Pacific Lutheran University Men's Football

The Pacific Lutheran University athletic department tabbed Brant McAdams as Head Coach of the Lute football team on Feb. 20, 2018, becoming just the 10th head coach in the program's storied history.  McAdams' time in Luteville has seen the program reemerge as a regional power, boasting 58 All-Northwest Conference selections since 2018. McAdam's 2024 squad compiled a 7-3 record and finished third in the Northwest Conference standings, PLU's best season since the 2014 campaign. 14 total Lutes ended the season with All-Conference honors, including Sam Morasch and Nico Golla both securing D3football.com All-Region honors. PLU's success included a suffocating defense that ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense and ninth nationally in team sacks.  McAdam's guided the Lutes to a 6-4 record in 2022, finishing runner-up in the Northwest Conference with a 5-2 record in league play. It was PLU's best record since the 2014 season and the squad's best finish in conference play since 2013. The Lutes' success came in a large part from an elite defense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing defense, 29th in total defense and 34th in red zone defense. PLU ended the season with 13 All-Northwest Conference selections with defensive standouts Kord Tuttle and Kalen Davis-White earning All-Region honors from D3football.com.    McAdam's first season at the helm saw the Lutes defeat eventual Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in the home opener at Sparks Stadium. McAdam's squad ended the year with four All-Northwest Conference honorees. In 2019, McAdam's had seven student-athletes land All-NWC honors, including running back Cody Brown securing First Team accolades. The Lutes had eight players earn All-NWC honors in 2021 with two Lutes earning D3football.com Team of the Week accolades. PLU recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1991 and finished the year ranked 15th in Division III in time of possession and 23rd in turnover margin.    McAdams previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Division III Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, coaching at his alma mater for the past five seasons. Under his direction, the Tigers had an elite defense, ranking second in the nation in red zone defense and third in the nation in rushing defense in 2015. During his stint as special teams coordinator, the team boasted the seventh-best kick return unit during the 2014 campaign. No stranger to the Pacific Northwest, McAdams served as the defensive coordinator for three seasons at cross-town rival University of Puget Sound prior to his return to Trinity. McAdams got his coaching start at the University of Redlands, serving as the defensive line coach for two seasons before spending two years at Trinity as the defensive line and the linebackers coach before making the shift to UPS. McAdams was a standout defensive end for the Tigers from 2002-05, serving as team captain his senior year. He was named All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference during the 2005 campaign and finished his decorated career with four SCAC Championships, four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, while posting a 40-7 overall record as a Tiger.

Ricky Daley joined the PLU football staff in the spring of 2018 as the wide receivers coach. Daley serves as the Assistant Principal at Lochburn Middle School in Lakewood, Wash. as well. Daley comes to PLU after spending the previous four years as the head coach at nearby Mount Tahoma High School. While with the Thunderbirds, Daley directed the coaching staff and student-athletes of the varsity, junior varsity, and c teams. While at Mount Tahoma, Daley landed four players on the All-League Team for three straight seasons.  Prior to Mount Tahoma, Daley spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Northwest Conference rival University of Puget Sound. While with the Loggers, Daley was responsible for working with various position groups, including wide receivers, defensive backs, running backs, and tight ends, and was the special teams coordinator. Daley also had stints as an assistant at Waianae High School and Roosevelt High School in Hawaii. A standout wide receiver, Daley was an All-State honoree before playing two seasons a Boise State University. His time on the team included a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division I-AA Championships. Daley transferred to the University of Hawaii to finish out his eligibility and was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference academic performer. Daley continued his playing career in the professional ranks with stints in indoor football with the Hawaii Hammerheads, Yakima Shockwave, and the Hawaiian Islanders.  Daley holds a degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii and a master's in education from Antioch University in Seattle while also holding special education and language arts endorsements from Pacific Lutheran. 

Graydon Kulick joined the PLU coaching staff in the spring of 2025 as the Lutes' quarterbacks coach, passing game coordinator, and camp coordinator.  Kulick will be the Lutes' quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator while also serving as the program's camp coordinator. Kulick comes to Luteville after two seasons as the quarterbacks coach at NCAA Division III powerhouse Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. While with the Johnnies, Kulick helped the program compile a 19-3 record over those two seasons, winning the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title last fall and advancing to the third round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.    "We're thrilled to welcome Graydon to the PLU Football family. His passion for the game, dedication to player development, and alignment with our program's values make him the perfect addition to our staff," said McAdams.   "Graydon brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence that will elevate our program both on and off the field. His humility, competence, competitiveness, and authenticity are going to make an immediate and lasting impact on our student-athletes and the continued success of our program."   Under his watch, the 2024 Johnnies led the nation in passing yards (4,563), completion percentage (76.3), and passing touchdowns (51) while mentoring quarterback Aaron Syverson who was named a Gagliardi Trophy Finalist (the D3 Heisman Trophy) and was the Walter Camp NCAA DIII Player of the Year. Prior to Saint John's, Kulick was an offensive assistant at Division I Northwestern University for the 2022 season. His time included working with NFL fifth round draft pick Lou Ayeni.    Kulick's coaching resume also includes stints as the offensive quality control coach at Division I FCS Gardner-Webb University (N.C.) and at the high school level working at the Breck School (Minn.).  Kulick was a quarterback in college, playing at Division I FBS Western Kentucky University and Division I FCS Davidson College. He earned his bachelor's degree in 2021 at Saint John's.