Coaching Quarterback Passing Mechanics

The Coach

Steve Axman

Former Assistant Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator at University of Idaho

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Steve Axman was most recently the quarterback coach at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Previous to that, he was the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Idaho. Prior to that, he was the wide receivers coach at the University of Washington, a position he assumed before the 2004 season. It was Axman’s second stint on the Huskies staff. Previously, he served as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. Axman oversaw the work of UW record-setting quarterbacks Marques Tuiasosopo and Cody Pickett. During the 2003 season, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCLA. 

Axman is no stranger to wide-open, multiple offense football or producing top- flight collegiate quarterbacks. During his career, he has worked at four Pac-10 schools (UCLA, Arizona, Stanford, and Washington). Among his former collegiate pupils are Troy Aikman and Drew Olsen (UCLA), Neil O’Donnell (Maryland), Jeff Lewis and Travis Brown (Northern Arizona), and Nate Enderle (Idaho). In 1998 (prior to joining the UW staff the first time), Axman served as the quarterbacks coach at Minnesota under Glen Mason. Before that, Axman was the head coach at Northern Arizona from 1990-97. He inherited a NAU program that had experienced just three winning seasons during the 1980s and had never qualified for the Division I-AA post-season playoffs. During his eight years with the Lumberjacks, Axman guided the team to a 48-41 record, making him the second-winningest coach in Northern Arizona’s history. 

Axman’s NAU teams were known for their offensive fireworks. During his eight-year career, Axman’s teams averaged 30 points per game. His 1996 Lumberjack squad set or tied 14 national records and averaged 43.2 points per game en route to a 9-3 overall record and a 6-1 record in the Big Sky Conference. That season produced a secondplace finish in the Big Sky, the school’s first post-season appearance, and a school-best No. 6 national ranking. In 1989, Axman served as quarterbacks coach for Maryland, where he worked with O’Donnell. In 1987-88, he was the offensive coordinator at UCLA, where he coached Aikman. Prior to UCLA, Axman coached at Stanford (1986), with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (1985), and at the University of Arizona (1980-1984), as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Axman previously spent a year at Illinois, three seasons at Army, and one season at Albany State. Prior to that, Axman’s first collegiate coaching assignment was at East Stroudsburg State in 1974. A 1969 graduate of C.W. Post College in Greenvale, NY, Axman went on to earn his first master’s degree from Long Island University in 1972 and his second in 1975 while coaching at East Stroudsburg State College. 

Axman has authored 12 instructional books on football. He has also been featured on seven well-received instructional videos on football. He is nationally renowned for his knowledge of offensive fundamentals, schemes, and techniques, particularly quarterback play.