Robb Akey
 Akey in January 2010 | |
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
July 24, 1966 Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Alma mater | Weber State College |
| Playing career | |
| 1984–1987 | Weber State |
| Position(s) |
Defensive lineman, linebacker, tight end |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1988–1994 | Weber State (DL/ST) |
| 1995 | Northern Arizona (ST) |
| 1996–1998 | Northern Arizona (DC) |
| 1999–2002 | Washington State (DL) |
| 2003–2006 | Washington State (DC) |
| 2007–2012 | Idaho |
| 2014 | Minnesota Vikings (ADL) |
| 2015–present | Washington Redskins (DL) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 20–50 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
Robb Alan Akey (born July 24, 1966) is an American football coach, currently the defensive line coach for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.[1]
Akey was a college football coach for 25 seasons, the last six as head coach for the Idaho Vandals of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Akey became Idaho's fourth head coach in 37 months when he was hired on December 20, 2006, by athletic director Rob Spear. He led the Vandals to victory in their first bowl game in more than a decade, but after a 1–7 start in 2012, Akey's contract was terminated on October 21.[2] He achieved a 20–50 (.286) record while head coach at Idaho.
Early years
Akey grew up in Colorado Springs, and was a 1984 graduate of Wasson High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. Akey played on the defensive line for head coach Mike Price at Weber State in Ogden, Utah, in the mid-1980s, where he was an all-conference (Big Sky) selection at defensive end in his senior season. He also earned honorable mention honors on the All-American team (Division I-AA), and was the Wildcats' career sack leader. During his college career he also played at linebacker and on the offense at tight end. The Wildcats were 10–3 in his senior season of 1987, advancing to the I-AA quarterfinals.
Coaching career
Akey was a college assistant coach for 19 seasons, the last eight at neighboring Washington State, eight miles (13 km) to the west on the Palouse. He was hired as a defensive line coach under WSU head coach Mike Price following the 1998 season, and added the defensive coordinator duties in 2003 under new head Bill Doba, who was the defensive coordinator for Price.
Before moving to Pullman for the 1999 season, Akey was an assistant coach for 11 seasons in the Big Sky Conference in Division I-AA. He was at Northern Arizona in Flagstaff for four seasons (1995–98), after seven at his alma mater, Weber State (1988–94).
Akey was the first Idaho head coach since Jerry Davitch (1978–81) without previous ties to the Vandals, either as a former player or assistant coach.[3] But Akey had familiarity with the program, as he lived eight miles from the Moscow campus for eight seasons, with Idaho as an opponent in each of those seasons. In addition, Akey either played or coached against the Vandals for a dozen seasons (1984–95), while a player and assistant coach in the Big Sky.
Akey succeeded Dennis Erickson, who left his second stint at Idaho after just ten months for Arizona State of the Pac-10. Erickson was preceded by Nick Holt, who voluntarily departed after only two seasons, compiling nine losses in each. Tom Cable was fired in late 2003, after four disappointing seasons (11–35, .239).
Akey's tenure as Vandals head coach ended in 2012 on October 21, when Idaho fired him following a 70–28 loss to Louisiana Tech, moving the team's overall record to 1–7 for the season.[4]
The WSU game
When hired as the Vandals' new head coach, Akey stated that he was opposed to holding the Battle of the Palouse rivalry game with Washington State every year. He said he preferred it as a "once-in-a-while thing," to minimize possible "off-field" problems between rival programs only eight miles apart.[5] The annual game was revived in 1998 and played for ten consecutive years; it was last played in Akey's first season of 2007 and was renewed for a game in 2013.[6]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Vandals (Western Athletic Conference) (2007–present) | |||||||||
| 2007 | Idaho | 1–11 | 0–8 | 9th | |||||
| 2008 | Idaho | 2–10 | 1–7 | 9th | |||||
| 2009 | Idaho | 8–5 | 4–4 | 4th | W Humanitarian | ||||
| 2010 | Idaho | 6–7 | 3–5 | 6th | |||||
| 2011 | Idaho | 2–10 | 1–6 | 8th | |||||
| 2012 | Idaho | 1–7 | 1–2 | ||||||
| Idaho: | 20–50 | 10–32 | |||||||
| Total: | 20–50 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title | |||||||||
| #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll. | |||||||||
References
- ↑ "Robb Akey Named Redskins' Defensive Line Coach". Redskins.com. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ↑ Murphy, Brian (October 21, 2012). "Vandals fire Akey after 1–7 start". Idaho Statesman. Boise. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ↑ Meehan, Jim (December 21, 2006). "Akey a change of pace". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. C1. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
- ↑ Coleman, Scott (October 21, 2012). "Robb Akey 'relieved of his duties', Jason Gesser interim coach". SB Nation. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ↑ The Seattle Times – Akey talks of commitment – 21-Dec-2006
- ↑ "Cougars add Idaho to 2013 football schedule". Washington State University Athletics. May 1, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
External links
- Washington Redskins: Robb Akey
- Minnesota Vikings: Robb Akey
- Go Vandals.com – Robb Akey, head football coach