Alex Wood - Bio

Arizona Cardinals - Alex Wood - Offensive Coordinator: "Last year, Wood�s tutelage of the Bengals� wide receivers was instrumental in the club�s resurgence to compete for a playoff spot through the final weekend of the season."

As the Cardinals’ first-year offensive coordinator, Alex Wood brings 26 years of coaching experience to the Valley, including five at the professional level with the Minnesota Vikings (1999–2002) and Cincinnati Bengals (2003).

Last year, Wood’s tutelage of the Bengals’ wide receivers was instrumental in the club’s resurgence to compete for a playoff spot through the final weekend of the season. Under his guidance, Chad Johnson led the AFC with 1,355 receiving yards on 90 receptions, and the Bengals were the only AFC team to place two receivers among the top 10 in the conference (Johnson, 90 receptions, first; Peter Warrick, 79 receptions, sixth). Johnson was selected a Pro Bowl starter.

Prior to joining the Bengals, Wood served as quarterbacks coach for the Vikings where he developed Daunte Culpepper into one of the NFL’s bright young stars. A first-round draft choice in 1999 (selected after Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, and Akili Smith), Culpepper became the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2000, led the NFC with 33 touchdown passes, set a team quarterback rushing record for yards (470) and touchdowns (7) as Minnesota advanced to the conference title game, and was named a starter in the Pro Bowl. Culpepper also finished second in the NFC in passing yards (3,937) and third in passer rating (98.0). After missing the end of the ’01 season due to injury, Culpepper returned in 2002 to rank second in the NFC in passing yards (3,853) and third in yards-per-attempt (7.02) as Minnesota finished second in the NFL in net offense and ninth in passing.

A college running back and special teams player at Iowa from 1975–77, Wood began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1978, then served on staff at Kent State (1979–80) as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. Wood changed gears and moved to the defensive side of the ball as defensive backs coach at Southern Illinois (1981) and as defensive coordiantor at Southern University (1982–84) before returning to the offense as wide receivers coach at Wyoming (1985–86).

After two seasons overseeing the tight ends at Washington State (1987–88), Wood handled the running backs at Miami-Florida (1989–92), followed by two years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wake Forest (1993–94). A four-year stint as head coach at James Madison (1995–98) followed, and in his first season he led the school to an 8–4 record and postseason berth. Overall, his four-year record was 23–22. While running backs coach at Miami under head coach Dennis Erickson, Wood helped the Hurricanes earn national championships in 1989 and 1991.

Born March 14, 1955 in Massilon, Ohio where he was a prep running back and wrestler at Washington High School. Wood and his wife, Rosa have three children—Jerrel, Alex, and Natalie.

Coaching Breakdown
1978 University of Iowa Graduate Assistant
1979–80 Kent State University Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
1981 Southern Illinois University Defensive Backs
1982–84 Southern University Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs
1985–86 University of Wyoming Wide Receivers
1987–88 Washington State University Tight Ends
1989–92 University of Miami Running Backs
1993–94 Wake Forest University Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1995–98 James Madison University Head Coach
1999–2002 Minnesota Vikings Quarterbacks
2003 Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receivers
2004 Arizona Cardinals Offensive Coordinator

- Slim Tim