New offensive coordinator Gary Goff (pictured) and the rest of the West Virginia Wesleyan football coaching staff have announced their plans to host the first annual Air Raid Quarterback and Wide Receiver Camp on June 17-19. The camp, which will be held on Wesleyan’s campus, will feature guest coach Mike Leach. Leach, the former head coach at Texas Tech University, helped popularize the Air Raid offense during his ten years at the helm of the Raid Raider football program.
During his time at Texas Tech, Leach compiled an overall record of 84-43. Leach’s teams were known for its high scoring offenses based on the Air Raid principles. In 2008, Leach guided Texas Tech to a school best 11-1 record and their first victory over a number one ranked team, beating the Texas Longhorns 39-33.
“Distributing the ball to all the different skill players is our biggest emphasis,” Leach said. “We are not a team that hands it to one guy and throws it to two. We want all five skill positions to touch the ball.”
The Air Raid offense found its beginnings in the late 1980’s and over the past 20 years has produced eight All-American quarterbacks, a Heisman Trophy finalist, a Walter Peyton Award finalist, three Harlon Hill Trophy winners, a Biletnikoff Award finalist, 12 All-American wide receivers and the first pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. In addition to Leach, former University of Kentucky and New Mexico State head coach Hal Mumme has been a major proponent of the Air Raid attack.
Mumme says that “the Air Raid Camps are designed to enhance a player’s fundamentals in the game of football.” The Wesleyan Air Raid Camp will focus strictly on the fundamentals of the quarterback and wide receiver positions and will be geared toward the Air Raid offense.
The three-day camp will begin with a registration and check-in period at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 17th and will conclude at noon on Saturday, June 19th. Campers have the option to attend as an overnight camper or a day camper. The fee for overnight campers is $200 which includes instruction, dorm accommodations, meals and a camp t-shirt. For day campers, the cost is $120 which includes instruction, lunch and a camp t-shirt.
To pre-register, participants must fill out the camp application with at least a $100 deposit. Any remaining balance must be paid in cash upon arrival. Campers will also be allowed to register through the beginning of camp, but must pay with cash. It is advised for campers to bring a football; tennis shoes and cleats; towels, bed linens and a pillow; shorts, t-shirts and socks; a swimsuit and a fan. In addition, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase during breaks.
“It is a privilege to have Coach Leach come and help get this camp started,” Goff said. “This camp will be geared strictly toward the fundamentals of quarterback and wide receiver play in addition to drills used in the Air Raid offense.”
Goff is entering his first year as the offensive coordinator on head coach Dennis Creehan’s staff. He spent the past year as a passing coordinator and wide receivers coach at Princeton University. Prior to that, Goff spent four seasons as the wide receivers coach and one year as the offensive coordinator at New Mexico State under Mumme. During that time, he coached All-American wide receiver Chris Williams and other Aggie greats such as Paul Dombrowski and A.J. Harris.