Bulldog Receivers Get Comfortable Under Gonzales
There probably hasn’t been a group of Bulldog football players that has been through more turnover and change than the Mississippi State receiving corps.
While Dan Mullen has seen moderate turnover in his staff during his time in Starkville, no position group has had to accept change like the Bulldogs receivers – until now.
Coming into last year, this group was on it’s third position coach in three seasons. After the 2011 season, then position coach Angelo Mirando stepped down due to NCAA probs. Then, Tim Brewster bolted for Florida State after the 2012 season.
Dan Mullen then did what he has done since he has been in Starkville and that’s go out and hire another quality football coach.
Billy Gonzales will now be in his second year with the Bulldogs as Passing Game/Wide Receivers coach, adding Co-Offensive Coordinator to his job title this fall. Make no mistake about it either, this is a huge deal.
Be it in business, sports or life, continuity and relationship building, along with being comfortable with the people you are around is key.
Gonzales has now had the luxury of a full season and a spring with his group and looks to make this unit, one of the best in the SEC.
The 2012 Bulldogs not only lost Tim Brewster after the season but, they lost three key seniors and a tight end in Chad Bumphis, Chris Smith, Arceto Clark and Marcus Green.
The 2012 Bulldogs hauled in 249 receptions for 3,091 yards and 28 touchdowns, so you knew 2013 would be a challenge.
In comes Gonzales and heading into the 2013 season, the big question mark was who would step up at receiver for the Bulldogs.
After a full year that saw three different quarterbacks play for the Bulldogs and breaking in new faces – what you saw was a great year from Gonzales and his group.
The 2013 Bulldogs hauled in 253 passes for 3,178 yards and 18 touchdowns. While the touchdown production was off from the previous year, the receptions increased, as did the yards.
That can be attributed to Gonzales’s ability to come in quickly, work with the other members of his staff and get his players to buy in to what he can teach them.
Gonzales is known for his ability to coach receivers and it showed last year in the development of Jameon Lewis, Robert Johnson, De’Runnya Wilson and others.
During his time at Florida with Dan Mullen, Gonzales saw seven players drafted under his command, with his crown jewel being a first-round selection of Percy Harvin in 2009. In addition, Gonzales produced seven All-SEC wide receivers in his five seasons.
After seeing mass turnover at the receiver’s coach position, the Bulldog wideouts can now breath a sigh of relief. They know who will be guiding them in 2014 and who they can depend on.
Don’t be shocked if the Bulldogs have a few all-conference receivers by the year’s end. Gonzales is just that good of a coach and I can promise you the Bulldogs are glad he’s back for another year.
Coaching Experience
2014-present: Mississippi State (Co-Offensive Coordinator/Passing Game/Wide Receivers)
2013: Mississippi State (Wide Receivers)
2012: Illinois (Wide Receivers / Co-Offensive Coordinator)
2010-11: LSU (Passing Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers)
2005-09: Florida (Wide Receivers)
2003-04: Utah (Wide Receivers/Special Teams Coordinator)
2001-02: Bowling Green (Wide Receivers
1995-2001: Kent State (Wide Receivers; Running Backs)
1994: MacMurray (Wide Receivers)
Bowl Games as a Coach
2013: Liberty
2012: BCS National Championship
2011: Cotton
2010: Capital One
2009: BCS National Championship Game
2008: Capital One
2007: BCS National Championship Game
2006: Outback
2005: Fiesta
2003: Liberty
Personal Information
Birthdate: July 18, 1971
Hometown: Thornton, Colo.
Education: 1994 – Bachelor’s from Colorado State
Wife: Julie
Children: Cole and Caylynn