Dave Elliott
Assistant Coach
Sixth Season
(Michigan, 1975)

    The Penguins' wide receivers have flourished the past five seasons under assistant coach Dave Elliott. Elliott is in his sixth season as an assistant on the Youngstown State staff as the wide receivers coach.
    YSU has numerous achievements the program hasn't seen in years with Elliott coaching the receivers.
    Under his leadership, YSU has had a receiver catch the most touchdown passes in a season since 1998 (Donald Jones in 2008), tie the school record with 11 receptions in a game (T.J. Peterson vs. James Madison in 2006), have two receivers with more than 100 yards in the same game (Jones and Dominique Barnes at Illinois State) since 1987; had 50-plus receptions in year for the first time since 1999 (Peterson in 2006) and caught scoring passes in four consecutive game for the first time since 1992 (Jones in 2008).
    During the 2008 campaign, the Guins had three wide receivers with more than 30 receptions. The last time three players had at least 30 catches in the same season was 1994. It was the first time in school history three wide receivers had more than 30 grabs in the same year in school history. Barnes led the way with 38 grabs, after catching three in 2007, while Jones, a newcomer, led in yards (510) and touchdowns (seven).
    In 2007, the program had its first-ever first-team All-Gateway selection at the position in the versatile Ferlando Williams. Williams finished the year with a team-high 42 passes for 499 yards. He also rushed for 464 yards on 72 carries and had nine touchdowns. Senior Rory Berry had a career-best 39 receptions for 473 yards.  
    During the playoff run in 2006, Elliott's group faced some retooling and numerous questions, but the wide receivers stepped up time and again to have a very productive season.
    Leading the way was Peterson who caught 53 passes for 767 yards and seven touchdowns and was named honorable-mention all-league. Peterson's total number of grabs was the highest total by a Guin since 1999 and the second most in a season since 1993. His yardage total was also the most by an individual since 1999 and second most in the past 12 campaigns. He became just the third wide out to haul in seven touchdown passes in a year since 1995 as well.
    Highlighting his season was a school-record-tying 11 grabs in the first round playoff win over James Madison. Berry, who had zero receptions in three years with the program entering the '06 slate, caught 31 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns.
    In 2005, four different wide receivers caught at least 18 passes, marking the first time that much balance has occurred at the position during the same season in school history.
    Honorable-Mention All-Gateway and Hula Bowl selection Kyle Smith led the way with 37 receptions for 482 yards and five touchdowns. Smith established a new school record by catching a pass in 30 consecutive games played. Jameson Evans had 27 grabs, Peterson finished with 21 and Damian Wright had 18 as the quartet combined for 103 receptions, 1,449 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith finished with more than 400 yards for the third straight year (482 in 2005, 444 in 2004 and 530 in 2003) becoming the first wideout since Renauld Ray 1997-99 to accomplish the feat.
    In his first year in 2004, the YSU receivers benefited greatly as a group posting their most successful campaign in six seasons.
    Matt Rycraft led the team in receptions with 35 for 325 yards and Smith was the leader in yards with 444 on 28 catches. Smith was named an honorable-mention All-Gateway selection. Rycraft's 35 receptions were the most since Giles' 62 passes in 1999 before Smith topped him in 2005.
    Elliott, who spent three seasons at Central Connecticut State before coming to YSU prior to 2004, has extensive collegiate coaching experience having spent time as a head coach at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, while also serving as an assistant at Toledo, Washington State, Iowa State and Winona State. Altogether, he has more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience.
    At Central Connecticut State, he spent three years as the defensive coordinator working with the linebackers and coordinating the teams punt returns.
    He went to CCSU after spending five years as the head coach at then-Division II Morningside College (1996-2000). Before taking the reigns at Morningside, he had a one-season stint with Winona (Minn.) State as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
    Elliott spent a good portion of his coaching career under Jim Walden at both Washington State and Iowa State from 1979 through 1994. For the Cyclones, he was the wide receivers coach under Walden from 1987 through 1994. At ISU, he was involved in coordinating the passing game and was in charge of organizing summer football camps.
    The two first teamed up on a full-time basis at Washington State beginning in 1979. For the Cougars, Elliott served as the inside linebackers coach and coordinated punt return and kick-off teams along with organizing summer camps.
    Before heading to Pullman, Elliott was the defensive backs coach at Toledo from 1977 through 1978 under Coach Chuck Stobart. While coaching for the Rockets, Elliott was the position coach for current YSU volleyball coach Joe Conroy.
    Elliott served as a part-time assistant at his alma mater, Michigan, in 1977 working under head coach Bo Schembechler and future Wolverine head coach Gary Moeller with the linebackers. Before returning to Michigan, he was a graduate assistant coach from 1975-76 at Miami (Fla.) where he worked closely with the defensive backs under Walden.
    He graduated from Michigan in 1975 with a degree in Physical Education. For the Wolverines, he was a two-year starter as a defensive back while being a member of four Big Ten Championship squads.
    Dave and his wife Peggy, have two daughters, Catherine and Christina.