Tuesday, February 4, 2020
by Azusa Pacific Athletic Communications

AZUSA, Calif. - Rudy Carlton has been named the head coach of Azusa Pacific football. Carlton becomes the 10th head coach in program history, taking over for Victor Santa Cruz, who accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii after spending the past 14 seasons at the Cougar helm.
 
"When Coach Santa Cruz let me know he was leaving, it did not take me long to turn my attention towards Rudy," said athletic director Gary Pine. "We have a great culture in our football program, and Coach Carlton is the man who will continue the great tradition of Cougar football while enhancing the name of Azusa Pacific."
 
Carlton is no stranger to Azusa Pacific football; he was a quarterback for the Cougars from 2002 until 2007, and then joined the coaching staff in 2008. He has been the Cougars' offensive coordinator for the past ten seasons, and under his leadership, points, yards and accolades have become a mainstay on the offensive side of the ball. Since he took over the play-calling duties, the Cougars have gone 63-17 (.788) and have scored 35 or more points in 47 of those games. 
 
During Carlton's first full season in 2010 as the offensive coordinator, Azusa Pacific reached the NAIA playoffs. He orchestrated an offense that put up 35.9 points per game, rushing for 2,523 yards and passing for 1,717 yards. The Cougars found the endzone 44 times, with 29 rushing touchdowns and 15 passing touchdowns.
 
He followed up his rookie play-calling campaign by leading an offense that set school records in 2011. Azusa Pacific posted program-bests in total offense (5,957 yards), rushing offense (3,915 yards) and points scored (547), culminating in a second-straight trip to the NAIA playoffs.
 
From the time in which the Cougars joined the NCAA in 2013, Azusa Pacific has gone 56-38 overall, winning four Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles and making two trips to the NCAA playoffs. Over the past six seasons, Carlton has had 26 All-GNAC first-team selections, including three Offensive Player of the Year recipients and two Freshman of the Year honorees.
 
In 2013 and 2014, the Cougars turned in back-to-back 10-win seasons. Azusa Pacific went 10-1 in 2014, as Carlton orchestrated an offense led by eventual NFL running back Terrell Watson. Watson ran for a program-record 2,153 yards and led all NCAA college football divisions in rushing average (195.7 yards per game) on his way to an NFLPA Collegiate Bowl MVP performance. He signed free agent NFL contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
 
In 2016, the Cougars reached the NCAA playoffs for the first time in program history. During that season, Carlton coached GNAC Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Andrew Elfers, who finished the season top-20 in Division II in passing efficiency, throwing for 2,120 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Cougars scored 36.3 points per game that year, which put them 30th in the country.
 
Azusa Pacific reached the NCAA playoffs once again in 2018, in large part due to the Cougars' offensive attack. They averaged 27.5 points per game, tallying 4,771 yards and 43 touchdowns. Through the air, Carlton's offense averaged 259.3 passing yards and had 26 touchdown passes, while the running game posted 138.3 rushing yards per game and scored 15 touchdowns.
 
Prior to leading the Cougar offense from up top in the booth, Carlton had a four-year playing career that was highlighted by an outstanding 2007 senior season. Carlton threw for 2,605 yards and 28 touchdown passes while completing 197-of-344 (.573) passes. He is fifth in Azusa Pacific history for career touchdown passes (38) and completions (331), sixth in passing yards (4,373) and seventh in completion percentage (.535).
 
Before joining the Cougar coaching staff full-time in 2009, Carlton played two seasons Arena Football League II. He threw for over 2,600 yards while playing for the Texas Copperheads in 2008 and the Boise Burn in 2009.
 
"There is no question in my mind that Coach Carlton is ready to lead the program," said Pine, "he has gained a wealth of experience and perspective over his time here at Azusa Pacific by seeing the program from so many angles. He has been a player, a part-time assistant, a full-time coordinator, and now gets to take all of that knowledge and use it to keep moving the program forward. Great things are ahead for the Cougars under Coach Carlton."