| Shawn Kraft |
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COACHING: Cal hired a young coach with a superb offensive background when Shawn Kraft was offered an assistant coaching position to work with Golden Bear tight ends in mid-June.
Kraft brings with him a good amount of familiarity with the Cal offensive system, its personnel and the coaching staff as he has served as an administrative assistant to the Golden Bear offensive coaches since August of 1999.
Kraft began his coaching career on the prep level in the fall of 1995. He spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Bozeman High School in Montana, while also teaching at the school in 1996-97.
He then accepted an offer to serve as a graduate assistant at Nevada-Reno under head coach Jeff Tisdale. He coached tight ends both seasons with the Wolf Pack. While he was there, he worked with Darrin Higgins, who finished second in the nation in receiving yardage among tight ends in 1998 with 517 yards on 34 receptions.
It was there that Kraft began to hone his offensive philosophy, as Nevada led the nation in passing offense in 1997 and finished fourth in that same category the next season. The Wolf Pack also finished in the Top 5 nationally in total offense both years.
He moved to the Bay Area in the spring of 1999 to serve as offensive tackle and tight end coach at St. Mary's. Just six months later, he had the opportunity to move back into Division IA and he accepted an offer to become an administrative assistant for Cal's offensive staff.
PLAYER: A native of Cut Bank, Montana, Kraft was a standout quarterback at Cut Bank High School in the late 1980s. He played college football from 1990-94 at Montana State. He began his college career as a walk-on quarterback, earned a scholarship, and finished up at the running back position.
PERSONAL: Kraft, 29, was born August 18, 1971 . He earned a degree in history from Montana State along with a teaching credential in 1995, Kraft and his wife, Ami, live in San Ramon with daughter Carsyn (2).
Favorite Coaching Moment: Being hired at Cal this past summer.
Favorite Books: Success in a Choice by Rick Pitino and Leading with
the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski
Favorite Movie: Saving Private Ryan
Most Influential Coaches in Career: 1. Cliff Hysell, 2. Phil Davis,
3. Tom Holmoe
Favorite Off-field Activity or Hobby: Family, golf and fishing
