Hal Hunter (American football, born 1932)
{{Short description|American gridiron football coach (1932–2014)}}
{{for|his son|Hal Hunter (American football, born 1959)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Hal Hunter
| image = Hal Hunter (American football, born 1934).jpg
| number =
| position = Offensive guard / Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date|1932|6|3}}
| birth_place = Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|8|28|1932|6|3}}
| death_place = Denver, North Carolina, U.S.
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lbs =
| high_school = Canonsburg (PA)
| college = Pittsburgh
| undraftedyear = 1956
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1956}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Avella High School (1956)
- Berlin High School (1957)
- Washington & Jefferson (1958)
Assistant coach - Richmond (1959–1961)
Defensive line coach - West Virginia (1962–1963)
Offensive line coach - Maryland (1964–1965)
Offensive line coach - Duke (1966–1970)
Offensive line coach - Kentucky (1971–1972)
Offensive coordinator & offensive line coach - Indiana (1973–1976)
Offensive line coach - California (PA) (1977–1980)
Head coach & assistant athletic director - Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|1981}})
Offensive coordinator - Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1982}}–{{NFL Year|1984}})
Offensive line coach - Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1984}})
Interim head coach - Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1985}}–{{NFL Year|1988}})
Offensive line: guards/centers coach - Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1989}})
Offensive line coach - Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1990}})
Special assistant to the head coach - Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1991}}–{{NFL Year|1992}})
Offensive line coach
| pfrcoach = HuntHa0
}}
Harold Theo Hunter Jr.{{cite web | url=http://www.denverncweekly.com/news/2014/9/5/5438/obituaries-week-of-9-4 | title=Obituaries -Week of 9/4 | work=Denver Weekly | date=September 5, 2014 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320005053/http://www.denverncweekly.com/news/2014/9/5/5438/obituaries-week-of-9-4 | archive-date=March 20, 2016 | url-status=dead}} (June 3, 1932 – August 28, 2014) was an American college and professional football coach. He participated in football, wrestling and track at Canonsburg High School in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he was a three-year letterman at offensive guard and linebacker. Hunter earned Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American honors for his senior season in 1955. He was also a three-year letterman in wrestling at Pittsburgh. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1956. Hunter was a football coach at various high schools and colleges from 1956 to 1976, mainly serving as his team's offensive line coach. He was then the head coach at California State College from 1977 to 1980, accumulating a record of {{tooltip|9–30–1|9 wins, 30 losses, 1 tie}}. He began his professional coaching career as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' offensive coordinator in 1981. Hunter later served as an assistant coach for several National Football League (NFL) teams from 1982 to 1992, including a one-game stint as the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 1984.
Early life
Hunter played high school football at Canonsburg High School in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was a three-year starter as an offensive and defensive tackle. In 1950, he was co-captain of the WPIAL Class A football champions while earning All-Conference, All-County, All-WPIAL and All-State honors. He was a three-year heavyweight in wrestling at Canonsburg, recording 18 pins with a total of 33 wins, six losses and four ties. Hunter also won three letters in track and field as a sprinter, shot putter, discus thrower and javelin thrower. He was inducted into the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.{{cite web | url=http://www.wash-greenesportshall.org/2001/Hunter.htm | title=HAL T. HUNTER | work=Washington-Greene County Chapter: Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame | access-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319190328/http://www.wash-greenesportshall.org/2001/Hunter.htm | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=dead}} He also became an Eagle Scout while he was in high school.{{cite web | url=http://www.warlickfuneralhome.net/obits.php?subaction=showfull&id=1409316770&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& | title=Harold Theo Hunter, Jr | publisher=Warlick Funeral Home | access-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320004948/http://www.warlickfuneralhome.net/obits.php?subaction=showfull&id=1409316770&archive=&start_from=&ucat=& | archive-date=March 20, 2016 | url-status=dead}}
College career
Hunter was a three-year letterman at offensive guard and linebacker for the Pittsburgh Panthers from 1953 to 1955.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15001473/the_indianapolis_star/ | title=Colts' Hunter would like to join 'Cradle' | work=The Indianapolis Star | date=January 13, 1985 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Bansch, John | pages=2D | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109224436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15001473/the_indianapolis_star/ | archive-date=November 9, 2017 | url-status=dead | via=Newspapers.com }} He was a captain of the 1955 Panthers team that appeared in the 1956 Sugar Bowl. He earned All-East honors and was named Washington County Athlete of the Year in 1955. Hunter also garnered Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American accolades for his senior season in 1955.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15001871/the_evening_standard/ | title=Bench Banter | work=The Evening Standard | date=February 8, 1966 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=DeCarlo, Francis | pages=11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109230035/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15001871/the_evening_standard/ | archive-date=November 9, 2017 | url-status=dead | via=Newspapers.com }} He was named United Press International's Lineman of the Week and won UPI's Unsung Hero Award for his play against the West Virginia Mountaineers in 1954. He graduated from Pittsburgh with an A. B. Degree.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19730209&id=H8tdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fl4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4151,1784563&hl=en | title=Hal Hunter Joins Staff At Indiana | work=Observer-Reporter | date=February 9, 1973 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | pages=B7}} Hunter also later earned a Master's Degree from West Virginia University in 1962.
He also lettered three years as a heavyweight wrestler for the Panthers. He placed first in the 1953 Great Lakes Open, second in the 1954 Four-I Intercollegiate tournament and third in the 1957 Greco-Roman National Amateur Athletic Union tournament.
Professional career
Hunter signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL as an offensive guard after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1956.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19850212&id=6EkcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FmIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2942,5597298&hl=en | title=Hunter joins Steelers faculty | work=The Pittsburgh Press | date=February 12, 1985 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Cook, Ron | pages=B13}}{{cite web | url=http://www.steelers.com/assets/docs/2010_mg_All_Time_Roster_By_Name.pdf | title=Steelers All-Time Roster | publisher=Steelers.com | access-date=March 19, 2016 | pages=423 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319225715/http://www.steelers.com/assets/docs/2010_mg_All_Time_Roster_By_Name.pdf | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=dead}} He started three of the team's four preseason games before going home to be with his family after his father died of a heart attack. He did not make the Steelers active roster and was placed on the team's taxi squad.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15002034/pittsburgh_postgazette/ | title=Hunter added to Steeler coaching staff | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=February 12, 1985 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Adams, John | pages=23 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109230850/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15002034/pittsburgh_postgazette/ | archive-date=November 9, 2017 | url-status=dead | via=Newspapers.com }}
Coaching career
Hunter began coaching and teaching at Avella High School in Avella, Pennsylvania in 1956. He coached at Berlin High School in Berlin, Pennsylvania in 1957.{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/universityofmary1965univ/universityofmary1965univ_djvu.txt | title=1965 Maryland Football Guide | publisher=University of Maryland | date=1965 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | pages=16}} He was an assistant coach for the Washington & Jefferson Presidents in 1958.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9W5B0L1O0wC&pg=PA133 |title=NFL Head Coaches: A Biographical Dictionary, 1920-2011 |publisher=McFarland |author=Maxymuk, John |year=2012 |pages=133 |isbn=9780786492954 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15002261/the_evening_standard/ | title=SPORTS STANDARD | work=The Evening Standard | date=September 20, 1961 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Trent, Tod | pages=11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109231907/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15002261/the_evening_standard/ | archive-date=November 9, 2017 | url-status=dead | via=Newspapers.com }} Hunter served as defensive line coach for the Richmond Spiders from 1959 to 1961.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/106246817/ | title=Hunter feels no pressure as Colts' interim head coach | work=The Indianapolis Star | date=December 14, 1984 | access-date=March 19, 2016 | author=Bansch, John | pages=52 | via=Newspapers.com}} He was then the offensive line coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers from 1962 to 1963, the Maryland Terrapins from 1964 to 1965, the Duke Blue Devils from 1966 to 1970 and the Kentucky Wildcats from 1971 to 1972. He was also the offensive coordinator at Kentucky. Hunter served as the offensive line coach for the Indiana Hoosiers from 1973 to 1976. He was the head coach and assistant athletic director for the California Vulcans of California State College from 1977 to 1980. He accumulated a 9–30–1 record with the Vulcans.{{cite web | url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=6902 | title=Hal Hunter Records by Year | publisher=College Football Data Warehouse | access-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320025443/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/coaching/alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=6902 | archive-date=March 20, 2016 | url-status=dead}}
Hunter was the offensive coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in 1981 under head coach Frank Kush. He later served as the offensive line coach for the NFL's Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts from 1982 to 1984 under Kush.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/hunt04500coach.html | title=HAL HUNTER | publisher=Maher Sports Media | work=ProFootballArchives.com | access-date=March 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329033200/http://www.profootballarchives.com/hunt04500coach.html | archive-date=March 29, 2016 | url-status=dead}} Upon Kush's resignation to become head coach of the Arizona Wranglers of the United States Football League, Hal became the Colts' interim head coach for the final game of the 1984 season.{{cite web | url=http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/haroldhalhuntersr.htm | title=Harold Theo 'Hal' Hunter Sr. | publisher=OldestLivingProFootball.com | access-date=March 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319231128/http://www.oldestlivingprofootball.com/haroldhalhuntersr.htm | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=dead}} The Colts lost the game 16–10 to the New England Patriots. He was an offensive line coach working with the guards and centers of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1985 to 1988.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19850212&id=3wIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B6YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6139,669942&hl=en | title=Hal Hunter Steeler aide | work=Reading Eagle | date=February 12, 1985 | agency=Associated Press | access-date=March 19, 2016 | pages=12}} Hunter was the offensive line coach of the Cleveland Browns of the NFL in 1989 under coach Bud Carson and was nominated for Offensive Line Coach of the Year.{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/02/20/Hunter-hired-as-offensive-line-coach/9169667026000/ |title=Hunter hired as offensive line coach |work=United Press International |date=February 20, 1991 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319221337/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/02/20/Hunter-hired-as-offensive-line-coach/9169667026000/ |archive-date=March 19, 2016 }} He was then the Browns' special assistant to the head coach in 1990. After the firing of Carson in November 1990, Hunter was hired to be the Browns' offensive line coach by new head coach Bill Belichick on February 20, 1991. Hunter resigned at the end of the 1992 season, saying "I don't think I could live through another year with [Belichick]."
Scouting career
Hunter began working as a scout for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1994. He was later a scout for the Carolina Panthers of the NFL from 1995 until his retirement in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.scout.com/college/north-carolina/story/33396-tar-heels-hire-hal-hunter-as-offensive-line-coach |title=Tar Heels hire Hal Hunter as Offensive Line Coach |publisher=Scout.com |date=January 18, 2002 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320003657/http://www.scout.com/college/north-carolina/story/33396-tar-heels-hire-hal-hunter-as-offensive-line-coach |archive-date=March 20, 2016 }} He also served as personnel coordinator of the Panthers from 1998 to 2006.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9W5B0L1O0wC&pg=PA134 |title=NFL Head Coaches: A Biographical Dictionary, 1920-2011 |publisher=McFarland |author=Maxymuk, John |year=2012 |pages=134 |isbn=9780786492954 }}
Personal life
His son, Hal, also coached in the NFL.{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/team/coaches/Hal-Hunter/e5ae9634-93d3-4116-b51b-c70cec61e165 |title=HAL HUNTER |publisher=Colts.com |access-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319000414/http://www.colts.com/team/coaches/Hal-Hunter/e5ae9634-93d3-4116-b51b-c70cec61e165 |archive-date=March 19, 2016 }} Hunter died on August 28, 2014, in Denver, North Carolina after a brief illness.{{cite web | url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?pid=172296218 | title=HAROLD THEO (HAL) HUNTER | publisher=Legacy.com | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date=March 19, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319193842/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postgazette/obituary.aspx?pid=172296218 | archive-date=March 19, 2016 | url-status=dead}}
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = California Vulcans
| conf = Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
| startyear = 1977
| endyear = 1980
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1977
| name = California
| overall = 2–8
| conference = 0–6
| confstanding = 7th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1978
| name = California
| overall = 2–7–1
| conference = 1–4–1
| confstanding = 6th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1979
| name = California
| overall = 3–7
| conference = 1–5
| confstanding = 7th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1980
| name = California
| overall = 2–8
| conference = 1–5
| confstanding = 7th (West)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = California
| overall = 9–30–1
| confrecord = 3–20–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 9–30–1
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=NFL=
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://ftp.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?coach_id=huntehal001 Stats Crew profile]
{{California Vulcans football coach navbox}}
{{Indianapolis Colts coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, Hal}}
Category:American football linebackers
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American male sport wrestlers
Category:Baltimore Colts coaches
Category:California Vulcans football coaches
Category:Carolina Panthers scouts
Category:Cleveland Browns coaches
Category:Duke Blue Devils football coaches
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaches
Category:Indiana Hoosiers football coaches
Category:Indianapolis Colts coaches
Category:Indianapolis Colts head coaches
Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches
Category:Maryland Terrapins football coaches
Category:Richmond Spiders football coaches
Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football players
Category:Pittsburgh Panthers wrestlers
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers coaches
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:San Francisco 49ers scouts
Category:Washington & Jefferson Presidents football coaches
Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Pennsylvania
Category:West Virginia University alumni
Category:People from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania