MUSTANGS ADD NFL LEGEND TO COACHING STAFF
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:54 pmMUSTANGS ADD NFL LEGEND TO COACHING STAFF
Frank Gansz Coming To the Hilltop As Special Teams Coach
Feb. 20, 2008
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU has hired football coaching legend Frank Gansz as the Mustangs' new special teams coach, head coach June Jones announced Wednesday, February 20.
Considered perhaps the top special teams coach in the history of the NFL, Gansz is a veteran of 37 seasons of coaching - 24 in the NFL and 13 in the collegiate ranks.
"Frank is a legend in this business and we are extremely blessed to have him join our staff," said Jones. "He is a great person and there's not a better special teams coach out there. He will play a big part in helping us turn this program around."
Gansz was most recently 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 1999, the Rams' special teams scored three touchdowns and led the NFL in kickoff returns, averaging 25.1 yards per return. Tony Horne led the league with a 29.7 average and two TDs, and Az-Zahir Hakim also returned a punt for a score and averaged 10.5 yards per return, ranking sixth in the NFC. The Rams were fifth in the NFL in punt coverage (6.7) and Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins set an NFL record for most extra points in a season without a miss (64).
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. The special teams helped Kansas City claim its first playoff berth in 15 years by scoring all 24 points in a 24-19 victory over Pittsburgh in the season finale.
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 two 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 in Altoona, Pa., Gansz attended Taylor-Allerdice High in Pittsburgh, and has been inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He played center and linebacker for the Naval Academy in 1960.
Gansz will begin work on the Hilltop later this month.
Frank Gansz Coming To the Hilltop As Special Teams Coach
Feb. 20, 2008
DALLAS (SMU) - SMU has hired football coaching legend Frank Gansz as the Mustangs' new special teams coach, head coach June Jones announced Wednesday, February 20.
Considered perhaps the top special teams coach in the history of the NFL, Gansz is a veteran of 37 seasons of coaching - 24 in the NFL and 13 in the collegiate ranks.
"Frank is a legend in this business and we are extremely blessed to have him join our staff," said Jones. "He is a great person and there's not a better special teams coach out there. He will play a big part in helping us turn this program around."
Gansz was most recently 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 1999, the Rams' special teams scored three touchdowns and led the NFL in kickoff returns, averaging 25.1 yards per return. Tony Horne led the league with a 29.7 average and two TDs, and Az-Zahir Hakim also returned a punt for a score and averaged 10.5 yards per return, ranking sixth in the NFC. The Rams were fifth in the NFL in punt coverage (6.7) and Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins set an NFL record for most extra points in a season without a miss (64).
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. The special teams helped Kansas City claim its first playoff berth in 15 years by scoring all 24 points in a 24-19 victory over Pittsburgh in the season finale.
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 two 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 in Altoona, Pa., Gansz attended Taylor-Allerdice High in Pittsburgh, and has been inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He played center and linebacker for the Naval Academy in 1960.
Gansz will begin work on the Hilltop later this month.
