison and Louisville.
Between stints at Illinois and GWU, Beathard was an assistant in the UFL where he coached the running backs for the Florida Tuskers (2010) and Sacramento Mountain Lions (2011). In Florida, he worked with current Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden and in Sacramento, and he was part of the staff under the direction of former NFL head coach Dennis Green.
A native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Beathard started his collegiate playing career at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, before transferring to Saddleback Junior College for his sophomore season and finishing up at Towson. In his two-year stint at Towson, Beathard passed for 4,768 yards and 38 touchdowns. In a game against Lafayette, Beathard was 40-of-51 passing for 466 yards and four scores. His effort in the game still ranks among the top passing performances in NCAA Division II history. He was inducted into the Towson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
After his collegiate career was over, Beathard was drafted by the Baltimore Stars of the USFL in 1986 before moving on to the Arena League's Washington Commandos in 1987.
Aside from his extensive knowledge and experience, football runs in Beathard's genes. His father, Bobby, spent numerous years as the general manager of the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. He also served as a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons and director of player personnel for the Miami Dolphins during his 38 years in the NFL. The teams he worked for appeared in seven Super Bowls, winning four, and he is a contributor finalist for the 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. His brother, Jeff, is a scout for the Carolina Panthers, and his nephew, CJ, was a former quarterback at Iowa and is current member of the San Francisco 49ers.
Beathard and his wife, Karen, have three daughters: LaRae, Grace and Eva.
