Dick Mansperger

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name =

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|5|7}}

| birth_place = Hemet, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|6|12|1933|5|7}}

| death_place = Ramah, New Mexico, U.S.

| height_ft =

| height_in =

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| high_school = Palo Verde (CA)

| college = Arizona State

| pastcoaching =

Arizona State (1958)
Palo Verde J.C. (1959–1960)
West Texas State (1961)
Arizona State (1962)
UCLA (1963–1964)
Iowa (1966)

| pastexecutive =

Dallas Cowboys (1965, 1967–1971)
Player scout
Dallas Cowboys (1972–1974)
Director of player personnel
Seattle Seahawks (1975–1983)
Director of player personnel
Dallas Cowboys (1984–1988)
College scout
Dallas Cowboys (1989–1991)
Director of college scouting

| highlights =

Super Bowl champion (VI)

}}

John Richard Mansperger (May 7, 1933 – June 12, 2013) was a director of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He also was a college football coach. He played college football at Arizona State University.

Early years

Mansperger was a native of Blythe, California and attended Palo Verde High School. He later enrolled at Palo Verde Junior College. He transferred to Arizona State University after his sophomore season in 1956. He played tackle under head coaches Dan Devine and Frank Kush, contributing to the team winning 19 of 20 games.{{Cite web |url=https://asunow.asu.edu/content/memory-asus-dick-mansperger |title=In Memory: ASU's Dick Mansperger | date=June 14, 2013 |website=Arizona State University |access-date=April 5, 2020}}

From 1953 to 1956, he served in the Army with an airborne division, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

Professional career

In 1958, he joined the Sun Devils coaching staff as a graduate assistant, helping coach the freshmen team. In 1959, he was named the head coach at Palo Verde Junior College, compiling a 14-3-2 record. In 1961, he was an assistant coach at West Texas State University. In 1962, he returned to coach at Arizona State University. From 1963 to 1964, he was an assistant coach at UCLA.

In 1965, he was hired as a player scout by the Dallas Cowboys. In 1966, he was an assistant coach at Iowa University. In 1967, he returned to the Cowboys in a scout position.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/29/archives/day-in-life-of-a-pro-football-scout.html |title=Day in Life of a Pro Football Scout |date=August 29, 1971 |website=NY Times |access-date=April 5, 2020}} In 1972, he was named the team's Director of Player Personnel.

On April 15, 1975, he was named the Director of Player Personnel for the expansion franchise Seattle Seahawks, helping turn them into a winning team in three seasons.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/147427193/ |title=Mansperger Hired |date=April 16, 1975 |access-date=April 5, 2020}} By 1983, the Seahawks were in the AFC championship game.{{Cite web |url=https://blog.seahawks.com/2013/06/14/remembering-dick-mansperger/ |title=Remembering Dick Mansperger |date=June 14, 2013 |website=Seattle Seahawks |access-date=April 5, 2020}} He resigned from his post in May 1984.

On May 16, 1984, he was hired as a college scout by the Dallas Cowboys.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/439217827/ |title=Cowboys Sign Three |date=May 17, 1984 |access-date=April 5, 2020}} On May 13, 1989, he was named the Cowboys Director of College Scouting.{{Cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/13/Cowboys-overhaul-scouting-department/7690611035200/ |title=Cowboys overhaul scouting department |date=May 13, 1989 |website=UPI |access-date=April 5, 2020}} In May 1992, he resigned from the team and was replaced with Larry Lacewell.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2979741/new-braunfels-herald-zeitung/ |title=Jones, Johnson have completed total turnover from Landry era |date=July 26, 1992 |access-date=April 5, 2020}}

Personal life

Mansperger died after a long battle with cancer on June 12, 2013.{{Cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=john-richard-mansperger-dick&pid=165576146&fhid=27105 |title=Dick Mansperger Obituary |date=June 14, 2013 |website=Seattle Seahawks |access-date=April 5, 2020}}

Dick Mansperger

Early years

Professional career

Personal life

References

Further reading