TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Dave Canales ('03) was announced as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League last week. Canales will run the Buccaneers' offense after spending the last 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks.
"On behalf of everyone at Azusa Pacific, I am so proud of David and the opportunity that lies in front of him with the Buccaneers," said Director of Athletics Gary Pine, "He has been an outstanding ambassador of this university in the NFL. He has proven worthy of this calling, and because of his character and who he is, I am confident that he will do very well in this new role."
Prior to his coaching career, Canales was a five-year member of the Azusa Pacific football program (1999-2003), and he served as a team captain in 2002 & 2003. During his time at Azusa Pacific, the Cougars posted a 36-15 record and made three playoff appearances. As a receiver for the Cougars, Canales caught 27 passes for 298 yards (11.1 ypg) and had a touchdown reception in his senior season. Canales graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in business.
Following his time at Azusa Pacific, Canales started his coaching career at Carson High School, his alma mater. He quickly rose through the coaching ranks, as he went from CHS to El Camino College, where he spent three seasons, before joining Pete Carroll's coaching staff at the University of Southern California in 2009.
Canales' first season as an assistant in the NFL was in 2010, when he was named a quality control/offense coach for the Seahawks. After three seasons in that role, he then spent two years as the assistant quarterbacks coach, including the 2013 season in which the Seahawks were Super Bowl Champions. Canales then became the Seahawks' wide receivers coach from 2015-17, then spent the 2018 & 2019 campaigns as the team's quarterbacks coach, and was most recently the Seahawks' offensive passing game coordinator.
In a statement, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles had this to say about Canales' appointment to the staff, "We are excited to announce Dave Canales as our new offensive coordinator… Dave has done a great job in a variety of roles with Seattle the past 13 years and he brings a passion for coaching and an energy level that players just seem to respond to. He has played a significant part in the development and growth of many Seahawks players who have contributed to their offensive success over the past decade, and I look forward to seeing what he will do with our players on offense. The more we talked, the more it became apparent that we are very similar in how we approach the game, and I am confident that he will find a way to maximize our strengths on offense."
Canales is one of two Azusa Pacific football alums currently in the NFL, as Matthew Orzech ('18) is a long snapper for the Los Angeles Rams. Orzech and the Rams were Super Bowl Champions (Super Bowl LVI) in 2022.
Canales and his wife Elizabeth (Henderson '05) have two children. Canales' younger brother, Coba Canales ('06), played baseball and football for the Cougars and was a team captain for both programs, and he currently serves as the Dean of Spiritual Life at Azusa Pacific.
APU's Life on Film: Dave (made in 2017)
