Oklahoma State University Athletics
Vance Bedford
August 07, 2006 | Cowboy Football
It's a return engagement for Bedford, who coached the OSU secondary in 1993-94 and also had impressive coaching stops at Michigan and with the NFL's Chicago Bears.
Bedford arrived back at OSU after spending six seasons coaching the defensive backs of the Chicago Bears. He was on the original staff of Dick Jauron in Chicago and was the only coach retained when Lovie Smith took over that team prior to the 2004 season.
In Chicago, Bedford is credited with the development of players like cornerback Jerry Azumah and safety Mike Green, as well as NFL Rookie of the Year Charles Tillman. During a four-year stretch with the Bears, Bedford's Chicago secondary returned seven interceptions for scores, equaling the team's total from the previous nine seasons combined.
Bedford also coached former Oklahoma State standout R.W. McQuarters in Chicago, who was a primary starter in the Bears' secondary and who ranked third in the league passes defensed in 2003.
Prior to joining the Bears' staff, Bedford spent four seasons as the secondary coach at Michigan. While in Ann Arbor, Bedford's pass defenses were among the nation's best, including one unit which ranked among the NCAA's top five by allowing just 133.8 yards per game and an NCAA record 8.8 yards per completion. That secondary also had the nation's third best interception total with 22. Bedford was Charles Woodson's position coach when he won the Heisman Trophy in 1997.
At Michigan, Bedford helped coach the Wolverines to a pair of Big Ten championships in 1997 and 1998 and to the national championship in 1997 when Michigan finished with a perfect 12-0 record.
During his four seasons at Michigan, the Wolverines were a combined 39-11 with bowl appearances at the Alamo, Outback, Rose and Florida Citrus.
Bedford's coaching career began at Forestbrook High School in Houston, Texas in 1985. He coached the secondary at Navarro (Texas) Junior College in 1986 before moving to Colorado State, where he coached the secondary from 1987-92. While Bedford was at Colorado State, the Ram defense set a school record for interceptions in a season, and he coached four players who were named all-Western Athletic Conference.
As a player, Bedford was a four-year letterman and starter at the University of Texas and was the defensive MVP at the 1982 Senior Bowl. He played professionally with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 and with the Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984.
Bedford is married to the former Maggie Bulloch.
