Player Bio: Tom Osborne

An accomplished coaching veteran, Tom Osborne enters his 24th season in the college coaching ranks, his sixth as assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and tight ends/H-backs coach at Arizona State. Success and the development of student-athletes -- both on and off the field -- have come to be the hallmarks of Osborne's distinguished career. It is a career that has helped his pupils reach their potential to the tune of 15 All-Americans, 13 first-team all-conference standouts, and 11 second-team all-league honorees. As has come to be expected, the 2005 season continued to produce many highlights for Osborne's units. Tight end Zach Miller, who was named a 2006 Playboy Preseason All-American, caught 38 passes for 476 yards despite missing significant time due to injury. In the last two seasons, Miller has caught more passes (94) than any other tight end in the country while his yardage (1,028) and number of touchdown receptions (11) are second-most for tight ends during that span. Since installing the two tight end offense two years ago, ASU's tight ends have combined for 145 receptions and 21 touchdowns. ASU's special teams units continued to excel under Osborne's guidance. In 2005 the Sun Devils were No. 8 in the nation in punt return average (14.96) and No. 10 in kickoff return average (24.58), the first time in school history that both units ranked in the nation's top 10 in the same season. It also marked the third time in five years that ASU finished in the Top 25 in the nation in kickoff return average and the second time in five years that it finished in the Top 10. Leading the way was Second-Team All-American Terry Richardson, who ended the season No. 7 in the nation in punt return average (15.3 yards) and No. 15 in kickoff return average (24.4 yards). Osborne's punt return unit cleared the way for a pair of touchdown returns by Richardson of 71 yards (vs. Arizona) and 84 yards (vs. USC). In 2004, Osborne saw a pair of his student-athletes - Miller and punter Chris MacDonald - earn first-team Freshman All-America honors. The 2004 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Miller shattered ASU's freshman receiving records with 56 receptions for 552 yards. Miller is not the first tight end to find success under Osborne. In 2002, Mike Pinkard, the team's Most Improved Offensive Player, more than tripled his career receiving total his senior year, catching 31 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns, the sixth-best single-season mark in school history. Osborne was named the 2003 Division 1A National Special Teams Coordinator of the year by American Football Coaches Monthly Magazine. He has coached seven Sun Devils who have earned All-Pac-10 honors while playing on special teams. The list includes Jason Shivers who was the Pac-10's (Second-Team) Special Teams Player of the Year in 2003. In addition, 11 players who Osborne has coached have set ASU single season or career records on special teams. In 2001, ASU finished ninth in the nation in kickoff returns (25.0 yards per return). Tom Pace was first in the Pac-10 and fourth in the nation and set a school record with a 31.6-yard average. During the past five years, ASU's punt return unit has blocked nine punts including one for a touchdown and two for safeties. Since Osborne's arrival, ASU has finished in the top 3 in the Pac-10 in kickoff coverage four times in five seasons, including No. 1 in the Pac-10 and No. 16 in the nation in 2004. Just as impressive has been ASU's punt coverage unit, which ranked in the top 27 in each of Osborne's first three years at ASU, including No. 16 in the nation in 2004. In four of Osborne's first five seasons in Tempe, he has had a punter earn All-Pac-10 or All-America honors. Chris MacDonald earned first-team Freshman All-America honors in 2004 after ranking No. 15 in the nation with a 43.1-yard average while Tim Parker was a two-time All-Pac-10 honoree (second team in 2002 and honorable mention in 2003). In addition, Nick Murphy was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection after averaging 41.1 yards per punt in 2001. Placekicker Jesse Ainsworth was named to the honorable-mention All-Pac-10 squad in 2004 after ranking second in the Pac-10 and 13th in the nation in field goals per game. Ainsworth's extra-point streak currently stands at 97 entering the 2006 season. In 2002, placekicker Mike Barth earned honorable mention all-league honors after ranking No. 9 in the country in field goals per game and tied for 25th in the nation in scoring. Prior to coming to ASU, Osborne spent six years at the University of Oregon, serving an integral role in the Ducks' success (six straight winning seasons and five bowl games) as their special teams coordinator, tight ends coach and recruiter. In 2000, Oregon finished 10-2 (Pac-10 Co-Champions) and No. 7 in the country, after defeating Texas in the Holiday Bowl. Osborne coached the top two all-time tight ends in Oregon school history (Josh Wilcox-103 receptions and Blake Spence-92). Over his six years, Oregon's tight ends averaged 51 catches for 718 yards and seven touchdowns per year, with Wilcox, Spence and Jed Weaver each earning All-America and All-Pac-10 recognition. In addition, Justin Peele was named honorable mention All-Pac-10 in 2000. The personable Osborne also transformed Oregon's special teams into arguably the best in the Pac-10, if not the country. The Duck special teams units accounted for 10 touchdowns and 22 blocked kicks during his tenure, while Oregon's kickoff coverage unit ranked either No. 1 or 2 in the Pac-10 in kickoff coverage in each of his six seasons. In 2000, Oregon finished first in the Pac-10 in kickoff coverage, kickoff returns and net punting. The punt coverage unit led the nation that year, allowing only 85 return yards all season. In 1999, Oregon led the league in kickoff coverage and kickoff returns, was second in net punting and third in punt returns. Under Osborne's supervision, Oregon's explosive kickoff return team was ranked in the nation's top 25 five out of six years (including No. 4 in 1999, No. 8 in 1997 and No. 14 in 2000). Oregon also finished in the top 25 in net punting four times (No. 5 in 1998 and No. 14 in 2000). Prior to joining Oregon's staff, Osborne coached running backs and tight ends while serving as recruiting coordinator at Boise State for two seasons (1993-94). Boise State played in the 1994 Division I-AA national championship game. Osborne coached tailback K.C. Adams who set the school record for all-purpose yards. Adams was a second-team All-American while finishing ranked seventh in the nation in 1994. Del Graven set the Boise State all-time record for receptions by a tight end in a single season in 1993 with 55 catches. During Osborne's seven years as the running backs coach at Portland State, the Vikings played in the NCAA Division II national playoffs five times, advancing to the national championship game twice (1987 and 1988). A 1983 graduate of Washington State, Osborne played wide receiver for the Cougars (1979-80) and served as a student coach (1981-82) and graduate assistant coach (1983-85).

THE OSBORNE FILE

Born: September of 1960 in Tacoma, Wash.

High School Education: Mark Morris High School, Longview, Wash., 1979

College Education: Washington State, 1983; Washington State, 1984

College Football: Washington State, 1979-80.

Coaching Career: Washington State, 1983-85; Portland State, 1986-92; Boise State, 1993-94; Oregon 1995-2000; Arizona State, 2001-present.

Recruiting Area: Southern California: Orange County, Inland Empire.

Family: Wife, Monica Osborne, son, Tyler (12) and daughter, Ashley (10).

NFL Players Coached

Tom Osborne High School: Mark Morris (Longview, Washington) Position: Assistant Head Coach Experience: Sixth Year at ASU Alma Mater: Washington State '84