Player Bio: Tom Brattan

  Tom Brattan
Tom Brattan
Player Profile
Position:
Offensive Line Coach(Centers and Guards)
Year at Stanford:
First

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 Experience
1996 Rose Bowl   Northwestern
1997 Citrus Bowl Northwestern
Prominent 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    Northwestern
The 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