Colorado State University Athletics
Football
Ehlers, Tom
Tom Ehlers
- Title:
- Director of Football Operations
- Email:
- tehlers@colostate.edu
- Phone:
- (970) 491-5092
One of Colorado State’s most passionate individuals, Tom Ehlers serves as Colorado State's Director of Ram Life Programs - the outreach and professional development initiative for Colorado State football under head coach Steve Addazio.
Ehlers served as the team's Director of Football Operations from 2005-19 after a long career as a Rams student-athlete and assistant football coach. His association with Colorado State and as a member of the football team spans over 35 years.
Originally a competitor on the gridiron as a four-year starter on the Rams’ offensive and defensive lines, he began a new career after his playing career, channeling his gregarious enthusiasm into the coaching profession. And now, including his chapter as director of operations, his tenure as a member of the football staff is the longest by an assistant in school history.
During his coaching career, he tutored 12 all-conference performers, including Bryan Save (2003), Peter Hogan (2001, ’02), Clark Haggans (1999), Joey Porter (1998), Adrian Ross (1997), Brady Smith (1994, ’95), Sean Moran (1994, ’95), Steve Norton (1993), and Steve Hodge (1993).
Six of the players he formerly coached ranked in the top 10 in quarterback sacks, including Haggans (first), Smith (second), Porter (fourth), Hodge (tie, seventh), Ross (tie, seventh), and Moran (ninth).
In 2003, defensive tackles Bryan Save, Lavell Mann and Chris Kiffin all ranked among the conference leaders in quarterback sacks. In 2002, Peter Hogan was a first-team all-conference selection.
Porter, a former NFL star, was a first-team all-conference performer in 1998 and played in two postseason all-star games before finishing his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. In 2013 Porter began a coaching career as an undergraduate assistant at CSU, and in 2014 was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter earned All-Pro honors and won a Super Bowl in 2005 as a member of the Steelers, and also played for the Miami Dolphins.
Ross was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in 1996 and ’97 and played in the Hula Bowl following his senior season. He later played six years in the NFL as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith and Moran each earned first-team honors in 1994 and ’95. Smith was the conference’s defensive player of the year in 1995. Both played extensively in the NFL. Haggans initially played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was a member of the team’s Super Bowl championship team before signing with Arizona, which went to the Super Bowl in his first season there, and then San Francisco, with whom he went to another Super Bowl in 2012.
Ehlers also was responsible for recruiting Gartrell Johnson, who finished his CSU career with the second-most prolific rushing season in program annals. Ehlers formerly served as a defensive line coach at Oregon State (1985-86) as a graduate assistant for the Beavers. In 1987, he was a graduate assistant working with the defensive line at the University of Arizona.
As a player at CSU (1980-84), Ehlers was a four-year starter and letterwinner. He played offensive line and defensive line and was a WAC Scholar-Athlete Award Winner in 1984. On three occasions, he earned Academic All-WAC honors.
Born July 10, 1962 in Riverside, Calif., Tom has three children – Annie, Christine and Timothy – each of whom is a student at Colorado State. Ehlers graduated from CSU in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, before earning an MBA from Oregon State (’86).
Ehlers served as the team's Director of Football Operations from 2005-19 after a long career as a Rams student-athlete and assistant football coach. His association with Colorado State and as a member of the football team spans over 35 years.
Originally a competitor on the gridiron as a four-year starter on the Rams’ offensive and defensive lines, he began a new career after his playing career, channeling his gregarious enthusiasm into the coaching profession. And now, including his chapter as director of operations, his tenure as a member of the football staff is the longest by an assistant in school history.
During his coaching career, he tutored 12 all-conference performers, including Bryan Save (2003), Peter Hogan (2001, ’02), Clark Haggans (1999), Joey Porter (1998), Adrian Ross (1997), Brady Smith (1994, ’95), Sean Moran (1994, ’95), Steve Norton (1993), and Steve Hodge (1993).
Six of the players he formerly coached ranked in the top 10 in quarterback sacks, including Haggans (first), Smith (second), Porter (fourth), Hodge (tie, seventh), Ross (tie, seventh), and Moran (ninth).
In 2003, defensive tackles Bryan Save, Lavell Mann and Chris Kiffin all ranked among the conference leaders in quarterback sacks. In 2002, Peter Hogan was a first-team all-conference selection.
Porter, a former NFL star, was a first-team all-conference performer in 1998 and played in two postseason all-star games before finishing his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. In 2013 Porter began a coaching career as an undergraduate assistant at CSU, and in 2014 was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Porter earned All-Pro honors and won a Super Bowl in 2005 as a member of the Steelers, and also played for the Miami Dolphins.
Ross was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in 1996 and ’97 and played in the Hula Bowl following his senior season. He later played six years in the NFL as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith and Moran each earned first-team honors in 1994 and ’95. Smith was the conference’s defensive player of the year in 1995. Both played extensively in the NFL. Haggans initially played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was a member of the team’s Super Bowl championship team before signing with Arizona, which went to the Super Bowl in his first season there, and then San Francisco, with whom he went to another Super Bowl in 2012.
Ehlers also was responsible for recruiting Gartrell Johnson, who finished his CSU career with the second-most prolific rushing season in program annals. Ehlers formerly served as a defensive line coach at Oregon State (1985-86) as a graduate assistant for the Beavers. In 1987, he was a graduate assistant working with the defensive line at the University of Arizona.
As a player at CSU (1980-84), Ehlers was a four-year starter and letterwinner. He played offensive line and defensive line and was a WAC Scholar-Athlete Award Winner in 1984. On three occasions, he earned Academic All-WAC honors.
Born July 10, 1962 in Riverside, Calif., Tom has three children – Annie, Christine and Timothy – each of whom is a student at Colorado State. Ehlers graduated from CSU in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, before earning an MBA from Oregon State (’86).
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