Harry Hiestand
Personal information | |
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Born: | Malvern, Pennsylvania, U.S. | November 19, 1958
Career information | |
College: | Springfield College East Stroudsburg |
Career history | |
As a coach: | |
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Harry Hiestand (born November 19, 1958) is a former American football coach who last was the offensive line coach for the Notre Dame Fight Irish.
Early life and education
Hiestand was born November 19, 1958, in
Career
Collegiate coaching
Hiestand began his coaching career
Cincinnati
From 1989 to 1993, he coached at the University of Cincinnati, where he served as run game coordinator in 1992 and as offensive coordinator in 1993. As offensive coordinator, running back David Small broke Cincinnati's record for rushing touchdowns, and the offense posted the seventh-most points in school history. Cincinnati's 1993 team went 8-3 after a 3-8 record the previous campaign.
Missouri
He then coached at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, where he was offensive line coach from 1994 to 1996. With Missouri, Hiestand helped the University of Missouri finish the 1996 season ninth in the nation in rushing at 250.7 yards per game. The same year, three of Hiestand's offensive lineman garnered All-Big 12 honors.
Illinois
From 1997 to 1999, Hiestand served as offensive line coach in Ron Turner's system at the
In 2000, Marques Sullivan and Ray Redziniak earned second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year and Sullivan was named to the Football Writers Association All-America third-team. That season, the line allowed only 20 sacks, the 17th lowest in the nation.
In 1999, Hiestand's line led Illinois to the highest scoring offense in school history with 388 points scored in 12 games. The Illinois offensive line cleared paths for Illini running backs to rush for 2,082 yards and provided quarterback Kurt Kittner the room to throw for 2,702 yards and 24 touchdown passes. Sullivan and Redziniak earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
In 2001, Hiestand tutored a pair of linemen to first team All-Big Ten accolades. Both Jay Kulaga and Pashos were named to the Big Ten's first team by the coaches and media, while senior center Luke Butkus was a second-team selection. Illinois topped the 5,000-yard total offense mark for the first time in school history.
During his tenure at Illinois, Hiestand tutored 12 all-Big Ten selections on the offensive line. Every senior starting offensive lineman in Hiestand's first seven years with the Illini was signed to an NFL contract: Ryan Schau (1995–98), J. P. Machado (1995–98), Marques Sullivan (1997–2000), Ray Redziniak (1997–2000), Luke Butkus (1998–2001), Dave Diehl (1999–2002), and Tony Pashos (1999–2002).
Chicago Bears
Hiestand was hired on January 11, 2005 as offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears. The Bears were one of six teams to have the same five offensive linemen start all 16 games in 2008 (C Olin Kreutz, LG Josh Beekman, RG Roberto Garza, LT John St. Clair, and RT John Tait), marking the first time since 2001 that the Bears had the same five players start all 16 contests on their offensive line.
The offensive line would become the most experienced unit on the Bears roster over the next couple of years, led by 11-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowl C Kreutz, who entered the 2009 season having started a team-high 102 consecutive games.
In 2008, Chicago’s offense attempted 557 pass plays and absorbed 29 sacks. In 2006, the Bears attempted 539 pass plays and allowed just 25 sacks, the lowest total given up by the team since allowing 17 in 2001. The Bears went on to win the 2006 NFC Championship and the team's first Super Bowl appearance in 21 years in Super Bowl XLI.
Tennessee and Notre Dame
After spending two years coaching the offensive line at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee from 2010–2012, Hiestand was hired to the same post at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, under head coach Brian Kelly. Since reaching the BCS National Championship Game during his first season at Notre Dame, Hiestand developed ten current and former NFL offensive linemen, including:
- Alex Bars, Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders offensive guard (graduated after 2018 season)
- Braxston Cave, former Detroit Lions center
- Mike Golic Jr., former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive guard
- Nick Martin, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Washington Commanders offensive guard
- Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys offensive guard
- Mike McGlinchey, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle
- Sam Mustipher, Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears center (graduated after 2018 season)
- Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts offensive guard
- Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle
- Chris Watt, former San Diego Chargers offensive guard
Return to Chicago Bears
In January 2018, Hiestand returned to the Bears after being hired by new head coach Matt Nagy as the offensive line coach.[1]
Under Hiestand, the
In 2019, however, Chicago's offensive line allowed 43 sacks, 12th-most in the NFL, and helped the offense record just 91.1 rushing yards per game (sixth worst).[3] Hiestand was fired on December 31.[4]
Return to Notre Dame
He returned to Notre Dame as offensive line coach for the 2022 season, and announced his retirement in February 2023.[5]
Personal life
Hiestand and his wife, Terri, have three sons, Michael, Matthew and Mark, and one daughter, Sarah.[6]
References
- ^ Stankevitz, JJ (January 10, 2018). "In Harry Hiestand, Matt Nagy hits a home run on his first swing at Bears' coaching staff". WMAQ-TV. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (February 8, 2019). "Bears 2018 position review: Offensive line". Chicago Bears. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ Lieser, Jason (December 30, 2019). "Bears' offensive line fell short of hefty price tag, but how can they fix it?". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
- ^ Finley, Patrick (December 31, 2019). "Bears fire 4 coaches, including offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
- ^ "Harry Hiestand Announces Retirement", Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, February 12, 2023
- ^ "Harry Hiestand". University of Tennessee. Retrieved April 9, 2010.