About

The Pistol Spread Option is an offensive system utilizing the Pistol Formation developed by Coach Christ Ault at Nevada Reno.  The system combines the best of the Spread Option system and the run game of the Triple Option.  The system is designed to utilize the talent of the players that you have.  The base of the offense is triple option out of the Pistol Formation.  We utilize 4 wide receivers on every play.  The Depth of the QB is 4 yards and the depth of the HB is 7.  The key to the offense is that nearly every play that we run is designed to be a triple option.  Combine that concept with the best of the spread offensive 4 and 5 wide receiver passing game as well as quick screens and you have the PSO!

The Pistol Spread Option system was founded by Anthony M. Pratley. Coach Pratley is currently the Offensive Coordinator at Concordia University Ann Arbor.  He was previously the Head Football Coach at Leonardtown High School in Leonardtown, Md, served as Defensive Coordinator at Frankfort High School in Frankfort, MI and was the Head Football Coach at Mesick High School in Mesick, MI.

As a player in High School, Coach Pratley learned the Split Back Veer while he played on 2 Michigan High School Football State Championship teams as well as a State-Runner Up team.  From there he went on the play college football at Concordia University Wisconsin where he learned more about the passing game.  In his first Head Coaching job, Coach Pratley studied and implemented the Navy, Air Force style of Flexbone Offense from under center.  He then switched to the Spread Offense back in the year 2000.  It was in 2005 that Coach Ault began to run the Pistol Offense at Nevada, and the idea was born.  Utilizing the Pistol formation and combining the best of the spread and triple option.  It was this background which led to the formation of the Pistol Spread Option Offense and the many features that it has to offer.