Payam Saadat enters his second season at Nevada as the team's Associate Head Coach/interior defensive line.
Saadat came to Reno after spending the 2023 season as Special Assistant to Head Football Coach to Texas’ Steve Sarkisian. He has spent the past 30 years coaching college athletes at football programs big and small, including stints at Army, Cal Poly, Central Washington, and Portland State, as well as being a college student athlete himself, as a linebacker at Washington State.
Over his coaching career, Saadat has helped lead multiple teams to the postseason. During his time at Cal Poly, he helped guide the Mustangs to FCS playoff berths in 2005, 2008, and 2016, including an appearance in the quarterfinals in 2005. He was part of the Army staff in 2010 that coached the Black Knights to the 2010 Armed Forces Bowl title, and the program’s first bowl game in 14 years. While at Western Washington from 1998-2003, he helped guide the Vikings to an NCAA Division II playoff appearance in 1999, as well as a Division II final national ranking of No. 23 in 2001.
Prior to 2023, Saadat served five years (2018-22) on the Portland State staff. He served as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator and defensive line coach all four seasons, and added the associate head coach title beginning in 2019.
Upon taking over the Portland State defense in 2018, Saadat transformed it into one of the most opportunistic in the Big Sky Conference with his “flex” attack.
The Vikings cut opponent scoring by 13.5 points per game and total offense allowed by 100 yards per game over the 2018, 2019, and 2021 seasons. In the season prior to Saadat’s arrival, the Viking defense made just 12 takeaways, but Saadat’s 2018 defense has forced 18 turnovers in each of his first three full seasons. In addition, Portland State increased the number of sacks from seven in 2017 to 31 in 2019 and 27 in 2021 while tackles for loss increased from 41 to 81 over that span.
In 2022, Saadat’s defense ranked second in the Big Sky in tackles-for-loss (6.6 TFL per game) and third in sacks (2.27 per game).
Over the span of his coaching career, Saadat has been a defensive coordinator at three schools, including Cal Poly. Saadat was the DC for Cal Poly from 2006-08, followed by five years as the defensive coordinator at Army (2009-13), then two years at Central Washington (2014-15).
Saadat had three separate stints with Cal Poly (1996-97, 2004-08, 2016-17). Among the players Saadat coached at Cal Poly during his second stint were three consecutive Buck Buchanan Award winners — linebacker Jordan Beck (2004), defensive end Chris Gocong (2005) and linebacker Kyle Shotwell (2006). In addition, lineman Chris White was a two-time All-American.
The Cal Poly defense in 2004 ranked first nationally in rushing defense, allowing opponents just 84.3 yards rushing per game. The defense was ninth nationally in scoring defense, giving up 16.6 points per game. The 2004 defensive unit set school records with 50 quarterback sacks (first nationally) and 25 interceptions (second nationally). The 2005 Cal Poly defense increased its school record for sacks to 62, again topping all FCS programs.
Cal Poly earned three conference titles and twice qualified for the FCS playoffs during Saadat's second coaching stint with the Mustangs.
In 2009, Saadat went with Cal Poly head coach Rich Ellerson to Army. Saadat's influence over the Army defense was felt immediately, as the Black Knights finished the year ranked 16th in the nation in total defense, 35th in scoring defense, and third in pass defense.
In 2010, the Black Knights again stood among the nation's leaders, ranking 29th in total defense and third in the country in turnover margin. Army's 30 takeaways tied for the 12th most in the nation. The Black Knights held four of their 2010 opponents to 21 points or less, including the program's first shutout since 2005, and qualified for the Armed Forces Bowl, the academy's first bowl game in 14 years, defeating SMU, 16-14.
In his two seasons at Central Washington, Saadat coached six first-team all-conference players, including one defensive lineman of the year, and one All-American. The Wildcats were 12-9 during Saadat's two campaigns and, in 2014, the Wildcats were ranked in the top 10 in four defensive categories.
A 1994 Washington State graduate, Saadat was in charge of the inside linebackers at Cal Poly in 1996 and 1997, returned to Cal Poly as a linebackers assistant for the 2004 season, was promoted in 2005 to full-time assistant coach and became defensive coordinator in March 2006.
From 1998-2003, Saadat was an assistant at Western Washington, coaching the defensive line and linebackers and serving as special teams coordinator. He also was recruiting coordinator and an assistant strength and conditioning coach. The Vikings qualified for the 1999 NCAA Division II playoffs and Saadat coached two All-Americans on special teams and was named American Football Monthly special teams coordinator of the year in 2002.
