Darrell Bevell
Encyclopedia
Darrell Bevell is the current Seattle Seahawks
offensive coordinator
and former University of Wisconsin–Madison
four-year starting quarterback
.
After graduating from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona
, Bevell redshirted
as a freshman quarterback at Northern Arizona University
. At the time, Brad Childress
was NAU's offensive coordinator. Bevell then embarked on a two-year LDS mission to Cleveland, Ohio
. Bevell received scholarship offers from NAU and Utah
, but he decided to join Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's football program had struggled for many years, but Bevell was named starting quarterback in 1993 and he promptly led the team to a surprising "Cinderella
" season. The 1993 Badgers
finished the year with a 10-1-1 record, becoming co-champions of the Big Ten and securing the school's first Rose Bowl
invitation since 1963
. They ended the season by defeating UCLA Bruins
21-16 in the 1994 Rose Bowl
. It was the school's first-ever Rose Bowl victory. In the fourth quarter of that game, with Wisconsin clinging to a 14-10 lead, Bevell made the most memorable play of his college career. Not known for his running ability, Bevell scrambled 21 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
The following season
, Bevell again guided the Badgers to a winning season. They defeated the Duke Blue Devils
34-20 in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl
, giving Wisconsin back-to-back bowl wins for the first time ever. Bevell finished his career with several school records, including most passing yards in a single game (423) and in a career (7,686).
He began coaching after graduating in 1995, including stints at Westmar University
(Le Mars, IA), Iowa State University
, and the University of Connecticut
.
In 2000, Bevell was hired by the Green Bay Packers
as an offensive assistant. In 2003, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Brett Favre
. In 2006, Childress was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and he brought Bevell to his team as offensive coordinator.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
and former University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
four-year starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
.
After graduating from Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, Bevell redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
as a freshman quarterback at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
. At the time, Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
was NAU's offensive coordinator. Bevell then embarked on a two-year LDS mission to Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Bevell received scholarship offers from NAU and Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, but he decided to join Barry Alvarez at Wisconsin.
Wisconsin's football program had struggled for many years, but Bevell was named starting quarterback in 1993 and he promptly led the team to a surprising "Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
" season. The 1993 Badgers
1993 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 1993 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Season:Over the course of the season, Wisconsin was the top team in the Big Ten in terms of passing efficiency, with QB Darrell Bevell recording an impressive 155.2 in...
finished the year with a 10-1-1 record, becoming co-champions of the Big Ten and securing the school's first Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
The Rose Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game, usually played on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. When New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, the game is played on Monday, January 2...
invitation since 1963
1963 Rose Bowl
The 1963 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1963 at the end of the 1962 college football season. It was the 49th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 42–37...
. They ended the season by defeating UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
21-16 in the 1994 Rose Bowl
1994 Rose Bowl
The 1994 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1994. It was the 80th Rose Bowl Game. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the 21-16...
. It was the school's first-ever Rose Bowl victory. In the fourth quarter of that game, with Wisconsin clinging to a 14-10 lead, Bevell made the most memorable play of his college career. Not known for his running ability, Bevell scrambled 21 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
The following season
1994 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 1994 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin in the 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season.-Schedule and results:...
, Bevell again guided the Badgers to a winning season. They defeated the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
34-20 in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl
1995 Hall of Fame Bowl
The 1995 edition to the Hall of Fame Bowl featured the , and the Wisconsin Badgers.Wisconsin scored first on a 19 yard interception returned from a touchdown by Jeff Messenger, as Wisconsin opened a 7-0 lead. Wisconsin's John Hall kicked two field goals of 48 and 43 yards as Wisconsin increased its...
, giving Wisconsin back-to-back bowl wins for the first time ever. Bevell finished his career with several school records, including most passing yards in a single game (423) and in a career (7,686).
He began coaching after graduating in 1995, including stints at Westmar University
Westmar University
Westmar University was a private four-year liberal arts college in Le Mars, Iowa, U.S. It permanently closed on November 21, 1997.Westmar University was founded in 1887 as the Northwestern Normal School and Business College by Jacob Wernli, the Plymouth County Superintendent of Schools...
(Le Mars, IA), Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, and the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
.
In 2000, Bevell was hired by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as an offensive assistant. In 2003, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
. In 2006, Childress was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, and he brought Bevell to his team as offensive coordinator.