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Tom Brattan was named offensive line coach for centers and guards at Stanford University on February 16, 1999. He had previously coached the offensive line at Northwestern University since 1992 and was the team's assistant head coach in 1997 and '98.
Brattan has been coaching on the high school and collegiate level since 1972. He has been a college coach for 17 years and a high school coach for nine seasons. Prior to Northwestern, Brattan spent nine years at the College of William & Mary (1983-91).
Brattan was part of the Northwestern program that reached heights never before known in Evanston. In 1992, the Wildcats recorded the most Big Ten wins for a Northwestern team in 20 years. In 1995, the Wildcats made national news by winning the Big Ten championship and advancing to the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1949.
Northwestern lost to USC in the Rose Bowl 41-32, but still finished the season with a 10-2 record and a #7 national ranking. Brattan's offensive line was a major factor in Northwestern's championship run as the Wildcats allowed just eight quarterback sacks all season while running back Darnell Autry set a new school rushing record and finished fifth nationally.
The following season, the Wildcats went 9-3, were co-Big Ten champions and lost to Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl. Northwestern finished ranked #16 nationally and set a school record for total offense.
Brattan spent nine years at the College of William & Mary prior to Northwestern. He was the team's offensive backfield coach in 1983, then became the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for the next eight seasons. During his tenure, William & Mary advanced to the NCAA Division 1-AA playoffs three times. The Tribe ranked ninth in 1986, 13th in 1989 and seventh in 1990. Brattan's offense was annually one of the best in the nation. His offensive unit ranked 16th in the nation in total offense in both 1985 and '86 before earning the top ranking among 1-AA schools in total offense in 1990. His offense ranked sixth nationally in '91.
Brattan's coaching career began in 1972 as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Delaware. From there, he coached on the high school level from 1973-82. He was an offensive line coach at Highland Springs High School in Virginia from 1973-75 before becoming a head coach at Thomas McKean High School in Delaware for the 1977 season.
He moved on to the head coaching position at Lloyd C. Bird High School in Virginia in 1978. From 1979-82, Brattan was the head coach at Highland Springs HS, where his team won three district championships during his four-year stint.
Brattan graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in history in 1972. He earned a master's degree in education from Delaware in 1977. He was a member of the Delaware football team, earning a letter in 1971 as a senior. He and his wife, Anne, have three children: Kristen, Kate and Megan.
Coaching Assignments
1972 Delaware Graduate Assistant
1973-75 Highland Springs HS (Virginia) Offensive Line
1977 McKean HS (Delaware) Head Coach
1978 Bird HS (Virginia) Head Coach
1979-82 Highland Springs HS (Virginia) Head Coach
1983-91 William & Mary Offensive Backfield ('83)
Off. Coord./Offensive Line ('84-91)
1992-98 Northwestern Offensive Line, Asst. Head Coach ('97-98)
1999 Stanford Offensive Line
Bowl Experience1996 Rose Bowl Northwestern 1997 Citrus Bowl NorthwesternProminent Players Coached
Michael Clemons, RB William & Mary Matt O'Dwyer, OG Northwestern Paul Janus, OL Northwestern Rob Johnson, OL Northwestern Justin Chabot, OL Northwestern Ryan Padgett, OL Northwestern Brian Kardos, OL NorthwesternThe Brattan File
Full Name
Thomas Hunt Brattan, III
Hometown
Newark, DE
High School
Newark
College
Delaware, 1972
Graduate Degree
Delaware, 1977
Wife
Anne
Children
Kristen, Kate, Megan
Playing Experience
C, Delaware, 1968-71