San Jose Mercury News has profiled the Oakland Raiders Defensive Coordinator and UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry alumnus, Jason Tarver (M.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).
San Jose Mercury News: “Raiders’ mad scientist of defense: Tarver has Oakland on upswing”
Jason Tarver recalls meeting with 49ers general manager Bill Walsh, coach Steve Mariucci and front office executive Bill McPherson in 2001, hoping to get a job as a low-level assistant coach.
His résumé included a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and an award bestowed by the UCLA chemistry department for distinguished teaching in biochemistry.
Jason Tarver (White cap). Photos courtesy of Jose Carlos Farjado (San Jose Mercury News)
All which of made Walsh wonder why Tarver was sitting at the table.
“The first thing he asked me was, ‘Why don’t you go out and invent something?’ ” Tarver said.
A dozen years later, Tarver, in his second season as defensive coordinator, has helped reinvent the way the Raiders play defense.
To read the rest of the story, please visit the San Jose Mercury News article, written by Jerry McDonald.
