:Gary Moeller
{{Short description|American football player and coach (1941–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Gary Moeller
| image = Gary Moeller (15962822839) (1).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Moeller in 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|1|26}}
| birth_place = Lima, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|7|11|1941|1|26}}
| death_place = Lima, Ohio, U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1960–1962
| player_team1 = Ohio State
| player_years2 = 1963
| player_team2 = Grand Rapids Blazers
| player_positions = Linebacker, center
| coach_years1 = 1964–1967
| coach_team1 = Bellefontaine HS (OH)
| coach_years2 = 1967–1968
| coach_team2 = Miami (OH) (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 1969–1972
| coach_team3 = Michigan (DE)
| coach_years4 = 1973–1976
| coach_team4 = Michigan (DC)
| coach_years5 = 1977–1979
| coach_team5 = Illinois
| coach_years6 = 1980–1981
| coach_team6 = Michigan (QB)
| coach_years7 = 1982–1986
| coach_team7 = Michigan (DC)
| coach_years8 = 1987–1989
| coach_team8 = Michigan (OC)
| coach_years9 = 1990–1994
| coach_team9 = Michigan
| coach_years10 = 1995–1996
| coach_team10 = Cincinnati Bengals (TE)
| coach_years11 = 1997–2000
| coach_team11 = Detroit Lions (LB)
| coach_years12 = 2000
| coach_team12 = Detroit Lions
| coach_years13 = 2001
| coach_team13 = Jacksonville Jaguars (DC)
| coach_years14 = 2002–2003
| coach_team14 = Chicago Bears (LB)
| overall_record = 50–37–6 (college)
4–3 (NFL)
| bowl_record = 4–1
| tournament_record =
| championships =
As coach:
- 3× Big Ten (1990–1992)
As player:
| awards =
- 2× Big Ten Coach of the Year (1991–1992)
- Second-team All-Big Ten (1962)
| coaching_records =
}}
Gary Oscar Moeller ({{IPAc-en|'|m|oʊ|l|ər}}; January 26, 1941 – July 11, 2022) was an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758. In Big Ten Conference play, his teams won 30 games, lost 8, and tied 2 for a winning percentage of .775, and won or shared conference titles in 1990, 1991 and 1992.Biography at [https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/coaches/gmoeller.htm University of Michigan Athletics History]. Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved on July 14, 2009. He left Michigan in 1995 following a drunken incident. Moeller also coached in professional football and was the head coach of the Detroit Lions for part of the 2000 season. He was the father of former Cleveland Browns offensive line coach Andy Moeller.{{Cite news |date=September 21, 2010 |title=Ravens assistant Moeller arrested for DUI |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2010/09/21/Ravens-assistant-Moeller-arrested-for-DUI/28841285096334/ |access-date=March 22, 2024 |work=UPI.com |language=en}}
Player
Moeller graduated from Lima Senior High School in 1959, and afterwards attended Ohio State University. He saw his first action on the varsity football team in 1960 as an offensive guard. He switched to linebacker in 1961 and was named an honorable mention all-conference selection by United Press International (UPI) and Associated Press (AP). Moeller served as co-captain in his senior year along with Bob Vogel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105645843/the-lima-news/|newspaper=The Lima News|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 11, 1963|page=19|author=Dell, Chuck|title=Ex-Spartan Moeller Enters Pro Ranks}} {{Open access}}
Coach
After graduating in 1963, Moeller was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 5th round of the NFL draft, but did not play for the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerm/moel00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Gary Moeller Stats}} He instead played for the Grand Rapids Blazers of the United Football League (UFL).
Coaching
=High school and college football=
Moeller quit professional football during the 1964 training camp and entered the coaching ranks with Bellefontaine High School in Ohio.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105646204/the-lima-news/|newspaper=The Lima News|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 5, 1964|page=24|title=Sports Scope|author=Dell, Chuck}} {{Open access}} He served there as head coach and defensive line coach for several years until joining Bo Schembechler at Miami University in 1967.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105646418/dayton-daily-news/|newspaper=Dayton Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 26, 1967|page=81|title=No Super-Sophs Coming Up, Just Good Miami Prospects|author=Williams, Marty}} {{Open access}} He moved with Schembechler to Michigan in 1969,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105646909/the-herald-palladium/|newspaper=The Herald-Palladium|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 9, 1969|page=25|title=Former Buckeye}} {{Open access}} where he served as defensive ends coach until 1973, when he was promoted to defensive coordinator.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105646753/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 16, 1973|page=37|title=No-Name Defense Makes Name at U-M|author=Sylvester, Curt}} {{Open access}} Schembechler had also been an assistant coach at Ohio State when Moeller was a player, and both were members of the FWAA 1961 National Championship team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/college/osu/gary-moeller-former-ohio-state-football-captain-michigan-head-coach-dies-81/95-aa741e0e-b11f-4bc2-8eac-a432aa576fbc|newspaper=WKYC|title=Gary Moeller, former Ohio State football captain turned Michigan head coach, dies at 81|author=Lage, Larry|date=July 11, 2022}}
=Illinois=
Moeller was hired by the University of Illinois as head football coach in 1977, on a five-year contract.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105647381/the-herald-palladium/|newspaper=The Herald-Palladium|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 21, 1979|page=32|title=Meoeller's Dismissal Upsets Bo}} {{Open access}} After posting a 6–24–3 record in three seasons with the school, he was fired.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105647524/the-herald-palladium/|newspaper=The Herald-Palladium|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 21, 1979|page=32|title=Illinois Fires Gary Moeller|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}}
=Back to Michigan=
Moeller rejoined Michigan in 1980 as an assistant to head coach Bo Schembechler.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105647723/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 28, 1980|page=49|title=Michigan hires one coach...}} {{Open access}} He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1982.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105648700/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 10, 1982|page=120|title=Mo's baby: Bo gives Moeller latitude with U-M defense|author=LaPointe, Joe}} {{Open access}} He led the Michigan defense from 1982 until his position being changed to offensive coordinator in 1987.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105677067/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 20, 1987|page=58|title=Bo begins search for quarterback|author=Foster, Terry}} {{Open access}} When coach Schembechler underwent heart surgery prior to the final game of the season, the Hall of Fame Bowl, and could not coach, Moeller was named interim head coach and led the Wolverines to a 28–24 win over Alabama.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105677255/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 17, 1987|page=63, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105677342/detroit-free-press/ 69]|title=Moeller is ready to take responsibility|author=Foster, Terry}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105677415/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 5, 1988|page=33|title=Moeller is sitting pretty after Hall of Fame win|author=Vincent, Charlie}} {{Open access}}
==Head coach==
After three seasons as offensive coordinator, Moeller was named Schembechler's successor as Michigan head coach in 1990.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105679139/the-pantagraph/|newspaper=The Pantagraph|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 28, 1990|page=41|title=Can Moeller fill Bo's shoes|author=Kindred, Randy}} {{Open access}} In his first season as head, Moeller helped the team compile a 8–3 regular season record to win the conference title.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105680430/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 1, 1991|page=28, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105680582/detroit-free-press/ 32]|title=Wolverines out to prove a point or two|author=Wojnowski, Bob}} {{Open access}} The Wolverines were invited to the Gator Bowl, where they won 35–3 over the Ole Miss Rebels.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105680644/south-florida-sun-sentinel/|newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 2, 1991|page=26|title=Michigan rolls up Rebels, flags|author=Patton, Robes}} {{Open access}} Michigan improved to 10–2 in 1991 and repeated as conference champions, but lost 14–34 in the Rose Bowl to Washington.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105681005/south-florida-sun-sentinel/|newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 2, 1992|page=40|title=Michigan has recurring nightmare|author=Winderman, Ira}} {{Open access}} That year, he helped Desmond Howard win the Heisman Trophy and Erick Anderson win the Dick Butkus Award. In 1992, Moeller led the Wolverines to an undefeated 9–0–3 record, a conference championship, and a Rose Bowl win over Washington 38–31, finishing fifth in the national rankings.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105681413/lansing-state-journal/|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 3, 1993|page=50|title=Undefeated and unfulfilled|author=Atkins, Harry|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} Michigan compiled an 8–4 record in 1993, placing 21st in the national rankings,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105681734/battle-creek-enquirer/|newspaper=Battle Creek Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 3, 1994|page=13|title=Strong finish, bowl win pleases U-M's Moeller|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} and another 8–4 record in 1995.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105681815/the-daily-item/|newspaper=The Daily Item|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 1, 1995|page=21|title='D' is Holiday margin for Michigan|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}}
Moeller resigned in May 1995 after tapes were released of his alleged drunken outburst following an arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct at the now-defunct Excalibur restaurant in Southfield, Michigan, on April 28. It subsequently emerged that he had been fired, but was allowed to save face publicly by resigning.Cain, Charlie. "[https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19950503/2119004/reports-detail-moellers-confrontation-with-police Reports Detail Moeller's Confrontation With Police]." Detroit News, in Seattle Times, May 3, 1995. Retrieved on July 14, 2009."[http://www.ur.umich.edu/9495/May08_95/moeller.htm Moeller resigns; Carr will be named interim coach; Players voice respect for Moeller] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523172944/http://www.ur.umich.edu/9495/May08_95/moeller.htm |date=May 23, 2016 }}." The University Record (University of Michigan), May 8, 1995. Retrieved on July 14, 2009."[https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19950706/2129859/moeller-was-fired-from-michigan-newspaper-says Document Indicates Coach Was Forced Out Of Program]." Detroit News, in Seattle Times, July 6, 1995. Retrieved on July 14, 2009.Moeller Bows Out as Michigan Coach : College football: Resignation follows a drunken incident that the athletic director says tarnishes the university's image.
NFL
After Michigan, Moeller was hired in June 1995 by the Cincinnati Bengals as tight ends coach under head coach David Shula and spent two seasons there.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105682445/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 27, 1995|page=27|title=Moeller deserves his 2nd chance|author=Daughtery, Paul}} {{Open access}} In 1997, he joined the Detroit Lions as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach under new head coach Bobby Ross.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105682564/detroit-free-press/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 21, 1997|page=17, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105682614/detroit-free-press/ 21]|title=Back for Mo}} {{Open access}}
=Lions head coach=
In 2000, Moeller was named head coach following Ross's sudden resignation nine games into the season.Pennington, Bill. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/18/sports/football-giants-to-face-lions-and-a-persistent-moeller.html Giants to Face Lions, And a Persistent Moeller]." New York Times, November 18, 2000. Retrieved on July 14, 2009. He was given a contract for the remainder of the season and two additional years by owner William Clay Ford Sr., a move that seemingly guaranteed a future with the team. After the team narrowly missed the playoffs (losing their final game on a last-second 54-yard field goal), ownership endorsed Moeller as the Lions head coach for the foreseeable future. However, he was eventually fired by new team president Matt Millen in early 2001 and replaced by Marty Mornhinweg."[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/25/sports/nfl-roundup-mornhinweg-hired-to-coach-the-lions.html Mornhinweg Hired To Coach the Lions]." New York Times, January 25, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009. Moeller finished with a 4–3 record as head coach, making him the only Lions head coach since Joe Schmidt to post a winning record during his tenure (Moeller has since been joined by Jim Caldwell and Dan Campbell in this regard).{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/2022/07/12/detroit-lions-gary-moeller-michigan-wolverines-notre-dame/10038335002/|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=July 12, 2022|url-access=subscription|title=Gary Moeller's best career wins with Michigan, Detroit Lions}}
=After Detroit=
In 2001, Moeller joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive coordinator under head coach Tom Coughlin."[https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/07/sports/plus-pro-football-new-jobs-for-moeller-and-cunningham.html New Jobs for Moeller And Cunningham]." New York Times, February 7, 2001. Retrieved on July 14, 2009. He voluntarily stepped down from that position after one season, signing a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears as linebackers coach under head coach Dick Jauron.Mullin, John. "Bears hire Gary Moeller as linebackers coach." Chicago Tribune, February 22, 2002. He served in that role for two seasons, leaving when Jauron was fired after the 2003 season. He did not coach again after that.{{Cite news|url=https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/11/report-former-michigan-football-head-coach-gary-moeller-dies/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Former Michigan football head coach Gary Moeller dies|author=Hole, Isaiah|date=July 11, 2022}}
Death
Moeller died on July 11, 2022, at the age of 81.{{Cite web |last=Bianchi |first=Nolan |title=Gary Moeller, former head football coach for Michigan and Lions, dies at 81 |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/2022/07/11/former-michigan-head-football-coach-gary-moeller-dies-81/10031987002/ |access-date=July 11, 2022 |website=The Detroit News |language=en-US}}
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Illinois Fighting Illini
| conf = Big Ten Conference
| startyear = 1977
| endyear = 1979
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1977
| name = Illinois
| overall = 3–8
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding = 9th
| bowl =
| bowlgame =
| bowlopp =
| bowlscore =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1978
| name = Illinois
| overall = 1–8–2
| conference = 0–6–2
| confstanding = 9th
| bowl =
| bowlgame =
| bowlopp =
| bowlscore =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1979
| name = Illinois
| overall = 2–8–1
| conference = 1–6–1
| confstanding = 9th
| bowl =
| bowlgame =
| bowlopp =
| bowlscore =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Illinois
| overall = 6–24–3
| confrecord = 3–18–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Michigan Wolverines
| conf = Big Ten Conference
| startyear = 1990
| endyear = 1994
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1990
| name = Michigan
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 6–2
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowl = yes
| bowlname = Gator
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 8
| ranking2 = 7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1991
| name = Michigan
| overall = 10–2
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowl = yes
| bowlname = Rose
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 6
| ranking2 = 6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1992
| name = Michigan
| overall = 9–0–3
| conference = 6–0–2
| confstanding = 1st
| bowl = yes
| bowlname = Rose
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 5
| ranking2 = 5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1993
| name = Michigan
| overall = 8–4
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowl = yes
| bowlname = Hall of Fame
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 19
| ranking2 = 21
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1994
| name = Michigan
| overall = 8–4
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowl = yes
| bowlname = Holiday
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 12
| ranking2 = 12
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Michigan
| overall = 44–13–3
| confrecord = 30–8–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 50–37–6{{Cite web|url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=1648|website=College Football Data Warehouse|title=Gary O. Moeller Records by Year|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914191805/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=1648 |archive-date=September 14, 2008 }}
| bowls = no
| poll = two
| polltype =
}}
=NFL=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Regular Season | colspan="4"|Post Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result |
| DET||2000
||4||3||0||.571||4th in NFC Central|| 0 || 0 || .000 || | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|DET Total||4||3||0||.571||||0||0||.000|| – | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MoelGa0.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Gary Moeller Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks}}||4||3||0||.571||||0||0||.000|| – |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/coaches/gmoeller.htm Profile at Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History]
{{Illinois Fighting Illini football coach navbox}}
{{Michigan Wolverines football coach navbox}}
{{Detroit Lions coach navbox}}
{{1961 Ohio State Buckeyes football navbox}}
{{49ers1963DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moeller, Gary}}
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Category:Michigan Wolverines football coaches
Category:NFL defensive coordinators