- Bill Arnsparger
NFL PlayerCoach | name= Bill Arnsparger
DateOfBirth=December 16 ,1926
Birthplace=Paris, Kentucky
DateOfDeath =
Position= Head Coach
Athletic Director
College=Miami University
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player=
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teams=
coach=Type Anything to activate (even this!)
coachingteams=Ohio State University University of Kentucky Tulane University Baltimore Colts Miami Dolphins New York Giants Louisiana State University University of Florida San Diego Chargers
coachingyears=1951-1954
1954-1962
1962-1964
1964-1969
1969-1974;1976-1983
1974-1976
1983-1986
1986-1992
1992-1995
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HOFYear=Bill Arnsparger (born
December 16 ,1926 ) is a former football coach who was primarily an assistant, but served as head coach at both the professional and collegiate levels.A native of
Paris, Kentucky , Arnsparger attended Paris High School and became connected with the school's longtime football and basketball coach,Blanton Collier . The relationship would have a major impact on his future career.After serving in the United States Marines during
World War II , Arnsparger graduated fromMiami University in January 1950. He is a member of theSigma Chi Fraternity. He then served as an assistant at the school Fall 1950.Ohio State (1951-1954)
On
February 21 ,1951 , Arnsparger was hired byOhio State University 's new head coachWoody Hayes as the squad's line coach. He served in that capacity until 1954.Kentucky (1954-1962)
In 1954, Arnsparger re-connected with Collier, who had been hired as head coach at the
University of Kentucky .Arnsparger remained at Kentucky for the next eight years until Collier was fired on
January 2 ,1962 . During the 1959 season, he was joined on the coaching staff by a young coach who had served at the University of Virginia the previous year. That coach wasDon Shula , with the two mentors forging a strong bond that would serve them for much of the next quarter century.Tulane (1962-1964)
Arnsparger moved on to an assistant position with
Tulane University , but, after two years, resigned the post onMarch 6 ,1964 to become defensive line coach for the Baltimore Colts under Shula.NFL (1964-1983)
In 1964, Arnsparger became the defensive line coach for the Baltimore Colts. That season, the team reached the
NFL Championship game and remained one of the strongest teams of the 1960s, competing inSuper Bowl III onJanuary 12 ,1969 .When Shula left to become head coach with the
Miami Dolphins after the end of the1969 NFL season , he brought along Arnsparger. In just two seasons, the formerly moribund team had reached theSuper Bowl , with Arnsparger fashioning what became known as the "No-Name Defense ". World championships in each of the next two seasons, including an undefeated season during 1972, made Arnsparger a prime candidate for a head coaching position.Following the team's 24-7 victory over the
Minnesota Vikings inSuper Bowl VIII , Arnsparger was named head coach of theNew York Giants . However, the success he had enjoyed as an assistant evaporated in his new role, with the Giants managing just seven wins in his 35 games. It should be noted that Arnsparger had the daunting task of leading the Giants in three different stadiums in his tenure: theYale Bowl inNew Haven, Connecticut in 1974;Shea Stadium , home of the cross-town rivalNew York Jets in 1975; and finally,Giants Stadium in 1976. Arnsparger was fired onOctober 25 ,1976 , with the team having lost all seven of its games on the year.Just two days after his dismissal, Arnsparger was rehired by Shula as Miami's assistant head coach in charge of the defense. In the team's first game under his leadership, the Dolphins won a 10-3 defensive battle over the
New England Patriots , who had averaged 30 points entering the contest.Miami finished the
1976 NFL season with a 6-8 mark, then narrowly missed a playoff berth the following season. During the next two seasons, the Dolphins reached the postseason, but dropped their first playoff game. During the strike-shortened1982 NFL season , Miami finally put things together and reachedSuper Bowl XVII , but dropped a 27-17 decision to theWashington Redskins . Bill Arnsparger again had created an elite defensive unit, known as the Killer B's (so named because of the number of surnames beginning with B on that unit).LSU (1983-1986)
On
December 2 ,1983 , Arnsparger was hired as head coach atLouisiana State University , but finished his season with the Dolphins. Spending three years as Tigers' head coach, Arnsparger led his 1986 squad to the school's first Southeastern Conference title since 1970, as well as a berth in theSugar Bowl . Shortly after accepting the bid, Arnsparger announced he was resigning to become athletic director at theUniversity of Florida .University of Florida Athletic Director (1986-1992)
In 1989, Arnsparger's new school became embroiled in a series of controversies when it was revealed that head football coach
Galen Hall had committed NCAA violations and that two players on his team had admitted gambling on college football games. In addition, questions about the school's men's basketball program also surfaced, allegations that led to the forced resignation of coachNorm Sloan .Despite seeing both teams put on probation, Arnsparger was able to extricate himself from the football problem by hiring
Duke University head coach and former FloridaHeisman Trophy winnerSteve Spurrier . The appointment set the stage for one of the most successful runs for a program during the 1990s. Ironically, Spurrier was a finalist for the LSU job when Arnsparger left LSU. The LSU position instead went to Arnsparger's defensive coordinator,Mike Archer , and Spurrier instead landed inDurham, North Carolina .NFL (1992-1995)
On
January 13 ,1992 , Arnsparger resigned to become defensive coordinator of theSan Diego Chargers . During his four years, the team's defense showed marked improvement, culminating with an appearance inSuper Bowl XXIX . Just days after the team's appearance, Arnsparger announced his retirement, citing theprostate cancer surgery he had undergone the year before.
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