Michigan State University Athletics
Pat Perles Joins Spartan Football Staff
3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 1, 2000
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Pat Perles, who served as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League for the last six years, has been named tight ends coach and special teams co-coordinator at Michigan State, head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday. Perles replaces Bob Casullo, who resigned Feb. 21 to become special teams coach for the NFL's Oakland Raiders. He will share special teams duties with linebackers coach Bill Sheridan.
The 36-year-old Perles comes to Michigan State following two seasons as offensive line coach of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He helped Hamilton to a combined record of 28-13-1 (.679), including back-to-back appearances in the Grey Cup. In 1999, the Tiger-Cats produced an 11-7 regular-season record before reeling off three-straight victories, including a 32-21 triumph over Calgary in the Grey Cup.
"I'm very excited about Pat Perles joining our coaching staff," Coach Williams said. "Pat brings a winning tradition and a lot of experience to the job. He'll be an excellent addition to the coaching staff because he comes from championship programs. I welcome his enthusiasm and expertise."
During his tenure in Hamilton, Perles developed an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the CFL each of the last two seasons. In 1999, the Tiger-Cats permitted only seven sacks in 18 regular-season games - the lowest total in league history. The offensive line provided near perfect pass protection for quarterback Danny McManus, who was not sacked once over the last 11 games of the season. Three of his linemen earned All-Eastern All-Star Team honors in '99. In 1998, the team surrendered only 15 sacks in 18 regular-season games - the second-lowest figure in CFL history.
Perles previously spent one year as offensive line coach with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1997) and three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1994-96).
In 1993, he served as a graduate assistant under his father George Perles at Michigan State, working primarily with the defensive secondary.
Perles worked one season as a defensive assistant coach under Chuck Knox with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams (1992). Prior to his first stint in the pro ranks, he coached the defensive line at the University of Toledo for three years from 1989-91, including the 1990 season under former Spartan head coach Nick Saban when the Rockets claimed a share of the Mid-American Conference crown.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State in the spring of 1988.
An all-state nose guard at Upper St. Clair (Pa.) High School, he started his playing career at Kent State before transferring to Michigan State. He was on the Spartans' football roster from 1983-85 as a walk-on outside linebacker. He earned his bachelor's of science degree in marketing and advertising from Michigan State in 1987.
"I feel like I'm back home," Perles said. "Michigan State is the place where I've dreamed about coaching ever since the day I left as a graduate assistant. I feel humble and fortunate. This is a great university and I have great respect for Bobby Williams."
Married to the former Karen Pauls of St. Catharines, Ontario, Perles and his wife have a 15-month-old daughter Hannah with a second child due in June.
