Over the course of his 18-year collegiate coaching career, Ludwig, 40, has earned the reputation as an offensive innovator who excels in the development of quarterbacks. A 2001 finalist for the Broyles Award (presented annually to the nation's top collegiate assistant coach), Ludwig masterminded an offense that ranked third in the country in 2001 in passing efficiency, and fourth in both scoring offense (40.4 avg.) and total offense (497.2 avg.). The Bulldog offense that season featured the play of a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. Fresno State went 11-3 and advanced to postseason play in the Silicon Valley Football Classic. Under Ludwig Carr threw for 4,839 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2001 and earned the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top senior quarterback. Carr led the nation in points responsible for and finished second in passing efficiency and third in total offense. Ludwig also mentored FSU QB Billy Volek, who set the NCAA career record for lowest interception percentage.

Ludwig's other experience as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach came at Cal Poly-SLO in 1997 and Augustana (S.D.), in 1993-94, where he coached the receivers as well. Ludwig began his coaching career at Portland State, his alma mater, coaching the wide receivers from 1987-88. He spent the 1989-91 seasons as the quarterbacks and receivers coach at Idaho State, before making the jump to Division I-A as a defensive graduate assistant at Utah in 1992. Between stints at Augustana and Cal Poly, he coached the quarterbacks at Boise State from 1995-96. His early coaching resume also includes some impressive highlights. At Cal Poly, he guided an offensive attack that completed the year seventh in the country (NCAA I-AA) in total offense (455.0 ypg). Quarterback Alli Abrew led the nation in passing efficiency in 1997. Ludwig's receivers helped Boise State achieve a No. 16 ranking (I-AA) in passing offense in 1995.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ludwig was raised in Ogden, Utah. He played for Snow College from 1983-84 before completing his playing career at Portland State in 1986. He earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Portland State in 1988. He and his wife Jill have a son Joseph and a daughter Delaney.

Utah's new defensive hire also comes with impressive credentials. In two years at Houston, his secondary achieved a reputation for interceptions and accounted for 13 of the team's 14 total interceptions in 2003. In both 2003 and 2004, safety Will Gulley picked off four passes, while cornerback Stanford Routt equaled that feat in 2003.