Mike Leach Adds Offensive Genius To WSU Staff

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State football head Coach Mike Leach announced Friday that David Yost has been hired as the Cougars’ inside receivers coach.

Yost brings a wealth of experience to the position, having spent the past 12 years with Head Coach Gary Pinkel at the University of Missouri. He began in 2001 as the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator, and added the duties of offensive coordinator in 2009. Since 2011 he also held the title of assistant head coach.

"“David is a tremendous offensive mind and will be a great addition to Cougar football,” said Coach Leach. “His offenses have always been well prepared, explosive, and he has a great ability to develop players.”"

While at Missouri Yost coached three of the top quarterbacks in school history, and are currently in the National Football League, in Brad Smith (Buffalo Bills), Chase Daniel (New Orleans Saints) and Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars). The trio earned 12 different all-conference honors between them, and Daniel emerged on the national stage in 2007 when he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, eventually finishing fourth in the voting. Smith became the first quarterback in NCAA FBS history to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 4,000 yards in a career. Gabbert followed Daniel and became an eventual first-round NFL Draft pick.

In 2011, Yost guided the Tigers offense to a Big 12 Conference rushing title and finished the season ranked ninth nationally after averaging 244.0 yards per game. Missouri was one of only two schools in the country to average at least 230 yards rushing and passing on the year.

Yost assumed the added role of offensive coordinator prior to the 2009 and oversaw a Tiger offense that ranked No. 14 in the nation in passing at 285.4 yards per game. The Tigers followed that season with a 10-win campaign in 2010, finishing No. 35 nationally in yards per game (409.62).

Yost was instrumental in the development of MU’s renowned spread attack. The Tigers broke numerous offensive school records in 2008, putting together only the third 10-win season in school history. The Tigers established records for points (591), points per game (42.2) and passing yards (4,625).

Yost is considered one of the top quarterback coaches in the nation, based on his work in helping develop Gabbert, Daniel, and his predecessor Smith. Daniel had an amazing three-year run as a starter come to a close in 2008, and he left holding virtually every major passing and total offense record on the books. The 22 wins amassed over the 2007 and 2008 seasons ranked third nationally during that stretch, trailing only Oklahoma and USC.

During the early stages of Yost’s tenure, he helped Smith to become the first player in NCAA D-IA history to reach the 2,000/1,000 mark twice in a career, accomplishing the feat in 2002 and 2005.

From 1997 to 2000, Yost held the same responsibilities for Pinkel at Toledo. He spent four seasons coaching two of the most productive quarterbacks in Toledo history in Tavares Bolden and Chris Wallace. Yost came to Toledo from Tiffin University, where he coordinated the offense along with coaching quarterbacks and receivers in 1995. During the 1994 season, he coached wide receivers.

A native of Carrollton, Ohio, Yost spent time coaching his former high school team after graduating from Kent State University. A graduate of Kent State, Yost earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education in 1992.

Yost and his wife, Carrie have three children; daughter, Kennedy and sons, Keaton and Kamden.