John Rushing, Oregon State defensive backs coach in 2017, dies at 48

John Rushing

Five current Oregon State defensive backs were on the roster when John Rushing was an assistant coach in 2017.

John Rushing, who coached defensive backs at Oregon State as part of Gary Andersen’s staff, died Friday morning at age 48.

Rushing, a defensive back at Washington State from 1991-94, had been living in Tucson as he was an Arizona assistant coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Andersen hired Rushing at Oregon State in 2017, their second stint together. Rushing briefly served on Andersen’s Utah State staff in 2003.

Among current Oregon State defensive backs on the roster while Rushing was a Beavers assistant are David Morris, Jaydon Grant, Kaleb Hayes, Isaiah Dunn and Mason Moran.

Rushing had a brief professional playing career before he began coaching college in 1996 at Willamette University. Rushing had coaching stops at Boise State, Montana State, Utah State, Oregon State and Arizona, as well as Green Bay and Los Angeles of the NFL.

Rushing is survived by wife Angela and their four children.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel


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