Gaskamp to Join Ram Staff

Angelo State head football coach Dale Carr has announced the addition of Russell Gaskamp to his coaching staff, effective Jan. 5, 2009. Gaskamp will serve as offensive line coach for the Rams.

No stranger to the Lone Star Conference, Gaskamp comes to ASU after spending the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Southwestern Oklahoma in Weatherford, Okla. While with the Bulldogs, Gaskamp led an offensive unit that improved each season and ranked sixth in the LSC in both total offense and passing offense and seventh in rushing offense in 2008. Prior to his arrival at SWOSU, the Bulldogs ranked 13th in the conference in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense, and 10th in passing offense.

“When we played SWOSU this season I was impressed with the play of their offensive line,” said Carr. “They were exceptionally young but they were very well coached and they worked well together. It was apparent that Russell had recruited solid players from the high schools and was doing a nice job of developing them.”

Prior to his three seasons at SWOSU, Gaskamp served as the offensive line coach at Texas A&M-Commerce. In his one season with the Lions, he helped A&M-C improve from the 12th-ranked rushing team in the LSC to the third-best ground squad with more than a 140 yard-per-game improvement.

“I’m extremely excited about coming back to the state of Texas,” Gaskamp said. “The move will put me and my wife closer to our families. I’m also excited about the opportunity to continue to coach in the Lone Star Conference, one of the most competitive leagues in NCAA Division II. San Angelo is a beautiful city and will be a wonderful place to recruit players and become part of what can be outstanding football team.”

A native of Weatherford, Okla., Gaskamp is a 1999 graduate of Texas where he was a second team All-Big 12 selection for the Longhorns at center. He started all 13 games for Texas as a senior, blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. He was later voted to the Longhorn All-Decade Team, being part of three conference championship teams and a participant in the Sun, Sugar, Fiesta and Cotton Bowls during his career. Gaskamp earned his master’s degree from Sam Houston State in 2005.

As a prep, Gaskamp was part of back-to-back state championship teams at Weatherford High School in 1991 and 1992. The USA Today All-American became the first Oklahoma high school product to sign with the Longhorns in 17 years.

Russell and his wife, Justine, have plans to move San Angelo in the coming months.