Andy Ludwig - Football Coach - University of Utah Athletics

Andy Ludwig

Title:
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Offensive Coordinator
Quarterbacks
6th/10th Year

Andy Ludwig is in the sixth year of his second full-time stint on the Utah football coaching staff in 2024. Ludwig, who served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the undefeated 2008 season, returned in 2019 and has helped lead the offense to heights unrivaled in recent history.

Ludwig had spent the 2015-18 seasons as Vanderbilt’s offensive coordinator following a two-year run at Wisconsin (2013-14), two years at San Diego State (2011-12) and two years at California (2009-10), all since helping lead Utah to a 13-0 record in 2008 and a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama.

That capped a successful four-year period as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Utah (2005-08), which followed three years in the same role at Oregon (2002-04). During his four years as offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt, Ludwig also coached the Commodores' quarterbacks (2015), tight ends (2016-18) and running backs (2018).

In the five seasons since Ludwig's return, the Utah offense has eclipsed 450 yards of total offense in a game 26 times in 60 games, also scoring 30-or-more points in 38. Since 2019, Utah has only been held to under 300 yards of total offense in just six games.

Ludwig is a proponent of a balanced offensive attack and has coached a 1,000-yard rusher 17 times in his FBS coaching career, including Utah’s Quinton Ganther (1,120 in 2005), Darrell Mack (1,204 in 2007) Zack Moss (1,416 in 2019) and Tavion Thomas (1,108 in 2021).
In his five seasons back with the Utes, Utah has finished in the top-three in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency twice (2019, 2021), including ranking eighth nationally and atop the league in 2019.
In addition to a strong passing attack, Utah has ranked in the top-three in the Pac-12 in rushing offense in four of the last five seasons, including leading the league in 2019 and 2021.
In the 60 games he has coached in, Utah has had 200-or-more rushing yards in 31.
In two of the last three seasons (2021, 2022), the Utes have produced two of the highest rushing yard totals in school history with Utah’s 3,047 yards in 2022 ranked second and its 3,035 yards in 2021 ranking third all-time.
The Utes also broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season in 2022, punching in 38 after setting the record at 37 in 2021.

The 2023 season was plagued with injuries on the offensive side of the ball, going without starting quarterback Cameron Rising and All-American tight end Brant Kuithe – giving new meaning to Utah’s “next man up” mentality.

Despite injuries, Utah finished third in the Pac-12 and in the top-35 in the FBS in rushing offense (182.5).
The Utes also ranked third in the league and 18^th in the FBS in turnovers lost, only committing 13.
In 2023, Utah was one of just three Power Five programs that started three different quarterbacks throughout the year with all three earning wins.
He coached back-up turned starter, Bryson Barnes, to 1,572 passing yards and 265 rushing yards in 2023 with 15 total touchdowns (12 passing, 3 rushing).
He also saw Barnes throw for 31 completions at Arizona in 2023, the most by a Utah quarterback since 2005 with his four passing touchdowns against Arizona State being the most by a Ute in a Pac-12 game since 2018.
Utah’s 55 points against Arizona State in 2023 was the most since scoring 63 at Colorado in 2022 and was the fifth time since Ludwig’s return in 2019 that Utah had eclipsed the 50-point mark.

Ludwig was at the helm in 2022 to see the Utah offensive production continue to rise with the Utes winning their second-straight Pac-12 Championship with another Rose Bowl appearance.

The Utes led the Pac-12 and ranked second in the FBS in first downs offense, producing 365 first downs and 26.1 per game.
Utah also led the league in time of possession (33:40), ranking sixth in the country as well.
Utah averaged 38.6 points per game in 2022, ranking 11^th in the FBS, scoring 30+ points in 10 of its 14 games.
Out of Utah’s 80 scoring drives, the Utes had 36 touchdowns on drives that lasted 70 yards or longer.
Utah’s rushing offense finished the year ranked 11^th in the FBS and second in the Pac-12, averaging 217.6 yards per game.
The Utes’ 38 rushing scores set the program record for single-game rushing touchdowns, also ranking fifth in the FBS in 2022.
He also saw the offensive line hold opponents to just 1.07 sacks per game, which ranked 16^th nationally.

He wrapped up his third year of his second stint in 2021, leading an offensive unit that went 8-1 in conference play with a Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl appearance under their belt.

Utah led the Pac-12 in scoring offense (37.2), touchdowns scored (45), total offense (454.89), rushing offense (240.78) and passing efficiency (145.7) in league games.
The Utes ranked No. 7 in the FBS in first downs offense (340), 13^th in rushing offense (216.8) and 14^th in the FBS in scoring offense (36.1).
Utah scored 24 of its 37 rushing touchdowns in the final seven games of the season, recording a league best 34 rushing scores in Pac-12 play.
The Utes scored 30-or-more points in 11 of its 14 games in 2021, the most in school history, including 35+ points in eight of its last nine.
Of Utah’s 61 offensive touchdowns in 2021, 32 came on drives of 70 yards or longer.
Utah produced 45 points, 36 first downs and 567 yards on its game opening drives in 2021.
He saw starting quarterback Cameron Rising finish the year as the highest-rated Pac-12 quarterback in ESPN’s QBR Rating (84.2), ranking sixth overall after finishing the season ranked No. 3 in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency (145.74), passing yards per game (214.1), and was second in passing yards per completion (12.76).
Running back Tavion Thomas ranked third in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 in total rushing touchdowns (21), setting the single-season record at Utah.

The 2020 season was a challenge for teams all over the country, battling cancellations, shortened rosters and the pandemic. Along with the off the field hardships the team faced, it was also the first season in years that the Utes offense would have to replace both their starting quarterback and running back after Zack Moss and Tyler Huntley headed to the NFL. Ludwig took the challenges in stride through, with the Utes finding a solid rhythm in the final three games of the season.

Utah averaged 5.1 yards per rush in 2020, which ranked third in the Pac-12 and 24^th in the FBS.
The Utes allowed just 1.4 sacks per game, which tied for third in the league and 22^nd in the FBS.
Utah produced a season-high 528 yards of offense in the season finale against Washington State (223 rushing, 305 passing).
The 21-point deficit Utah overcame against the Cougars in the second half was the third largest in school history.

The return of Ludwig to Utah in 2019 sparked an offensive explosion that saw the Utes lead the Pac-12 in rushing yards (201.4), passing efficiency (174.05), completion percentage (72.6%) and third-down conversion rate (46.3%), en route to a second consecutive Pac-12 South title.

The Utes ranked second in the FBS and broke the Pac-12 record for completion percentage, while ranking eighth in passing efficiency.
Utah in 2019 topped the 500-yard mark for total offense five times, their most since 2005, also under Ludwig, and scored 30 or more points 10 times.
He saw senior quarterback Tyler Huntley set Pac-12 records in completion percentage (73.1%) and passing yards per attempt (10.3).
Moss became Utah’s all-time leading rusher in 2019, also breaking five other career records that season.

In his time at Utah, Ludwig has coached 47 all-conference selections, including 16 first-teamers and the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in Moss in 2019.

In 2023, a trio of offensive linemen, Sataoa Laumea (second-team), Michael Mokofisi (honorable mention) and Keaton Bills (honorable mention) earned All-Pac-12.
In 2022, Utah landed two offensive linemen on the first-team in Braeden Daniels and Sataoa Laumea with tight end Dalton Kincaid also getting a first-team nod.
In 2021, Rising, Thomas and offensive lineman Nick Ford earned first-team All-Pac-12, tying for the most offensive first-team selections for the Utes since joining the league in 2011.
After the 2020 season, Ford earned first-team all-conference honors with running back Ty Jordan being named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.
In 2019, Huntley earned Pac-12 Co-Offensive Player of the Year by AP and All-Pac-12 first-team by the coaches, also earning All-America third-team by Pro Football Focus. He was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Manning Awards.
Also in 2019, Ludwig saw Moss earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year along with AP (3^rd team), Pro Football Focus (1^st Team), CBS Sports (2^nd Team) and FWAA (2^nd Team) All-American. Offensive lineman Darrin Paulo also earned first-team All-Pac-12 in 2019.

A 37-year veteran of college coaching (including one year as a Utah graduate assistant), the Ogden, Utah, native has coached some prolific offenses, including during his first stint with the Utes.

In 2008, Ludwig was a finalist for FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year after Utah led the Mountain West and ranked 15th nationally in scoring, averaging 36.9 points per game.
In 2005, the Utes led the MWC in total offense (473.0 yards per game) and pass efficiency offense, with national rankings of 12th and 10th, respectively. In 2005 and 2006, Utah finished second in the league in passing offense and finished 12th in the nation in 2005.
The 2007 Utes ranked second in the league in rushing offense.

Ludwig helped rewrite the Wisconsin record book in his two seasons with the Badgers, posting a 20-7 record from 2013-14 and making consecutive Jan. 1 bowl appearances. The 2013 Badgers averaged a school-record 480.8 yards per game, while averaging the third-most points in school history (34.8). The 2014 squad nearly matched those totals, averaging 34.6 points and 468.9 total yards.

As the Fresno State offensive coordinator, he was a 2001 Broyles Award finalist (awarded to the nation’s top collegiate assistant coach) when the Bulldogs averaged 40.0 points and nearly 500 yards per game—ranking fourth in the nation in both categories. Fresno State was the first school in NCAA history to feature a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher in a single season.

Ludwig has coached a number of award-winning players, among them Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, the 2008 MWC Most Valuable Offensive Player and 2009 Sugar Bowl MVP, in addition to Huntley in 2019 and Jordan in 2020. He has coached two Heisman finalists—Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon in 2014 and Fresno State quarterback David Carr in 2001. Gordon rushed for 2,587 yards in 2014, establishing the second-highest single-season rushing total in NCAA FBS history. Carr was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, as well as the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Sammy Baugh award winner after leading the nation in passing yards (4,839) and touchdowns (46) in the 2001 season.

Before his return to Utah, Ludwig’s protégé, Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur, became the school’s all-time passing leader in 2018, throwing for 8,865 yards and 64 touchdowns in his career.

He coached a pair of 1,000-yard rushers at Wisconsin in 2013 in Gordon (1,609) and James White (1,444), and in 2018 at Vanderbilt guided Ke’Shawn Vaughn to a 1,244-yard season. Ralph Webb finished his Vandy career in 2017 as the school’s all-time career leader in rushing yards (4,173) and rushing touchdowns (32).

Ludwig’s previous coaching experience came at Portland State, Idaho State, Augustana (S.D.), Boise State and Cal Poly-SLO. His son, Joe, joined the Utah football program as a tight end and fullback in January 2020 before graduating from Utah in 2021, transferring from Iowa where he spent three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Playing Career
Ludwig played wide receiver at Snow College from 1982-83, then transferred to Portland State, where he lettered in 1985-86.

Coaching Experience

2019-	Utah
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
2015-18	Vanderbilt
2018	Offensive Coordinator
	Running Backs
	Tight Ends
2016-17	Offensive Coordinator
	Tight Ends
2015	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
2013-14	Wisconsin
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
2011-12	San Diego State
	Offensive Coordinator
	Tight Ends
2009-10	California
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
2005-08	Utah
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
2002-04	Oregon
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
1998-01	Fresno State
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
1997	Cal Poly-SLO
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
1995-96	Boise State
	Quarterbacks
1993-94	Augustana (S.D.)
	Offensive Coordinator
	Quarterbacks
	Receivers
1992	Utah
	Defensive Graduate Assistant
1989-91	Idaho State
	Quarterbacks, Receivers
1987-88	Portland State
	Receivers

Bowl Games

2023	Las Vegas Bowl
2022	Rose Bowl
2021	Rose Bowl
2019	Alamo Bowl
2018	Texas Bowl
2016	Independence Bowl
2014 (2015)	Outback Bowl
2013 (2014)	Capital One Bowl
2012	Poinsettia Bowl
2011	New Orleans Bowl
2009	Poinsettia Bowl
2008 (2009)	Sugar Bowl
2007	Poinsettia Bowl
2006	Armed Forces Bowl
2005	Emerald Bowl
2003	Sun Bowl
2002	Seattle Bowl
2001	Silicon Valley Bowl
2000	Silicon Valley Bowl
1999	Las Vegas Bowl
1992	Copper Bowl

Education
Portland State, 1988
Bachelor’s in exercise and sport science

Personal Data
Hometown: Ogden, Utah
Family: Wife Jill, son Joe and daughter Delaney.