In Remembrance of Coach Frank Gansz (1938-2009)

by **RGV Pony** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:02 pm

I just can't get it out of my head how vibrant and full of life he sounded at the last Saturday morning practice I was at...like most of you, in the rain.

by **mr. pony** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:04 pm

Ã¢â‚¬Å“SMU is a very special program, a very special school. ThereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not just any place IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢d go back to [coaching.]Ã¢â‚¬

by **LakeHighlandsPony** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:45 pm

I sure hope we name a practice field or something after Coach to show his family how much we love him. He is eternally a Mustang!

by **George S. Patton** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:48 pm

There are no words to describe the sorrow I feel for his family and then the SMU family. Based on everything I ever read or heard about him, he got the most of his 70 years. I am grateful he came to our school for two years. My only regret is that I didn't meet him.

I would suspect we will dedicate the season to him in some way with a helmet decal or patch. It's the least we can do.

And he will raise you up on Eagles Wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of his hand

by **SMU89** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:57 pm

LakeHighlandsPony wrote:I sure hope we name a practice field or something after Coach to show his family how much we love him. He is eternally a Mustang!

Should have one of his famous quotes prominently displayed where current/future players will see it....

From a previously posted article --

Legend has it Gansz once said this:

"Men, mothers turn their kids' eyes away when we go in to block a punt."

by **ALEX LIFESON** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:00 pm

Coaching Legend Frank Gansz Passes Away
SMU Assistant Survived By Wife, Two Children

April 27, 2009

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU assistant coach and coaching legend Frank Gansz passed away on April 27, 2009. He was 70. Gansz is survived by his wife, Barbara, and two children, Frank Jr., an assistant coach at UCLA, and Jennifer.

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of my good friend," said SMU Head Coach June Jones. "Frank has been a second father to me for the past 30 years and he has touched the lives of many, both at SMU and throughout the National Football League. I was lucky to have known Frank, and not only was he a wonderful person, but he was a father to everyone he has ever coached. He will live on with us. My team will miss him as a coach and mentor, but most of all, I will miss him as my best friend."

Considered perhaps the top special teams coach in the history of the NFL, Frank Gansz was starting his second season on the Hilltop. Gansz was a veteran of 38 seasons of coaching - 24 in the NFL and 14 in the collegiate ranks.

"While we were only blessed with Frank's presence here on the Hilltop for 14 months, SMU is a better place because of his time here," said SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini. "We will miss him."

Prior to coming to SMU in 2008, Gansz was with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was special teams coordinator in 2000 and 2001. Prior to his time with the Jags, he served as the special teams coach of the St. Louis Rams for three seasons, helping the team to its victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

In 1986, Gansz's first year as the assistant head coach/special teams for Kansas City, the Chiefs blocked or deflected an NFL-record 10 kicks and scored five touchdowns. Because of his success with the special teams, Gansz was promoted to head coach of the Chiefs, a role he served from 1987 to 1988.

He left the Chiefs to become the special teams coach of the Detroit Lions from 1989 to 1993, a period in which Mel Gray developed into the NFL's all-time leader in combined kick return yardage. In 1989, Gansz was named NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers. Gansz then spent three years as the assistant head coach/special teams for the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996.

Gansz's NFL career began in 1978 as special teams coach for the San Francisco 49ers. He coached special teams and tight ends for Cincinnati (1979-80), Kansas City (1981-82) and Philadelphia (1983-85).

After serving as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force for nearly seven years, Gansz began his coaching career at the Air Force Academy (1964-66). He also had coaching stints at Colgate (1968), Navy (1969-72), Oklahoma State (1973, 1975), Army (1974) and UCLA (1976-77).

Born November 22, 1938, in Altoona, Pa., Gansz attended Taylor-Allerdice High in Pittsburgh, and was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He played center and linebacker for the Naval Academy from 1957 to 1959 and graduated in 1960.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

by **Heisman7Life** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:08 pm

It was during one of the first practices of the spring and I was invited to come to a SMU practice and pick the brains of various coaches.......he was the first to introduce himself and gave me faith that coaching can be done with intensity and character and still be fun. I will pray that he finds happiness at the next level....

by **Garret** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:22 pm

Deepest condolences to the Gansz family and the SMU family. I've appreciated Coach Frank Gansz ever since he spent a spring helping out JJ in Hawaii. Everything I've read about him talked about how good a man he was, in addition to being an excellent coach.

I thought he did an excellent job in improving the special teams for SMU last season, demonstrating that he hadn't lost any of his ability.

by **Mexmustang** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:42 pm

Like the rest of you, I am deeply saddened by our coach's passing. He was just such a great mentor of young men and I suspect, when needed a mentor for our coaches.

Few of you know the state of our locker room, no benches, no couches, no working TV, not exactly a turn on for recruits. I would suggest we name the locker room after him, start a fund in his name and get this thing done up correctly. A few alumns and supporters have started to fix this our of their pockets, but in the past not all the money has stayed where it was intended and used for other purposes in the athletic department, not the football team. The improvements should include pictures and quotes on the walls reminding the players of Frank. There have been a number of great coaches at SMU, and Frank needs to be remembered as one of our greatest.

by **Mustangsabu** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:59 pm

Is there going to be any sort of memorial service at SMU? And is there anywhere we can leave flowers etc.?

by **Junior** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:06 pm

God bless Coach and his family, including all of the players whose lives he touched over his many years of coaching.

by **OC Mustang** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:43 pm

My family and I attended a spring practice last year...and she thought he was Coach Jones for a moment. After about 10 minutes, as my ten-year old (at the time) walked back to the car, she looked at me and said, "THAT is a man that I'd let MY son play for."

Rest In Peace, Coach.

by **Mustangsabu** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:52 pm

Good night all, and good night Coach Gansz. Sleep you, you earned it.

by **Nacho** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:28 am

I only knew Coach Gansz from watching practice. He was always extremely positive and entertainig. He was one of a kind. What a character and I mean that in the most positive way. It won't be the same without him.

I haven't felt this sad for SMU since Doak died.

by **SMU SID** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:52 am

Arrangements are still pending. I will post on SMUMustangs and on here when I know details. Thanks.

In Remembrance of Coach Frank Gansz (1938-2009)

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