Aaron Pflugrad, OC - Northern Arizona

Inside the Headset with the AFCA

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Northern Arizona University’s, Aaron Pflugrad. Coach Pflugrad takes us through his coaching philosophy, talks about quarterback recruiting, and shares the impact his father had on his coaching journey.

Over the past eight years, Aaron Pflugrad has made himself quite the career at Northern Arizona coaching the Lumberjacks. Coach Pflugrad is the Offensive Coordinator and the quarterback coach at North Arizona and has been for the past five years. During his first three seasons with the Lumberjacks Coach Pflugrad was the wide receivers coach. Prior to starting his career in Northern Arizona Coach Pflugrad was a GA at Arizona State and also played at the collegiate and professional levels.

Coach Pflugrad played the first two years of his college career at the University of Oregon and his final two at Arizona State where he collected a slew of prestigious awards. Following his college career Coach Pflugrad signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles and played in the UFL with the Omaha Nighthawks in 2012.

[0:24] Start of Interview

[1:00] Growing up as a college coach’s kid

[3:05] When did you decide you wanted to be a college football coach?

[4:38] Coaching with your dad, “what has that experience been like?”

[6:19] Managing a professional relationship with a family dynamic in the coaches room

[7:34] What coach do you look to when you need help with your position group? + Quarterback Coaching Strategy

[10:26] Putting Your Offense Together

[12:26] Recruiting at the FCS Level

[15:01] What are you looking for when reviewing a quarterbacks film and when you meet them face-to-face?

[17:41] What will this generation of quarterbacks look like?

[19:51] QBs, does height matter?

[21:07] How do you keep your offense motivated from week to week?

[23:07] Social Media