Spring football practice is a time for players to learn and refine skills. For coaches, it’s a time to teach and implement philosophies.
Oregon coach Robin Pflugrad, however, is doing a little a bit of both this spring.
The Ducks’ newly named wide receivers coach is concluding his second week on the job. It has been two weeks of learning and teaching for the Eugene-native, who returns to the Emerald city after spending five years as a tight-ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Washington State.
“It’s definitely a little bit of (teaching and learning),” Pflugrad said of his first few practices as a Duck. “I’m learning on the run, too. You coach the way you used to coach, but you want to make sure you have the right terminology. You don’t want to confuse the player, but I think you really have to be yourself and really go with what you’ve always done.”
Pflugrad, a 1976 North Eugene graduate, joined the Duck staff early February after spending 11 seasons in the Pacific-10 Conference, including his stint at Washington State and at Arizona State as a receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 1995-2000.
He previously held positions at Portland State (where he earned All-American honors as a player in 1979), Montana and Northern Arizona.
“He’s learning – learning a system, learning players. I think he’s probably not as aggressive as he will be in the fall,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “He’s feeling his way through things, but that’s understandable at this point simply because it’s all brand new, and this is his first exposure to how we do things.”
Pflugrad takes over for the departed Dan Ferrigno, who left for the same position at California. Pflugrad inherits a host of returning wideouts at Oregon including James Finley (57 receptions, 571 yards), Cameron Colvin (22 receptions, 332 yards), Jaison Williams (15 receptions, 245 yards), Brian Paysinger, Jordan Kent and Kyle Weatherspoon.
“The first week went well. It was great to be able to really spend some time with the receivers and not just watch some video of them or talk to them but really get a chance to see what they all need improvement on,” Pflugrad said. “There’s a lot of work to do, but I really like the group.”
Pflugrad said he emphasized technique and consistency in the first two weeks and is hoping that each receiver is able to learn two positions by the end of spring to help offset the possible lack of depth caused by using three or four of them at one time in the spread offense.
“He’s fitting in real well,” Williams said. “He didn’t even skip a beat. He just came in and got right to it.”
His enthusiasm doesn’t surprise Bellotti’s staff. Pflugrad, 47, has expressed great interest in coaching at Oregon. “Coming back to Eugene is a complete positive for myself as well as my family,” said Pflugrad, whose parents, Roy and Donna, still live in Eugene.
Pflugrad said Oregon is one job he has coveted most notably because of his respect for the coaching staff and the Ducks ability to finish games in the second half under Bellotti – games Pflugrad was often on the other end of at Washington State and Arizona State.
“I’m excited to be here,” Pflugrad said. “But I don’t think you can ever sit in your chair and go ‘wow, I’ve really accomplished something.’ If you have that approach you will not be successful. I’m here and I’m going to try to be the best coach I can ever be.”
In between his attempts to join Oregon’s staff, Plfugrad earned a reputation for his recruiting approach and successes. His tireless work ethic led Washington State coach Bill Doba to bestow the nickname the “Bulldog” upon Pflugrad for his successful recruitments.
“I got that nickname because every meeting we’d be talking about Xs and Os, and I’d bring up recruiting, recruiting, recruiting,” Pflugrad said. “(Doba) said I took more of a bulldog approach than anyone around. So good, bad or indifferent, I got the nickname.
“A lot of (recruiting) is just rolling up the sleeves and working hard and trying to learn from the experiences.”
His roll-up-the-sleeves mentality hooked Bellotti this time around.
“He has a vast background in football,” Bellotti said. “He’ll also recruit well because he loves this area and was born and raised in Eugene.”
Finley, in just two short weeks, has already noticed many of Pflugrad’s strengths. Finley, along with Williams, Colvin, Strong, Weatherspoon and Drew Larson, contributed in Pflugrad’s interviewing process. Finley liked what he saw then as well.
“He brings great qualities. He’s a hands-on guy. He’s a tough guy. If you’re slacking, he’s going to tell you you’re slacking,” Finley said. “I think coach Pflugrad is going to be great here and going to do great things for us.”
While football has already started for Pflugrad, the complete transition to Eugene from Pullman will finish this summer when his wife Marlene and daughter Amanda make the move after finishing the school year.
Marlene, also a North Eugene graduate, is a school teacher in Pullman and his daughter is a senior at Pullman High School. She recently earned a spot on Oregon’s Cheer squad after tryouts last week.
His son, Aaron, currently lives in Eugene with his father and attends Sheldon High, where he runs track.
Meanwhile, Pflugrad continues to grasp a new system in a new environment while hoping to exhibit the success that finally brought him back home.
“I hope that the players and coaches can always say ‘Coach Pflugrad is a dependable person. When I need something done, I can really count on him,’” Pflugrad said. “It might not be the most flattering attribute to have, but I think in the long run, it’s something I strive for – for people to be depending on me and know they can trust me.”

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