Oak Creek legend Brian Calhoun is still active in Milwaukee
OAK CREEK, Wis. (BVM) – Brian Calhoun was a track and field and football star at Oak Creek. During his time with the Knights, he set records that still stand today. He then doubled down on his talented high school career by putting together a 2005 season with the Wisconsin Badgers that was on par with Reggie Bush’s 2005 Heisman Trophy winning season. Following two years in the NFL, Calhoun moved on to a coaching career and has been active in the Milwaukee area ever since.
Brian Calhoun’s high school career
Brian Calhoun was a force on the football field for Oak Creek High School. In particular, his junior season stood out amongst his time with the Knights. Calhoun rushed for 1,967 yards and 40 touchdowns. His 40 touchdowns and 2,095 total yards that year are single-season records at Oak Creek. Calhoun helped the Knights reach the postseason each year he was there. He holds the single-game school records for rushing yards (295) and touchdowns (7) as well as the record for career touchdowns (82) and career rushing yards (4,790). As a senior, he was named the Gatorade Wisconsin Football Player of the Year.
When he wasn’t running on the football field, he was running on the track. Calhoun dominated there too, winning two state medals in the 200 meter dash, three in the long jump and another two medals in other events.
Calhoun was a four-star recruit out of Oak Creek and the best recruit in Wisconsin for the Class of 2002. He committed to the University of Colorado and would play there for two years before transferring to the University of Wisconsin.
Brian Calhoun’s Wisconsin career
After being honorable mention All-Big 12 at Colorado and sitting out a season due to transfer rules, Calhoun started his career with the Badgers during the 2005 season. He quickly showed that he was an extremely capable running back. In Wisconsin’s season opener against Bowling Green, Calhoun rushed 43 times for 258 yards and five touchdowns. He would rush for over 100 yards nine times during the season, helping the Badgers to a 10-3 record. In the Capital One Bowl against Auburn, Calhoun rushed for 213 yards and one touchdown, earning him MVP and Wisconsin a 24-10 win.
Calhoun was named first team All-Big Ten and was an AP Second Team All-American. His 1,636 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 571 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns were some of the best stats in the country. In fact, they were right on par with USC’s Reggie Bush, who won the 2005 Heisman Trophy.
Reggie Bush's 2005 season at USC: Rushing – 1740 yards, 16 touchdowns. Receiving – 37 catches, 478 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Brian Calhoun's 2005 at Wisconsin: Rushing – 1636 yards, 22 touchdowns. Receiving – 53 catches, 571 yards, 2 touchdowns.
Reggie Bush won the Heisman. pic.twitter.com/Ie9R8ceTEk
— Badger of Honor (@BadgerOfHonorFS) June 8, 2018
His 22 touchdowns were a Wisconsin record at the time and he was only the second Badger running back to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season. Even though it was only for one season, Calhoun is considered one of the best running backs to play for Wisconsin and had he decided to stay for his senior year, he certainly would have solidified himself as one of the best.
Following his junior year, Calhoun entered the 2006 NFL Draft and was selected in the third round by the Detroit Lions.
Brian Calhoun’s NFL career, post NFL life
Calhoun would only play two seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions before being waived by the team. Injuries played a big reason for the end to his career but Calhoun found a career in coaching. He was a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Pittsburgh and he has also coached high schoolers for years.
He is currently the Director of Fitness & Performance at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in the Milwaukee area. Calhoun has also been the girls track and field coach at Brookfield Central High School as well as a running backs coach at his alma mater, Oak Creek. He was an assistant football coach at Brookfield Central and Milwaukee Pius XI. At each position, he has shown a talent for leading high schoolers to success both on and off the field.
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