Football
- Title:
- Receivers
Jake Moreland enters his fourth season at Air Force and first as wide receivers coach. Moreland returned to the Academy this season after coaching tight ends at Syracuse in 2015. He previously coached tight ends at the Academy from 2012-14.
Moreland has seen the development of several key contributors during his tenure. Garrett Griffin developed into a free agent signee under his direction, signing with the New Orleans Saints last summer.
Moreland came to the Academy from Western Michigan, where he coached tight ends and was an assistant to the offensive coordinator for seven seasons.
Tight ends have had a period of success under Moreland. In 2008, Branden Ledbetter finished his career with the most TDs by a tight end in program history (20) and recorded three consecutive seasons with at least six TDs. Three different tight ends scored six TDs in 2009.
In 2007, tight ends accounted for 10 of WMU’s 23 scoring strikes (43 percent). Tight ends accounted for nearly 22 percent of the Broncos’ aerial scores in 2008 and helped the offensive line block for the program’s 15th 1,000-yard rusher.
Moreland returned to his alma mater as the tight ends coach on Dec. 10, 2004. During his first season back with the Broncos, Moreland had Tony Scheffler, ranked fourth in John Mackey Award voting and a first-team All-MAC offense honoree, at his disposal and he came through with 670 yards and nine scoring grabs. The tight end arsenal did not end there for Moreland as Ledbetter also came through in 2005 with a pair of touchdowns on 11 catches.
Scheffler was selected 61st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. In two seasons, Scheffler hauled in 67 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns. He grabbed five scoring receptions in 2007, bettering his rookie mark by one.
Moreland served as special teams coordinator and offensive assistant for Saint Joseph’s College in 2004. During his tutelage, the Pumas set school records in seven offensive categories. Prior to arriving in Rensselaer, Moreland made his coaching debut at Elmhurst College in 2003. Working with tight ends, Moreland helped Elmhurst set 11 offensive records and record its first winning season in 15 years.
Moreland lettered four seasons with the Broncos (1996-99), and caught more passes (143) than any other tight end in school history. He ranks second in receiving yards (1,414) and is tied for second in TDs (13) among tight ends. Moreland earned All-MAC second-team honors and was tabbed WMU’s offensive MVP in 1999. Moreland made the All-MAC first team in 1998. Moreland went on to a professional career in the National Football League, playing for the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. He retired in 2002 shortly after signing with the Houston Texans.
A Milwaukee native, Moreland earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Western Michigan in 2000. He and his wife, the former Anne Sampair, have three daughters, Courtney, Grace and Emma.
