Big Ten (+ Nebraska) Head Coaches' playing careers

Submitted by oriental andrew on

So the forum topic on NFL coaches' playing careers got me to wondering about where the Big Ten coaches played and if any of them played in the NFL.  So, here is the comprehensive rundown.  As of now, it includes Tim Brewster.  Nothing on interim HC Jeff Horton, as I can't find any info on his playing days.  Note that Brewster and Fitzgerald appear to be the only ones who even attempted to play in the NFL - Brewster got cut in 2 training camps, and Fitz signed a FA contract with Dallas, only to give up playing after the preseason.

Not really sure what any of this shows other than that they all played college ball somewhere with varying levels of success (Fitz easily the most decorated, many of the others just have token notes that they played).  They're just alphabetical by school, but if I had to rank the top 3 based on what I've found, it'd go Fitzgerald, Brewster (I know, right?), and Pelini.  


 
School Coach Position College NFL Comments
Illinois Ron Zook DB Miami (NTM)    
Indiana Bill Lynch QB Butler    4 varsity letters; Captain of basketball team
Iowa Kirk Ferentz LB Uconn    
Michigan Rich Rodriguez DB WVU    
Michigan State Mark Dantonio DB USC (NTUSC)   3-year letter winner
Minnesota Tim Brewster* TE Illinois Training camps 2-time All-Big Ten
Nebraska Bo Pelini FS Ohio State   2-year starter, co-captain
Northwestern Pat Fitzgerald LB Northwestern FA with Dallas, one  preseason only 2 time Big Ten DPOTY, Nagurski and Bednarik trophies twice, CFB Hall of Fame
Ohio State Jim Tressel QB Baldwin-Wallace   4 letters, 1 all-conference
Penn State Joe Paterno QB/CB Brown    
Purdue Danny Hope OT EKU    
Wisconsin Bret Bielema NG Iowa   4 letters
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michgoblue

October 19th, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^

 

Illinois Ron Zook DB Miami (NTM)    TOTAL DEUCHEBAG
Indiana Bill Lynch QB Butler    4 varsity letters; Captain of basketball team
Iowa Kirk Ferentz LB Uconn    MOST BORING MAN ALIVE.  LIKE EVER.
Michigan Rich Rodriguez DB WVU    
Michigan State Mark Dantonio DB USC (NTUSC)  

3-year letter winner.

ALSO, LIKES CLOCKS.
Minnesota Tim Brewster* TE Illinois Training camps

2-time All-Big Ten.
Nebraska Bo Pelini FS Ohio State   2-year starter, co-captain
Northwestern Pat Fitzgerald LB Northwestern FA with Dallas, one  preseason only 2 time Big Ten DPOTY, Nagurski and Bednarik trophies twice, CFB Hall of Fame
Ohio State Jim Tressel QB Baldwin-Wallace  

4 letters, 1 all-conference

THOSE LETTERS:

O-H-I-O

ALSO, REALLY LIKES VESTS AND DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO COACH A DUEL THREAT QB
Penn State Joe Paterno QB/CB Brown    OLD.  VERY OLD.
Purdue Danny Hope OT EKU    MAKES RON ZOOK LOOK LIKE LESS OF A DEUCHEBAG.  ALSO, DOES NOT LIKE HATS OR SNAKES.
Wisconsin Bret Bielema NG Iowa  

4 letters

HAS THOSE 4 LETTERS (IOWA) TATTOOD ON HIS ARM, DESPITE COACHING AT WISCO.  (IMAGINE THE REACTION IF RR HAD "WVU" ON HIS ARM?)

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: 32166

varsity

October 19th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^

Bill Lynch....who the hell is Bill Lynch?

Bo Pelini.....knew there was a reason i hated that guy (tUOS)

Jim Tressel.....loves him some wine coolers

Joe Paterno.....farts dust

Danny Hope.....carries on the fine purdue mustache tradition

Bret Bielema....has the best "what the hell just happened" look in the conference, see vs UM 2008

Joined: 06/29/2010

MGoPoints: 2011

profitgoblue

October 19th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^

I love that Tressel went to Baldwin-Wallace, if only because I've never heard of that school.  Of course, that prompted me to do some research and it turns out that Baldwin-Wallace is, in fact, a real institution and does, in fact, field a football team.  However, the lead story on the football webpage (http://www.bw.edu/athletics/fb/) is:

Baldwin-Wallace College Wide Receiver Turned Placekicker Brad Pollock Makes Big Impact

Hmmmmm.  Can Jeremy Jackson kick?  Baquer Sayed? 

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 19559

Urban Warfare

October 19th, 2010 at 4:00 PM ^

Lee Tressel was Baldwin-Wallace's head coach from '58-'80 and put together a 155-52-6 record and a D-III championship in '78. 

Scott Schafer, ex-Michigan DC, played at Baldwin-Wallace in the late '80s. 

And the (original) Cleveland Browns had their training camp at Baldwin-Wallace.

Joined: 09/28/2010

MGoPoints: 1691

jmblue

October 19th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^

He'll stay at MSU for the rest of his career (probably 5-7 more years).  And it's not a big deal.  This is a guy who's never won a bowl game and was just a few games over .500 entering this season.  The stars have aligned for him this year - he has an excellent QB (recruited by his predecessor), lots of experience across the board, and a weak schedule.  He'd better capitalize this year, because the next two years the going will get a lot tougher.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 102802

gebe659

October 19th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^

Your post is a bit misleading.

Kirk Cousins had communicated with John L. Smith and his staff, but never got an offer... he wasn't really seen as a guy that could run JLS's offense, and JLS had already gotten a commitment from Keith Nichol, who at the time was a highly rated recruit. Cousins was all set to go to WMU when he got his offer from the Dantonio staff after Nichol decommitted.

Also, 9 out of MSU's 22 starters are freshmen or sophomores (7 of them on defense), and several key backups (like LeVeon Bell and Will Gholston) are freshmen. Both kickers (KO and PK) are underclassmen too.

Joined: 10/12/2010

MGoPoints: 688

Urban Warfare

October 19th, 2010 at 5:45 PM ^

Between the offseason intramural MMA league and the other discipline issues, OSU wouldn't hire Dantonio.  Gee and Smith have made it clear that the biggest thing they look for in coaches is discipline and character.  If Dantonio can clean up the program and get through a few seasons without major embarrassment, he's probably the guy.  Otherwise, not a chance. 

Joined: 09/28/2010

MGoPoints: 1691