With one succinct message, Chris Creighton sets the tone for the Drake football program.

"My vision for the program has always been to make playing football at Drake one of the most incredible experiences of our players' lives."  --Chris Creighton, Head Coach

That experience transcends the football field and the classroom, extending to every aspect of his student-athletes' lives. Creighton in his career has taken his teams on three overseas trips, including Drake's May 2011 trip to Tanzania, and ventures to Austria and Panama while head coach at Division III Wabash College.

Creighton demonstrated again in 2011 that the all-around excellence he seeks for his program is just as strong on the field as off. His fourth Bulldogs' team won nine games and tied for the Pioneer Football League title with a 7-1 conference record. It was Drake's fifth PFL crown--first since 2004--and represented the seventh conference championship for Creighton in 15 seasons as a head coach at three schools.

The 9-2 ledger in 2011 brought Creighton's overall record at Drake to 30-14, for a .682 winning percentage--best in school history. His career coaching record of 125-38 (.767) in 15 seasons on the sidelines ranks in the top 20 for winning percentage among active coaches with at least five years at four-year institutions.

The Bulldogs' head coach was recognized for the job he did by being named one of 20 finalists for the 2011 Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year Award. A league-leading 18 Bulldogs received All-PFL honors, including 10 first- or second-teamers, and a PFL-best nine Drake student-athletes were named Academic All-PFL. In addition, a school-record 61 Bulldogs were named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll for achieving a grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

Entering the 2012 season, Drake has won 28 of its last 38 games dating back to the midpoint of Creighton's first season with the Bulldogs in 2008. Drake currently has a 10-game home winning streak, extending Creighton's coaching record at Drake Stadium to an astonishing 20-3 (.870), best all-time by a Bulldogs head coach. His teams have posted three consecutive top three finishes in the PFL, and his 30 wins are the most by a Drake head coach in his first seasons on the job.

The 2011 Bulldogs ranked second in the PFL and 12th in the FCS in passing efficiency (149.23), and 4th PFL/17th FCS in passing yards (272.5), behind PFL Offensive Player of the Year QB Mike Piatkowski. The fourth-year junior turned in one of the most prolific passing seasons in school history under Creighton's guidance, and climbed to No. 2 in nearly every Drake career statistical category.

Drake's defense in 2011 was even more dominant, leading the PFL (2nd FCS) in rushing defense (77.2), scoring defense (17.8, 7th FCS), tackles for loss (7.7, 13th FCS), yards per pass play allowed (4.4, tie) and Red Zone defense (62.9%), and ranking second in total defense (295.5, 10th FCS) and third in sacks (3.6, 5th FCS).

Creighton was named a winner of the Giant Steps Award presented by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports as part of National Student-Athlete Day on April 6, 2011. Creighton, awarded for the Coaching category, was one of just five 2011 winners of the Giant Steps Award, given annually to individuals who use sport to positively affect social change, actualizing the mission of the NCAS. The awards honor student-athletes, athletic administrators, civic leaders, coaches, parents, organizations, and other individuals who demonstrate an outstanding ability to manage life on and off the field, and who demonstrate a commitment to the betterment of society.

Drake's two-week experience in Africa in 2011 for the inaugural Global Kilimanjaro Bowl included significant service projects in orphanages and schools, the ascension of 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro and a victory over a Mexican collegiate all-star team in the Kili Bowl-the first game of American football played on African soil.

With that trip setting the foundation for the Bulldogs' 2011 season the team, under Creighton's guidance, adopted the theme "Tupande Kileleni," a Swahili term that translates to "Let's climb to the summit." The summit, for Drake, became the quest to perform to its full potential and symbolized the climb to the top of the Pioneer Football League standings, which it achieved.

The 2010 Bulldogs featured a defense that ranked sixth in the nation among FCS schools (2nd PFL) in rush defense (94.2), eighth (3rd PFL) in sacks (3.0) and 18th (2nd PFL) in tackles for loss (7.4). In addition, the special teams excelled in punt coverage (5th NCAA FCS/1st PFL, 3.4), kickoff coverage (5th NCAA/1st PFL, 16.1) and punt return average (15th NCAA/1st PFL; 13.53).

Creighton's Bulldogs also featured eight players named to the Academic All-PFL team (three 1st-team, five 2nd-team) and a then

school-record 55 earning a place on the PFL's Academic Honor Roll.

In 2009, picked to finish sixth in the preseason coaches' poll, Creighton guided Drake to an 8-3 record, including a 6-2 third-place finish in the Pioneer Football League. Drake matched its best nine-game start in history (8-1) in 2009, while riding a six-game mid-season winning streak to bring Creighton's two-year record at the school to 14-8.

Creighton's first Drake club in 2008 went 6-5 and finished in a tie for fourth in the PFL.

Ranked fourth among all active NCAA Division III football coaches in career winning percentage upon his hire at Drake, Creighton was named the 25^th head football coach of the Bulldogs on Dec. 22, 2007.

"Coach Creighton is a proven winner, a man of strong character, and has a vision that will move Drake football to the next level," said Drake athletic director Sandy Hatfield Clubb at the time of his hire.

"I am absolutely thrilled about the opportunity to lead the Drake University football program," said Creighton. "I am very attracted to Drake's sense of family, its proud tradition, and the desire of both the team and the administration to become our absolute best."

Creighton served as head coach at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from 2001-07 where he constructed a 63-15 record (.808) with his teams winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while competing in three NCAA Division III playoffs.

During his last three years at Wabash, Creighton led the Little Giants to a 30-5 record (.857) including three straight league championships and appearances in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs.

Wabash posted a 11-2 record in 2007, competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs while being ranked No. 8 in the final NCAA Division III coaches poll. Wabash went 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

As offensive coordinator at Wabash, Creighton's teams averaged 35 points per game with the multiple offense producing the school's all-time leading rusher and passer. Three starting quarterbacks received All-America honors.

Under Creighton, Wabash won conference championships in 2002, '05, '06 and '07. He coached 83 all-conference players, including seven who earned conference player of the year honors, along with 13 All-Americans. Creighton was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, '05 and '07, as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1997.

Creighton was head coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from 1997-2000, compiling a record of 32-9 (.780).

The Seattle, Wash., native produced one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NAIA history during his first year at Ottawa in 1997. Inheriting a team that posted a record of 1-8 the previous season, Creighton guided his club to a 9-2 finish en route to capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title since 1972. He also led Ottawa to a conference championship in 2000 along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in '97 and 2000.

Creighton served as offensive coordinator at Concordia (Ill.) from 1991-92 and Manchester (Ind.) from 1993-96 before becoming head coach at Ottawa.

Creighton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1991 and a master's degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.

Chris and his wife, Heather, have two daughters, Hallie (8) and Kate (6) and a son Luke (5).

COACHING EXPERIENCE: 

YEAR-BY-YEAR HEAD COACHING RECORD:

CAREER RECORD: 125-38 (.767 winning percentage)
     2008-present at Drake: 30-14 (.682 winning percentage; best in school history)
     2001-07 at Wabash: 63-15 (.807 winning percentage)
     1997-2007 at Ottawa (Kansas): 32-9 (.780 winning percentage)