USF Athletics

Peter Vaas joined the University of South Florida football coaching staff in January 2010 to serve as an assistant coach with the Bulls in charge of quarterbacks. He transitioned to coaching the tight ends for the 2012 season.

In his first season with the Bulls, Vaas helped B.J. Daniels progress throughout a season that culminated in Daniels earning MVP of the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Daniels finished the year with 1,685 passing yards and 11 TDs. Vaas also helped mentor true freshman walk-on Bobby Eveld, who entered the Miami game for an injured Daniels in the second half and led the Bulls on a last-minute TD drive to tie a game they would win in OT.

Vaas really made his mark with Daniels in year two, when the junior QB improved in virtually all areas. Daniels threw for 900 more yards and increased his total offense by over 1,000 yards despite playing in one less game. He also protected the ball much better, throwing just seven INTs in 2011 compared to 13 in 2010.

Former Vaas Players: Brady Quinn | Rick Mirer | Ricky Watters
NFL Europe Championships: World Bowl X | World Bowl IX

Vaas joined the USF staff after one season as the offensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio). Prior to his stint with the RedHawks, Vaas spent the 2007 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke. Before joining the Blue Devils, Vaas spent two seasons on Charlie Weis' Notre Dame staff as the quarterbacks coach with the Fighting Irish for the 2005 and ‘06 seasons.

During his two seasons at Notre Dame, Vaas helped the Irish to a 19-6 record with consecutive BCS bowl game appearances -- the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls. He coached record-setting All-America quarterback Brady Quinn, who won the Maxwell Trophy and Johnny Unitas Award in 2006 after throwing for 3,426 yards and 37 touchdowns. Quinn, also the recipient of the Cingular All-America Player of the Year award, twice was named Notre Dame's MVP and finished his career with school records of 11,762 passing yards and 95 touchdown passes.

Vaas has coached numerous players in college, the Canadian Football League as well as NFL Europe, who have gone on to a career in the NFL. In August 2010, Tracy Ham, one of Vaas' pupils in the Canadian Football League, was enshrined into the CFL Hall of Fame, the first hall of famer in any league Vaas has mentored.

Vaas served six seasons as a head coach in NFL Europe, guiding the Berlin Thunder (21-21 overall record from 2000-03) to World Bowl championships in 2001 and 2002, while earning the league's Coach of the Year honor in 2002. He then directed the Cologne Centurions (2004-05) for two seasons, compiling a 10-10 overall record. Vaas also served two seasons (1998-99) as an assistant coach for the Barcelona Dragons, helping the team to an 11-9 ledger and a berth in the 1999 World Bowl.

Prior to his coaching stints in NFL Europe, Vaas was the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 1996. That season, Montreal led the CFL in rushing and fewest turnovers and posted a 12-6 regular-season ledger.

Vaas, a 1974 graduate of Holy Cross, returned to his alma mater as head football coach and registered a 14-30 overall record from 1992-95. He served under head coach Lou Holtz on the Notre Dame staff in 1990 (running backs) and 1991 (quarterbacks). In that two-year span, the Fighting Irish went 19-6, defeated seven top-25 opponents and played in the Orange and Sugar Bowls. The 1991 squad established a Notre Dame regular-season record by totaling 426 points and eclipsing the 40-point barrier in six games.

Vaas spent the previous four seasons as head football coach at Allegheny College, where he compiled a 29-11-1 record from 1986-89. He guided the Gators to North Coast Athletic Conference titles in 1987 and 1988, earning league Coach of the Year honors in both of those seasons.

Prior to taking the head coaching job at Allegheny College, Vaas was a member of the coaching staff at New Hampshire as the offensive backfield coach from 1979-82 and later offensive coordinator from 1983-85. He got his start in coaching at Allegheny College, where he spent five seasons (1974-78) as an assistant coach.

A native of Westwood, Mass., Vaas was a three-year starter at quarterback at Holy Cross after a successful high school career at Westwood High School in Westwood, Mass. Vaas played on the varsity football team for four years and was named the starting quarterback at Westwood midway through his freshman season up through his senior year.

Vaas was also a standout baseball and basketball player, earning three varsity letters in each as a member of the varsity teams his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, graduating in 1970. He was an inaugural inductee into the Westwood High School Hall of Fame in 1992 and was inducted into Allegheny's Hall of Fame in 1999 as a coach.

Vaas is also a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association, having that honor bestowed upon him after surpassing 35 years of membership.

A 1974 graduate of Holy Cross where he earned his bachelors in history, Vaas also finished his career at Holy Cross with his teaching certificate.

Vaas and his wife, Rosann, have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly.