Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

The Pacific Lutheran University athletic department tabbed Brant McAdams as Head Coach of the Lute football team on Feb. 20, 2018, becoming just the 10th head coach in the program's storied history. 

McAdams' time in Luteville has seen the program reemerge as a regional power, boasting 58 All-Northwest Conference selections since 2018. McAdam's 2024 squad compiled a 7-3 record and finished third in the Northwest Conference standings, PLU's best season since the 2014 campaign. 14 total Lutes ended the season with All-Conference honors, including Sam Morasch and Nico Golla both securing D3football.com All-Region honors. PLU's success included a suffocating defense that ranked sixth nationally in rushing defense and ninth nationally in team sacks. 

McAdam's guided the Lutes to a 6-4 record in 2022, finishing runner-up in the Northwest Conference with a 5-2 record in league play. It was PLU's best record since the 2014 season and the squad's best finish in conference play since 2013. The Lutes' success came in a large part from an elite defense that ranked 15th nationally in rushing defense, 29th in total defense and 34th in red zone defense. PLU ended the season with 13 All-Northwest Conference selections with defensive standouts Kord Tuttle and Kalen Davis-White earning All-Region honors from D3football.com. 

McAdam's first season at the helm saw the Lutes defeat eventual Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in the home opener at Sparks Stadium. McAdam's squad ended the year with four All-Northwest Conference honorees. In 2019, McAdam's had seven student-athletes land All-NWC honors, including running back Cody Brown securing First Team accolades.

The Lutes had eight players earn All-NWC honors in 2021 with two Lutes earning D3football.com Team of the Week accolades. PLU recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1991 and finished the year ranked 15th in Division III in time of possession and 23rd in turnover margin.

  

McAdams previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Division III Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, coaching at his alma mater for the past five seasons. Under his direction, the Tigers had an elite defense, ranking second in the nation in red zone defense and third in the nation in rushing defense in 2015. During his stint as special teams coordinator, the team boasted the seventh-best kick return unit during the 2014 campaign.

No stranger to the Pacific Northwest, McAdams served as the defensive coordinator for three seasons at cross-town rival University of Puget Sound prior to his return to Trinity. McAdams got his coaching start at the University of Redlands, serving as the defensive line coach for two seasons before spending two years at Trinity as the defensive line and the linebackers coach before making the shift to UPS.

McAdams was a standout defensive end for the Tigers from 2002-05, serving as team captain his senior year. He was named All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference during the 2005 campaign and finished his decorated career with four SCAC Championships, four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, while posting a 40-7 overall record as a Tiger.