Mike Westhoff

Mike Westhoff
Mike Westhoff
Date of birth January 10, 1948 (1948-01-10) (age 63)
Place of birth Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
Position(s) Special Teams Coordinator
College Wichita State
1974

1975

1976

1977


1978-1980

1981

1982-1984


1985

1986-2000


2001-present
Indiana
(Graduate Assistant)
Indiana
(Freshman Coach)
Dayton
(Offensive Line Coach)
Indiana State
(Defensive Line/Linebackers Coach)
Northwestern
(Offensive Line Coach)
TCU
(Offensive Line Coach)
Indianapolis Colts
(Offensive Line, Tight Ends and Special Teams Coach)
Arizona Outlaws
(Offensive Line Coach)
Miami Dolphins
(Special Teams/Tight Ends Coach)
New York Jets
(Special Teams Coach)

Mike Westhoff is a special teams coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Westhoff is considered a "pioneering special teams coach" and his special teams units are generally ranked very highly in the NFL.[1][2]

Contents

Coaching career

New York Jets

Westhoff joined the Jets staff in 2001 after spending the previous 15 seasons in a similar capacity with the Miami Dolphins.

He stepped down as the special teams coach for the New York Jets in December 2007 after the final game.[3] On September 1, 2008, it was announced Westhoff would return to the Jets' sideline for the 2008 season in an undefined role.

On August 8, 2010, Westhoff received a one year contract extension.[1] Westhoff will remain with the team through 2011 and barring any setbacks will retire following the 2011 season.[1]

Personal

In 1988, Westhoff was diagnosed with cancer of the femur in his left leg.[4] Originally, the condition was misdiagnosed and Westhoff was nearly fatally wounded after the doctor accidentally cut one of his arteries.[4] Once the correct diagnosis was made, Westhoff underwent ten surgeries to remove the cancer and the bone replacing it with bone grafts, plates, screws and pins.[4][5] A cracked bone graft in 2007, caused Westhoff to announce his departure from the Jets.[6] In 2008, Westhoff entered the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to undergo a procedure to replace the missing femur with a titanium rod.[4] After vigorous rehabilitation, Westhoff was able to walk again and returned to the Jets' sidelines in September 2008.[7]

Westhoff is a native of the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.[8] Westhoff has a son, John.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Cimini, Rich (August 9, 2010), Mike Westhoff re-ups Jets deal, ESPN, archived from the original on November 9, 2010, http://www.webcitation.org/5u7YzvaX1, retrieved November 9, 2010 
  2. ^ Ryan, p. 133
  3. ^ Youngmisuk, Ohm (2007-12-31). "Farewell for Mike Westhoff". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2007/12/31/2007-12-31_farewell_for_mike_westhoff.html. Retrieved 2009-01-21. 
  4. ^ a b c d Ryan, p. 134
  5. ^ a b Bishop, Greg (March 9, 2008), "The Bounce Is Returning to Westhoff’s Steps", The New York Times (The New York Times Company), archived from the original on May 11, 2011, http://www.webcitation.org/5ybkOxah0, retrieved May 11, 2011 
  6. ^ Brennan, Sean (January 22, 2010), New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff, a cancer survivor, enjoying Super ride of life, New York Daily News, archived from the original on May 11, 2011, http://www.webcitation.org/5ybkYcdmo, retrieved May 11, 2011 
  7. ^ Cole, Jason (October 12, 2008), Jets assistant battled through cancer, leg ailments, Yahoo! Sports, archived from the original on May 11, 2011, http://www.webcitation.org/5ybkuFzy4, retrieved May 11, 2011 
  8. ^ Finder, Chuck (January 11, 2005), Bethel Park native raises cane as Jets assistant, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, archived from the original on November 9, 2010, http://www.webcitation.org/5u7ao4iBy, retrieved November 9, 2010 

Bibliography

  • Ryan, Rex; Don Yaeger (2011). Play Like You Mean It: Passion, Laughs, and Leadership In the World's Most Beautiful Game. New York, New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-53444-4. 

External links