Jon OsterhoutTitle: Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator Experience: 8th Year Alma Mater: Sacramento State, '04 Email:osterhoutj@csus.edu Bio: Former Sacramento State All-American Jon Osterhout continues as the team’s defensive line coach. Osterhout, who is in his second tenure on the Hornet coaching staff, returned to the program in March 2008. Osterhout spent the previous two years as a graduate assistant at Nebraska after coaching the Hornets for six seasons. Along with coaching the defensive line, Osterhout took over as the team’s recruiting coordinator in the spring of 2009. This past spring, Sacramento State’s recruiting class was ranked the second best in the Football Championship Subdivision by Rivals.com.
In 2008, Osterhout’s impact on the line was directly felt as the team limited the opposition to just 97.2 yards per game. That total was the lowest in the Big Sky, the best in the school’s DIv. I-AA/FCS era, and the second best all-time in Hornet history. The defensive line also proved to be strong against the pass, tallying 31 sacks on the season. Individually, sophomore Christian Clark and freshman Zack Nash each earned honorable mention all-Big Sky honors.
While at Nebraska, Osterhout worked extensively with the defensive line. In 2007, he assisted as the Huskers broke in four new starters on the defensive front. In his first year at NU, Osterhout helped develop a unit that included 2006 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Adam Carriker, who was selected as the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, and Jay Moore, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round.
Osterhout spent four of his six years on the Hornet coaching staff as the team’s defensive line coach. He also served as camp director for two years and handled all the preparation for the team’s successful high school camps. He began coaching the defensive line in 2002 and under his leadership, Sacramento State allowed nearly 90 fewer rushing yards per game and had 12 more quarterback sacks. That same season, defensive linemen Eric Broden, Bilal Watkins and Brad Osterhout (his brother) each were named honorable mention all-Big Sky.
Two years later, the defense set the school’s FCS/Div. I-AA era record with 33 sacks during the season. Nearly one third of that total came from defensive end Jacob Houston who earned second team all-Big Sky honors. Osterhout continued the unit’s progress the following year and saw two of his players (Mike Brannon and Walter Brock) earn honorable mention all-Big Sky honors.
As a player, Osterhout starred for the Hornets from 1995-99. During that span, he played nearly every position on the offensive line and was integral in helping Charles Roberts shatter numerous school, Big Sky and national records. Following his senior season, Osterhout was a first-team All-America and signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins.
Osterhout is regarded as one of the toughest players ever to wear a Hornet uniform as he started on the offensive line in each of his four active seasons. He was also a two-time all-Big Sky Conference selection and was the team’s captain, most valuable player and most inspirational players as a senior. He was one of nine players inducted to the school’s football hall of fame in May 2008.
A native of Roseville, Calif., Osterhout was a football and baseball star at Oakmont High School. In football, he was a first team all-Capital Athletic League selection and a second team all-Metro pick by the Sacramento Bee as a senior.
After retiring from professional football, Osterhout returned to Sacramento State and coached the Hornet tight ends during the 2000 season.
Osterhout graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in communication studies. He married former Hornet volleyball player Alison Gahr in the summer of 2005 and the couple welcomed their first son, Hudson, in April of 2008.
Recruiting Area: All high schools and junior colleges from Bakersfield to Fresno.
Jon Osterhout
