Dec. 31, 2008

SAN DIEGO - Al Borges, a two-time nominee for Frank Boyles Assistant Coach of the Year, who most recently helped lead Auburn to a 42-9 record and four bowl game appearances from 2004-07, has been named offensive coordinator at San Diego State, Aztec head coach Brady Hoke announced Wednesday.

Hoke made the announcement at the same time as tabbing Rocky Long, who served as New Mexico's head coach the previous 11 seasons where he became the winningest head coach in Mountain West Conference history, as SDSU's defensive coordinator.

The last time Long and Borges were coordinators on the same staff was at UCLA in 1997. That season the Bruins went 10-2, won the Pac-10, advanced to the Cotton Bowl and finished fifth in the final AP poll.

Borges has 22 years of service as an offensive coordinator at the NCAA level. As the offensive coordinator at Auburn from 2004-07, he helped guide the Tigers to four-consecutive top-15 finishes in the final Associated Press poll, including an undefeated season and a No. 2 ranking in 2004. While he was at Auburn, Borges was part of a coaching staff that helped the Tigers go from 33-18 the four seasons prior to his arrival, to 42-9 in his four campaigns with the program.

"Al Borges brings a wealth of experience with him to San Diego State," Hoke said. "He did a tremendous job in both the SEC and the Pac-10. As a defensive coach, I found it very hard to defend Al's teams. He creates problems for defenses with leverage and formation and it's a physical offense. One thing I have always respected about Al is that he gets the ball in the hands of the playmakers, which is what good offensive coaches do."

Prior to his stay at Auburn, Borges served as offensive coordinator at three Pac-10 schools, California, UCLA and Oregon.

"This is like coming home," Borges said. "I have always believed that San Diego State is a place where you can win football games. My perception is that the opportunity to win is there. I have known Brady for a long time. He is a solid guy and a very good football coach who has proven he can turn football programs around. I don't see why he won't do the same thing at San Diego State.

"My juices are flowing and I am ready to get going. I am really optimistic about the promise the program shows, particularly with a guy like Brady, who has direction and vision."

In four years as the Tigers' offensive coordinator, Borges' helped Auburn defeat 12 nationally-ranked opponents, including nine teams ranked in the top nine. In those four seasons at Auburn, Borges saw four of his offensive players earn All-America honors and eight players garner first-team all-Southeast Conference accolades.

Twice while at Auburn his offenses averaged more than 32 points a game en route to claiming four consecutive victories over in-state rival Alabama and working with units that posted a 3-1 record in bowl games. At Auburn, he coached SEC offensive player of the year quarterback Jason Campbell and All-American running back Carnell Williams.

While at UCLA from 1996-2000, Borges was twice a finalist for the Frank Boyles Assistant Coach of the Year. He helped guide the Bruins to consecutive 10-win seasons and back-to-back appearances in the Rose and Cotton Bowls. Among the high-profile players he coached at UCLA was quarterback Cade McNown, who was an All-American and a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Borges and his wife, Nikki, have two children, Cole and Mady Jo.

The Al Borges File
College: California State Univ., Chico (1981)

Coaching Experience:

1975-78   Salinas (Calif.) High School     assistant coach
1979-80   Pleasant (Calif.) Valley High    assistant coach
1981      Salinas (Calif.) High School     assistant coach
1982      California                       assistant coach
1983-85   Diablo Valley (Calif.) College   tight ends/receivers (1983-84); offensive coordinator/receivers (1985)
1986-92   Portland State                   offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
1993-94   Boise State                      offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
1995      Oregon                           offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
1996-00   UCLA                             offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
2001      California                       offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
2002-03   Indiana                          offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
2004-07   Auburn                           offensive coordinator/quarterbacks

SDSU Defensive Coordinator Rocky Long on Borges:
"It has been a long time since we have been together, but we talk every year. It is an exciting opportunity because Al and I mesh very well. With Brady's leadership, I think we will all mesh very well together and when the staff meshes well, usually the team meshes well."