Player Bio: Dale Pehrson - NAVY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Dale Pehrson

	Position: Recruiting Coordinator / Def. Line
	Experience: 13th season at Navy

Dale Pehrson is in his 13th season at the Naval Academy and his 10th year coaching the defensive line. He also serves as the recruiting coordinator and the coordinator of the Navy football camp. Pehrson has been an integral part of a staff that has brought the Midshipmen back into the national spotlight with a 43-20 (.683) record over the last five years.

The 2007 season was one for the record books as the Midshipmen posted an 8-5 record, won a school-record fifth-consecutive Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, appeared in a school-record fifth-straight bowl game, and defeated Notre Dame for the first time since 1963. Defensive end Michael Walsh developed into one of Navy's biggest playmakers on defense under Pehrson's tutlege, recording 57 tackles, a team-high 10.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.

The Mids received solid contributions from the defensive line in 2006, especially from senior John Chan. Chan recorded seven sacks, tied for the seventh most in school history, while his 14-career sacks ranks fourth. Pehrson was part of a staff that did a remarkable job in 2005 with a defense that returned just three starters from the year before. The Mids ranked 62nd in total defense (377.3) and scoring defense (26.1), while they won a second-straight bowl game and a third-straight Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.

In 2004, Pehrson's efforts helped Navy finish 26th in the country in scoring defense (19.83), win a school-record tying 10 games (the most wins since 1905), win the Emerald Bowl and win the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy. In 2003, Pehrson was part of a defensive staff that saw great improvement on the defensive side of the football as the Mids finished 14th in the nation in pass defense (61st the year before), 42nd in pass efficiency defense (116th the year before), 34th in total defense (100th the year before) and 34th in scoring defense (108th the year before).

In 2001, Pehrson tutored defensive tackle Josh Brindel to All-Independent recognition by College Football News.

In 1999, Pehrson helped develop a defensive line into a big-play unit, recording 17 sacks and recovering six fumbles. Defensive end Gino Marchetti recovered a nation's-best five fumbles.

Pehrson coached the safeties his first-three seasons at the Academy and groomed Jamie Doffermyre into an All-East performer in 1998.

In 1997, Pehrson's troops contributed to the Mids ranking sixth in the country in turnover margin, as the safeties came up with 11 of Navy's 14 interceptions. Free safety Gervy Alota was named All-East, while strong safety Rashad Smith played in the Blue/Gray All-Star Game.

Pehrson came to the Naval Academy from Southern Utah, where he was an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for five years.

In five seasons with the Thunderbirds, 32 of his players garnered all-conference honors, and he coached three All-Americans, one Western Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year and one Academic All-American.

Prior to his tenure at Southern Utah, Pehrson was on the staff at Missouri Western State College, where he served in various capacities, including assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator and special teams coordinator. He was head football coach and an assistant coach in wrestling and track at Murray High School in Salt Lake City.

Pehrson is a native of Salt Lake City and earned all-state honors at Murray High School. He attended Utah where he was a two-year letterman as a defensive back. Pehrson earned his bachelor's degree in English from Utah in 1976 and received a master's degree from Brigham Young in 1985. He and his wife, the former Marty Grant, have two children, Preston and Jaci. Preston is a catcher in the Baltimore Orioles organization.