Topic: Brad Childress

Brad Childress (born June 27, 1956 in Aurora, Illinois, U.S.) is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois. Childress has worked for over thirty years as a coach for various college programs and NFL franchises.

Childress is 1978 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, where he preceded current New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Childress attended Eastern Illinois after playing quarterback and wide receiver at the University of Illinois. He was one of three Eastern Illinois University alums who are head coaches in the NFL, along with Sean Payton and Mike Shanahan. Prior to his hiring by the Vikings, Childress had worked exclusively as an offensive coach, working his way up through the ranks in various college and NFL organizations, first as a position coach, culminating with his offensive coordinator position with the Eagles. Since 1978, Childress has worked for four college organizations and three NFL teams:

During the last four seasons of his tenure on the University of Illinois' coaching staff, the Illini posted four consecutive winning seasons ('81-'84), including a Big Ten championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl in 1983. Childress followed stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Northern Arizona, and the University of Utah with a very successful run at the University of Wisconsin. Childress was the offensive coordinator under former Badger head coach Barry Alvarez, and directed offenses that helped the Badgers to five bowl game appearances from 1993–1998, including two Rose Bowls as Big Ten co-champions following the 1993 and 1998 seasons. He coached running back Ron Dayne for three seasons. Dayne went on to win the 1999 Heisman Trophy and finished his career as the all-time leading rusher in the Football Bowl Subdivision.