Brad Salem Position: Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator Experience: Third Year

Brad Salem, a former head coach at NCAA Division II Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., is in his third year as running backs coach at Michigan State and his second as recruiting coordinator.

Salem mentored one of the most talented backfields in the Big Ten in 2011, as junior Edwin Baker and sophomore Le'Veon Bell combined for 1,613 rushing yards (115.2 yards per game) - the second most of any running back duo in the conference - to go along with 18 rushing touchdowns.

After earning Big Ten All-Freshman honors in 2010, Bell had a breakout season last fall, leading the team in rushing touchdowns (13) and rushing (948 yards; 67.7 ypg.); those marks ranked fifth and eighth in the Big Ten, respectively. Through two seasons, Bell has accounted for 1,553 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, and his 5.37 rushing average is currently 14th best in MSU history.

A first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media as a sophomore, Baker led MSU with a season-high 167 yards rushing in the Spartans' fourth-straight win over Michigan. He finished the season with 665 rushing yards (47.5 ypg.) and closed his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in rushing yards (12th with 2,293) and carries (13th with 462).

Junior Larry Caper, the team's leading rusher in 2009, was also a regular in the playing rotation.

Under Salem's direction in 2010, Michigan State's running backs improved their totals from 2009. The resurgent running game was led by Baker, who became just the sixth sophomore in MSU history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone as he compiled 1,201 rushing yards. A first-team All-Big Ten honoree by the media, Baker ranked fourth in the Big Ten and 30th nationally in rushing, averaging 92.4 ypg. In addition, he led the team and ranked seventh in the conference with 13 rushing touchdowns.

Baker wasn't only one making noise in the backfield in 2010. Bell exploded onto the scene in the first half of the season, collecting 549 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, including a 141-yard effort in the season opener against Western Michigan, the most rushing yards ever by a Spartan in their collegiate debut. Bell closed his first season with 605 yards rushing and was named to the ESPN.com and Rivals.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team.

In five seasons (2005-09) as head coach at Augustana College, Salem compiled a 31-26 record.

Salem led Augustana College to back-to-back 8-4 records and consecutive trips to the Mineral Water Bowl in 2008-09. The eight wins matched the school single-season record. In its first two seasons as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Augustana finished fourth and tied for third, respectively, in the final standings and had 10 players earn South Division first-team all-conference honors.

After getting off to a 3-0 start in 2009, the Vikings made their first appearance in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Top 25 since 1989. Augustana finished fifth in the NSIC in total offense last season, averaging 400.9 yards per game.

In 2008, Augustana won six of its last eight games, including a 37-16 victory over Missouri Western State in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo., as the Vikings rushed for 281 yards and five touchdowns against the Griffons. Augustana ranked among the NSIC leaders in rushing offense (third at 203.7 ypg.), scoring offense (third at 30.8 points per game) and total offense (fourth at 379.7 ypg.) in 2008.

In his first season as head coach in 2005, Salem guided Augustana to a 6-5 record - the program's first winning season in three years.

Prior to being promoted to head coach, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach under Jim Heinitz, serving as quarterbacks coach in 2003 and offensive coordinator in 2004.

Before returning to his alma mater in 2003, Salem coached the quarterbacks at O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., during the 2002 season.

He previously spent three years as passing game and recruiting coordinator at South Dakota (1999-2001) and two seasons as offensive and recruiting coordinator at Luther College (1997-98) in Decorah, Iowa.

In 1996, Salem filled the role of defensive coordinator at Everett High School in Lansing, Mich. From 1994-95, he served as a graduate assistant under George Perles and Nick Saban at Michigan State, working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.

A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Salem launched his coaching career in the European Professional League in Paris, France, where he was the offensive coordinator for Robinson Sphinx in the spring of 1993. That fall, he worked with the defensive backs as a student coach at Augustana.

Salem began his collegiate playing career as a quarterback at Northern Arizona in 1988-89 before transferring to Augustana where he played quarterback and wide receiver for Coach Heinitz from 1990-92.

He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Augustana in 1992 and his master's degree in athletic administration from Michigan State in 1996.

Salem shares his love of coaching football with his father Joe, former head coach at South Dakota (1966-74), Northern Arizona (1975-78) and Minnesota (1979-83); as well as his older brother Tim, tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Central Florida; and his twin brother Brent, offensive coordinator at O'Gorman High School.

Salem and his wife Christina have two sons, Elijah and Jeremiah.

THE SALEM FILE

YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: Third. Joined staff on Feb. 19, 2010, from Augustana (S.D.) College.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant coach at Michigan State (1994-95); offensive and recruiting coordinator at Luther (Iowa) College (1997-98); passing game and recruiting coordinator at South Dakota (1999-2001); quarterbacks coach at Augustana College (2003); offensive coordinator at Augustana College (2004); head coach at Augustana College (2005-09).

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Augustana College in 1992; master's degree in athletic administration from Michigan State in 1996.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Quarterback at Northern Arizona (1988-89); quarterback and wide receiver at Augustana (1990-92).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach - 1995 Independence Bowl, 2008 Mineral Water Bowl, 2009 Mineral Water Bowl, 2011 Capital One Bowl, 2012 Outback Bowl.