RENO, Nev. – Brett Bartolone, who served as an offensive analyst for the Wolf Pack from 2020-21, returns to Nevada as the program's Offensive Coordinator, Head Coach Jeff Choate announced Friday.

Bartolone spent the past three seasons on the Colorado staff, joining as the wide receivers coach in 2023, moving over to tight ends in 2024 then adding the title of offensive pass game coordinator in 2025. This past season, he served as the Buffs' primary play caller over the final four contests.

During his two-year stint with the Wolf Pack, Bartolone played a key role in developing Wolf Pack offenses which ranked among the nation's best in scoring, total yardage, and passing yards per game. Additionally, his work with quarterback Carson Strong led to Strong taking home Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors in both 2020 and 2021, becoming just the fifth player in conference history to win the award twice.

"I'm very excited about Coach Bartolone joining our staff. Brett did a fantastic and very thorough job in the intense search we did for our next offensive coordinator, and he rose to the top among a number of very, very experienced candidates," Choate said. "His ability to teach, communicate, connect and recruit stood out loud and clear. He's a winner, he's a grinder, he understands this place and I feel he can drive us to new heights on the offensive side of the ball. I think it's going to be a dynamic offense--it's going to feature a little bit more passing than what we've had in the past, and I think that Brett's going to be able to put together a plan week in and week out that can allow us to reach our program's goal to win a Mountain West championship."

In 2020, the Wolf Pack ranked 12th and 30th nationally, respectively, in passing offense (319.1 ypg) and total offense (441.4 ypg) while scoring 30.8 points per game. The passing game ranked in the national top 10 a season later, finishing sixth at 347.0 yards per game with Strong ranking among the nation's top quarterbacks in passing yards (4,175, eighth), passing touchdowns (36, seventh), and passing efficiency (156.7, 21st). His 36 passing touchdowns set Nevada's single-season record, while his passing yardage remains second in program single-season history.

"I am incredibly honored and humbled for this opportunity. I loved my time previously in Reno and I can't wait to get to work!" said Bartolone.

In his first season at Colorado (2023), Bartolone oversaw a talented receiver corps that included eventual Heisman Trophy Winner Travis Hunter and two others who would go on to the NFL in Xavier Weaver and Jimmy Horn Jr. Hunter, playing full-time at both wide receiver and defensive back, made 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns, while Weaver led the Buffs with 68 catches for 908 yards and four touchdowns with Horn Jr. making 58 catches for 567 yards and six scores.

After his two seasons at Nevada, Bartolone joined Deion Sanders' staff at Jackson State as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In his one season at Jackson State (2022), he mentored Shedeur Sanders to the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year award, as Sanders finished the campaign with 3,403 yards and 36 touchdowns while running for 175 yards and five more scores. 

Jackson State featured the 10th-best passing offense in the FCS and ranked 12th for pass efficiency. Sanders ranked fifth nationally in passing yards per game and total offense, third in touchdown passes and 11th in pass efficiency while also ranking fourth in points responsible per game with an average of 21.0 per game.

Bartolone's collegiate coaching career also includes stops at Carleton College (2018-19) where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as quarterbacks coach at St. Lawrence University (2017), and overseeing wide receivers at Whittier College (2016). Over that span, Bartolone also served as offensive coordinator with the Flash Football Club in France, where his team averaged 31.6 points per game and won the French National Championship while earning a No. 1 ranking in France and No. 10 in Europe.

Bartolone played wide receiver at Washington State from 2012-14, learning the Air Raid offense under one of its creators, Mike Leach. He appeared in all 12 games for the Cougs in 2012, leading the team with 53 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns, earning Freshman All-America recognition and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

After injuries curtailed his playing career, Bartolone stayed on at Washington State as a student coach in 2015, assisting with the wide receivers and the offensive coaching staff en route to a Sun Bowl title.

He graduated from Washington State in 2016 with a degree in Sports Management and minor in Business.