Joe Krivak

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Joe Krivak
Biographical details
Born(1935-03-20)March 20, 1935
Central City, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 25, 2012(2012-12-25) (aged 77)
Bowie, Maryland, U.S.
Playing career
1954–1956Syracuse
Position(s)
Offensive lineman, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1958–1960Madonna HS (WV) (assistant)
1961–1968Madonna HS (WV)
1969–1973Syracuse (WR)
1974–1976Maryland (assistant)
1977–1981Navy (assistant)
1982–1986Maryland (QB/WR)
1987–1991Maryland
1995–1996Virginia (QB)
Head coaching record
Overall20–34–2 (college)
50–24–2 (high school)
Bowls0–0–1

Joseph John Krivak (March 20, 1935[1] – December 25, 2012) was an American football player and coach. He served as head coach for the Maryland Terrapins football team from 1987 to 1991, where he compiled a 20–34–2 record. He also served as an assistant coach at Maryland, Syracuse, Navy, and Virginia. As a coach at Maryland, Krivak mentored future National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks Boomer Esiason, Neil O'Donnell, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh, and Scott Zolak. In all, he coached on seven Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship team staffs and in 14 bowl games as an assistant or head coach.

Playing career

Krivak earned three football letters playing

third base and earned one letter in baseball for the Orangemen. Krivak earned his degree in history science in 1957 and an M.A. in education from Syracuse in 1961. Syracuse University honored Krivak in 2011 as a letterwinner of distinction at their Hall of Fame.[2]

Coaching career

High school

Krivak's first coaching experience came at

Madonna High School in Weirton, West Virginia, where he spent 11 seasons, eight as head coach, and won a state Catholic title.[3]

Assistant coach

He then served as an assistant coach at Syracuse for five years under head coach Ben Schwartzwalder.[4] From 1974 to 1976, he served as an assistant coach at Maryland under head coach Jerry Claiborne.[5] He then spent five years coaching at Navy under George Welsh.[6]

In 1982, he returned to Maryland to join

responsible for the wide receivers and had a significant role in running the offense.[4][8] Krivak was the offensive play caller for Maryland's 42–40 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl, where the Terps rallied from a 31–0 halftime deficit. It was a game which stood as the greatest comeback in college football history for twenty-two years.[9] At Maryland, Krivak tutored several future NFL quarterbacks: Boomer Esiason, Neil O'Donnell, Frank Reich, Stan Gelbaugh, and Scott Zolak.[10]

Maryland

After the 1986 season, he was chosen to be the successor to Ross and promoted to Maryland head coach at the age of 51.

24-game losing streak against Penn State.[13] Krivak's signature win however, was the 1990 upset road win against #8 and Sugar Bowl bound Virginia. Following the 1990 season, new athletic director Andy Geiger and Krivak agreed to a five-year contract extension.[14]

Krivak tendered his resignation after posting a 2–9 record during an injury riddled 1991 campaign. After the season, athletic director Andy Geiger had initiated a review of the program, which included interviews with the players, some of whom directly criticized Krivak to Geiger. With his resignation, Krivak cited a loss of credibility in the face of the criticism from his players.[15][16]

Return to assistant coaching

In 1993,

Mid-Atlantic
area.

Death

Krivak died at the age of 77 on Christmas Day 2012 in Bowie, Maryland after a long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and leukemia.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Maryland Terrapins (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1987–1991)
1987 Maryland 4–7 3–3 5th
1988 Maryland 5–6 4–3 T–4th
1989 Maryland 3–7–1 2–5 6th
1990 Maryland 6–5–1 4–3 4th T Independence
1991 Maryland 2–9 2–5 6th
Maryland: 20–34–2 15–19
Total: 20–34–2

References

  1. ^ a b FOUR ASSISTANTS JOIN CAVS' FOOTBALL TEAM, The Newport News Daily Press, March 27, 1997.
  2. ^ "Celebrate SU LetterWinners of Distinction - Cuse". Suathletics.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Athletes remember former Madonna coach Joe Krivak - WeirtonDailyTimes.com | news, sports, jobs - Weirton, Hancock County — Weirton Daily Times". Archived from the original on 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  4. ^ a b c Patient Krivak Finally Gets His Chance, The Freelance Star, December 11, 1986.
  5. ^ a b c Assistant Coaches Archived 2018-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, 2007 Terrapin Football Record Book, University of Maryland, 2007.
  6. ^ Md., Navy Start Over With Krivak, Uzelac Series: FOOTBALL '87, The Washington Post, September 8, 1987.
  7. ^ Terps name 3, Wilmington Morning Star, January 28, 1982.
  8. ^ a b SPORTS PEOPLE; Maryland Picks Krivak, The New York Times, December 11, 1986.
  9. ^ "Archival Attractions at the University of Maryland > the Miracle in Miami, UM Libraries". Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  10. ^ Watching his pupils, The Daily Gazette, January 9, 1993.
  11. ^ "WashingtonPost.com: Bias's Death Still Resonates". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  12. ^ COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SOUTH; Maryland Kick Ties Penn State, The New York Times, November 12, 1989.
  13. ^ Penn State vs Maryland, 1961-1989 Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, Stassen Football, retrieved May 31, 2010.
  14. ^ "Times Changing for Krivak; Optimism Abounds as Terrapins Land National Recruits". Highbeam.com. 31 January 1991. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  15. ^ Krivak Resigns as Maryland Football Coach; Says Credibility Hurt by Remarks, The Washington Post, December 7, 1991.
  16. ^ Terrapins are slow to learn firing Krivak sends wrong signal, The Free Lance-Star, December 11, 1991.
  17. ^ STAYING CLOSE TO FLORIDA STATE WILL TEST UNC, BROWN SAYS, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, September 27, 1993.
  18. ^ Krivak Joins Coaching Staff At Virginia; Ex-Maryland Boss Will Guide Cavs' QBs, The Washington Post, 17 February 1995.