Ken Karcher
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ken Karcher
| current_team = Albertville HS (AL)
| number =
| position = Offensive coordinator
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|7|1}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 265
| high_school = Shaler Area
(Shaler Township, Pennsylvania)
| college = Tulane
| undraftedyear = 1986
| pastteams =
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1986}})*
- New Orleans Saints (1987)*
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1987|1988}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|1990}})*{{cite web |title=Ken Karcher |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/k/karc00600.html |website=Pro Football Archives |access-date=30 June 2024}}
| pastcoaching =
- Idaho State (1989)
Quarterbacks coach - North Texas (1991)
Quarterbacks coach & wide receivers coach - Orlando Thunder (1992)
Passing game coordinator & quarterbacks coach - Pittsburgh (1993–1996)
Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach - Rhein Fire (1997–1999)
Co-offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach - Liberty (2000–2005)
Head coach - Fellowship Christian HS (GA) (2006–2007)
Offensive coordinator - Toledo (2008)
Quarterbacks coach - Eastern Michigan (2009–2012)
Offensive coordinator & quarterbacks coach - East Central (MS) (2013–2022)
Head coach - Albertville HS (AL) (2023–present)
Offensive coordinator
| statlabel1 = Passing yards
| statvalue1 = 756
| statvalue2 = 6-4
| statlabel3 = Passer rating
| statvalue3 = 78.0
| pfr = KarcKe00
}}
Kenneth Paul Karcher (born July 1, 1963) is an American high school football coach and former quarterback. He is the offensive coordinator for Albertville High School, a position he has held since 2023. He was the head football coach for Liberty University from 2000 to 2005 and East Central Community College from 2013 to 2022. He played college football for Tulane and professionally for the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He also coached for Idaho State, North Texas, the Orlando Thunder of the NFL Europe, Pittsburgh, the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe, Fellowship Christian School, Toledo, and Eastern Michigan.
Early life and playing career
Out of Shaler Area High School, in Pennsylvania, Karcher was a highly recruited quarterback and eventually went to the University of Notre Dame. While there, he was a third-string quarterback behind Blair Kiel. He decided to transfer after two years to Tulane University, where he finished out his collegiate playing career.
Karcher went undrafted by NFL teams, and bounced around training camps before going to the Denver Broncos. He played in a total of four NFL games; three of those games came when he played as a replacement player while many other NFL players were on strike. The Broncos retained him for the rest of the year, and Karcher backed up John Elway while the team played in Super Bowl XXII. Karcher continued to play for the Broncos for one additional season, in 1988.
Coaching career
Karcher began his coaching career in 1991 as an assistant coach at the University of North Texas, where he coached the Mean Green quarterbacks and receivers. The next year, he was hired by head coach Galen Hall as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football. Following the suspension of the World League, Karcher returned to the college ranks as an assistant on Johnny Majors' coaching staff at the University of Pittsburgh. During his first season, he served as the Panthers' pass offense coordinator and quarterbacks coach, sharing coordinator duties with run offense coordinator Charles Coe. In March 1994, Majors put Karcher in sole charge of the offense, promoting him to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He held that position for the next three years, until Majors resignation at the end of the 1996 season.
In 1997, Karcher rejoined Galen Hall in the revamped World League, this time as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the Rhein Fire, based in Düsseldorf, Germany. He helped lead the Fire to the first winning season in the team's three-year history. Rhein finished in first place with a record of 7–3, but lost to the Barcelona Dragons in World Bowl '97. Under his tutelage, quarterback T. J. Rubley earned all-World League honors and was named the league's offensive most valuable player.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/21/sports/rubley-and-simmons-honored.html |title=Rubley and Simmons Honored |date=June 21, 1997 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 1, 2012}} Karcher's offense led the league in rushing yards (1,555) and ranked second in total offense (3,253). The offensive line set a league record by holding their opponents to only one sack the entire regular season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/20/sports/20iht-bowl.t.html |title=Rhein Faces Reawakened Dragons in World Bowl |last=Carlson |first=Mike |date=June 20, 1997 |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 1, 2012}}
Karcher was named the sixth head football coach at Liberty University on February 18, 2000.{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yukNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KnADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6777,395874 |title=Liberty: Mutual challenge for Karcher, Rocco |last=Emert |first=Rich |date=March 1, 2000 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=January 1, 2012}}
At Liberty, Karcher's teams underachieved. Despite this, Liberty chancellor Jerry Falwell resigned him to a 5-year contract after the 2004 season. But, he would only last one more season. After a 1–10 campaign in 2005, Karcher was fired. His final coaching record at Liberty was 21–46, with a 6–8 record in conference play (including two straight second places finishes). As of 2020, Karcher's winning percentage of .313 remains the worst win–loss percentage in the program's history.
As a coach, Karcher stressed building character in his players through football. One such player was Samkon Gado, a reserve while playing at Liberty. Karcher helped Gado get his foot in the door of an NFL team, and within the year Gado was the starting running back for the Green Bay Packers.
After his dismissal from Liberty, Karcher was the offensive coordinator at Fellowship Christian High School in Roswell, Georgia, where he led the Paladins to their first-ever winning season and a deep run in the Georgia state playoffs. He also served as the school's athletic director, and taught a 9th grade Bible class at Fellowship Christian School.
In 2008, Karcher accepted a position as the quarterbacks coach with the University of Toledo. He helped the Rockets in an upset win over the Michigan Wolverines, although the squad finished 3–8.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2649/year/2008/toledo-rockets |title=Toledo 2008 Schedule |work=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2012}}
In January 2009, head coach Ron English hired Karcher as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Michigan University. The Eagles finished that year with a 0–12 record,{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2199/year/2009/eastern-michigan-eagles |title=Eastern Michigan 2009 Schedule |work=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2012}} and Karcher's offense ranked 116th out of 120 teams in total yards (3,340).{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/stats/team?season=2009 |title=2009 NCAA Division I-A College Football Team Statistics Leardes for Total |work=ESPN.com |access-date=January 1, 2012}} Since then, EMU has improved, posting a 2–10 record the following year{{Cite web|url=http://www.emueagles.com/schedule.aspx?path=football&schedule=101|title = 2010 Football Schedule}} and a 6–6 record in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.emueagles.com/schedule.aspx?path=football&schedule=122|title = 2011 Football Schedule}} EMU regressed in 2012 and finished the year 2–10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2199/eastern-michigan-eagles|title = Eastern Michigan Eagles College Football - Eastern Michigan News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More - ESPN}} After the season, in which the Eagles finished near the bottom of the conference offensive statistics, Karcher left the program.{{Cite web|url=http://www.annarbor.com/sports/eastern-michigan-offensive-coordinator-ken-karcher-no-longer-with-program/|title=Eastern Michigan offensive coordinator Ken Karcher no longer with program}}
From 2013 to 2022, Karcher served as the head football coach for East Central Community College.{{cite web|url=https://www.eccc.edu/eccc-head-football-coach-ken-karcher-announces-retirement|title=Ken Karcher Announces Retirement|website=East Central Community College|date=October 12, 2022|access-date=September 15, 2023}} He led the team to an overall record of 32–57.
In 2023, Karcher came out of retirement to be the offensive coordinator for Albertville High School.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Shannon J. |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Browne chooses Martin as Aggies' new defensive coordinator |url=https://www.sandmountainreporter.com/sports/high_schools/article_3d195be4-fe9d-11ee-81f1-9b409b613a28.html |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=sandmountainreporter.com }}
Personal life
Karcher is married to the former Pauline Termini and they have four children, daughters Kelly and Katie, and sons Austin and Clay.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Liberty Flames
| conf = NCAA Division I-AA independent
| startyear = 2000
| endyear = 2001
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2000
| name = Liberty
| overall = 3–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2001
| name = Liberty
| overall = 3–8
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Liberty Flames
| conf = Big South Conference
| startyear = 2002
| endyear = 2005
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2002
| name = Liberty
| overall = 2–9
| conference = 1–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2003
| name = Liberty
| overall = 6–6
| conference = 2–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2004
| name = Liberty
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 3–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2005
| name = Liberty
| overall = 1–10
| conference = 0–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Liberty
| overall = 21–46
| confrecord = 6–8
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 21–46
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=Junior college=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = NJCAA }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = East Central Warriors
| conf = Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges
| startyear = 2013
| endyear = 2022
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2013
| name = East Central
| overall = 1–8
| conference = 0–5
| confstanding = (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2014
| name = East Central
| overall = 3–6
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2015
| name = East Central
| overall = 8–3
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = T–2nd (South)
| bowlname = MACJC Semifinal, W C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 10
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = 2016
| name = East Central
| overall = 5–5
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 1st (South)
| bowlname = MACJC Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2017
| name = East Central
| overall = 1–8
| conference = 0–6
| confstanding = 7th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2018
| name = East Central
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 3–3
| confstanding = 4th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2019
| name = East Central
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 5th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2020–21
| name = East Central
| overall = 2–3
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = 5th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2021
| name = East Central
| overall = 3–6
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 5th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2022
| name = East Central
| overall = 1–8
| conference = 0–6
| confstanding = 7th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = East Central
| overall = 32–57
| confrecord = 20–38
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 32–57
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ecccathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/Ken_Karcher?view=bio East Central Community College profile]
- [http://www.emueagles.com/coaches.aspx?rc=454&path=football Eastern Michigan profile]
{{Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback navbox}}
{{Tulane Green Wave quarterback navbox}}
{{Denver Broncos starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Liberty Flames football coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karcher, Ken}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:NFL replacement players
Category:East Central Warriors football coaches
Category:Eastern Michigan Eagles football coaches
Category:Idaho State Bengals football coaches
Category:Liberty Flames football coaches
Category:North Texas Mean Green football coaches
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players
Category:Toledo Rockets football coaches
Category:Tulane Green Wave football players
Category:High school football coaches in Alabama
Category:High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state)