Don Bailey joined the West Alabama coaching staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in March of 2016, and since coming to UWA, Bailey has led the Tiger offense to heights not previously imagined.
The UWA 2017 team set five team season records alone, including pass completions, total plays and first downs. Under Bailey's watch, Tiger quarterback Harry Satterwhite led the Gulf South Conference in virtually every passing category on the way to All-America status and a finalist spot for the Harlon Hill Award. In 2018 two Tigers set three individual career offensive records, including quarterback Harry Satterwhite’s 677 pass completions and 1,196 passing attempts, as well as running back Tyler Rogers 32 touchdowns.
Bailey came to UWA from the University of Hawaii, where he spent one season as offensive coordinator while coaching running backs and quarterbacks. Prior to his season at Hawaii, Bailey coached at Idaho State, where he spent four seasons as associate head coach, with offensive coordinator and position coaching responsibilities.
At ISU Bailey molded the Bengals’ attack into one of the best in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), earning him Football Scoop’s FCS Coordinator of the Year Award in 2014.
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Under Bailey’s guidance, ISU transformed from one of the lowest-rated offensive teams to the national elite. Before his arrival, ISU ranked 114th (of 117) in total offense and 108th in scoring offense. In 2014, the Bengals finished with the nation’s second-best total offense (562 yards per game), sixth-best scoring offense (40.3 points per game) and scored more than 50 points four times.
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In addition, ISU led the FCS in passing, with 348 yards-by-air per game, spearheaded by Walter Payton award finalist and third-team All-America quarterback Justin Arias, who led the nation in passing with 4,076 yards and 38 touchdowns—also making his place in the record books with 322 completions for 3,547 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2013.
Bailey was also instrumental in revitalizing the Bengal running game in 2013. ISU rushed for 1,130 yards, the most since 2007, more than doubling up with an NCAA 23rd-best 2,567 yards and 25 TDs in 2014—breaking a school record that had stood since 1957.
Also shining in Bailey’s offense, quarterback Kevin Yost left ISU ranked third in passing yards (6,663) and sixth in touchdowns with 39, while wide receiver Rodrick Rumble earned four All-America honors in 2011, with first-team all-Big Sky honors in 2011 and ‘12 with a school and Big Sky record 112 receptions and 1,348 yards as a senior. Rumble finished his career as the top receiver in ISU and Big Sky history as he caught 223 passes for 2,863 yards and 18 TDs.
Before joining ISU, Bailey was passing game coordinator at South Dakota State, where he coached Ryan Berry to first-team Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honors after leading the league in passing with 3,106 yards and 30 TDs. Berry set season SDSU records for completions, yards and attempts, leading the 2008 SDSU offense to set nine records.
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Prior to SDSU, Bailey coached wide receivers at Weber State (2007-08) and was offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach under Mike Kramer at Montana State from 2001-06. At MSU, he aided the Bobcats to 2002, 2003 and 2005 Big Sky Championships.
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During Bailey’s time at Montana State, his offensive teams broke a total of 109 individual and team offensive records.
Bailey also spent time at Cal Poly (1999-2000) as offensive coordinator and coached at Shepherd College and Cheney, first joining mentor Pokey Allen’s staff at Portland State from 1991-93 and at Boise State from 1993-96.
At BSU, he helped the Broncos to the 1994 DI-AA National Championship game. While coaching at PSU, Bailey was a part of a team that went to the playoffs each year. Bailey graduated from Portland State in 1991 with a degree in speech communications, playing two seasons (1989-90) at quarterback for the Vikings.
Bailey and his wife, Lisa, have three sons—Cooper, Dalton and Wyatt—and a daughter—Izabell.
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