Joe Tiller
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | December 7, 1942
Died | September 30, 2017 Buffalo, Wyoming, U.S. | (aged 74)
Playing career | |
1961–1963 | Montana State |
1964 | Calgary Stampeders |
Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1965–1970 | Montana State (OL/DL) |
1971 | Washington State (DL) |
1972–1973 | Washington State (OC/OL) |
1974–1982 | Calgary Stampeders (assistant) |
1976 | Calgary Stampeders (interim HC) |
1983–1986 | Purdue (AHC/DC/DL) |
1987–1988 | Wyoming (OC/OL) |
1989–1990 | Washington State (AHC/OC/OL) |
1991–1996 | Wyoming |
1997–2008 | Purdue |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 126–92–1 (college) 2–3–1 (CFL) |
Bowls | 4–7 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 Big Ten Coach of the Year (1997) | |
Joseph Henry Tiller (December 7, 1942 – September 30, 2017) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 1991 to 1996 and Purdue University from 1997 to 2008, with a career record of 126–92–1 (.578). Tiller was known as one of the innovators of the spread offense.
Early life and playing career
Born and raised in
Tiller was selected in the 1964 AFL draft by the Boston Patriots;[5] he was the 140th pick overall (18th round) but chose to sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.[6] After one season in the CFL, he returned to Montana State to begin his coaching career under Sweeney.
Coaching career
Early career
Tiller's first coaching job came in 1964, when he was a student assistant for Montana State.[2] The following year, he was promoted to full-time assistant coach, working with offensive and defensive lineman, as well as an instructor in physical education.[2] Sweeney left after the 1967 season and Tiller was retained by new head coach Tom Parac.
In
In 1974, Tiller returned to the Calgary Stampeders as an assistant coach and spent the next eight seasons in the Calgary organization; he served as the interim head coach for the final six weeks of the 1976 season, posting a 2–3–1 (.417) record and the team finished at 2–12–2 (.188). He returned to the front office through 1982.
In 1983, Tiller became defensive coordinator at Purdue under head coach Leon Burtnett. Guided by junior quarterback Jim Everett, the 1984 team became the first in school history to defeat Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State in the same season. Finishing 7–4 in the regular season, the Boilermakers accepted an invitation to play in the Peach Bowl, where they were defeated by Virginia, 27–24. Tiller was let go at the end of the 1986 season when Burtnett resigned.
Taking over as the offensive coordinator at Wyoming in 1987, where Craig Burnett threw for 3,131 yards with 21 TD vs 16 INT and Gerald Abraham ran for 1,305 yards with 13 TD. In 1988, Randy Welniak threw for 2,791 yards with 21 TD vs 11 INT and ran for 415 yards with 16 TD. RB Dabby Dawson ran for 1,119 yards and 9 TD as well.
As offensive coordinator in 1989 at Washington State under head coach Mike Price, he helped RB Steve Broussard to 1,237 yards with 13 TD. Quarterbacks, Aaron Garcia and Brad Gossen combined to throw for 2,963 yards with 20 TD vs 16 INT. In 1990, quarterbacks Brad Gossen and Drew Bledsoe combined to throw for 2,514 yards with 15 TD vs 7 INT.
Wyoming (1991–1996)
Tiller began his head coaching career at
He continued to provide stellar quarterback and running back play despite some subpar records during his tenure at Wyoming.
- 1991: QB Tom Corontzos threw for 2,868 yards with 19 TD vs 8 INT.
- 1992: RB Dwight Driver ran for 1,027 yards with 11 TD.
- 1993: QB Joe Hughes threw for 3,135 yards with 24 TD vs 10 INT. RB Ryan Christopherson ran for 1,014 yards with 9 TD.
- 1994: QB John Gustin threw for 2,757 yards with 17 TD vs 13 INT. RB Ryan Christopherson ran for 1,455 yards with 10 TD.
- 1995: QB Josh Wallwork threw for 2,363 yards with 21 TD vs 13 INT. WR Marcus Harrishad 1,423 yards with 14 TD.
- 1996: QB Josh Wallwork threw for 4,090 yards with 33 TD vs 15 INT. WR Marcus Harris had 109 catches for 1,650 yards with 13 TD.
Purdue (1997–2008)
On the strength of his final season at Wyoming, Tiller was hired by
Prior to Tiller's tenure as head coach, Purdue had played in only five bowl games, most recently in 1984 when he was the defensive coordinator. In
Tiller retired following the 2008 season and was succeeded by former Eastern Kentucky University head coach Danny Hope.[12] In his final game as a head coach, the Purdue Boilermakers beat their in-state rival Indiana Hoosiers in their traditional season-ending Old Oaken Bucket Game by a score of 62 to 10 at Ross–Ade Stadium.
Tiller was the first coach to use the spread offense in the
. Under Tiller and his spread offense, Purdue annually had one of the top offenses in the Big Ten.Death
Tiller died at his home in Buffalo, Wyoming, on September 30, 2017, at the age of 74, after battling recent health issues.[13] Numerous tributes were made to Tiller following his passing by former players, fellow coaches, and former teams that he led.[14][15]
Head coaching record
"You turned a lot of boys into men, I thank you for that."
- Purdue University team captain Ryan Baker during the press conference following Joe Tiller's final game as head coach, November 23, 2008.[16]
College
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wyoming Cowboys (Western Athletic Conference) (1991–1996) | |||||||||
1991 | Wyoming | 4–6–1 | 2–5–1 | T–6th | |||||
1992 | Wyoming | 5–7 | 3–5 | T–7th | |||||
1993 | Wyoming | 8–4 | 6–2 | T–1st | L Copper | ||||
1994 | Wyoming | 6–6 | 4–4 | T–5th | |||||
1995 | Wyoming | 6–5 | 4–4 | 6th | |||||
1996 | Wyoming | 10–2 | 7–1 | 1st (Pacific) | 22 | 22 | |||
Wyoming: | 39–30–1 | 26–22–1 | |||||||
Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Conference) (1997–2007) | |||||||||
1997 | Purdue | 9–3 | 6–2 | T–2nd | W Alamo | 15 | 15 | ||
1998 | Purdue | 9–4 | 6–2 | 4th | W Alamo | 23 | 24 | ||
1999 | Purdue | 7–5 | 4–4 | T–6th | L Outback | 25 | |||
2000 | Purdue | 8–4 | 6–2 | T–1st | L Rose† | 13 | 13 | ||
2001 | Purdue | 6–6 | 4–4 | T–4th | L Sun | ||||
2002 | Purdue | 7–6 | 4–4 | T–5th | W Sun | ||||
2003 | Purdue | 9–4 | 6–2 | T–2nd | L Capital One | 19 | 18 | ||
2004 | Purdue | 7–5 | 4–4 | T–5th | L Sun | ||||
2005 | Purdue | 5–6 | 3–5 | 8th | |||||
2006 | Purdue | 8–6 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Champs Sports | ||||
2007 | Purdue | 8–5 | 3–5 | T–7th | W Motor City | ||||
2008 | Purdue | 4–8 | 2–6 | T–8th | |||||
Purdue: | 87–62 | 53–43 | |||||||
Total: | 126–92–1 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
CFL
Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
CAL | 1976 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | 5th in West | - | - | - | - |
CAL Total | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | - | - | - | - | ||
CFL Total | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | - | - | - | - | ||
Total | 2 | 3 | 1 | .417 | - | - | - | - |
References
- ^ Stacy Clardie (September 11, 2008). "Tiller not thinking of wins record". www.journalgazette.net. Journal Gazette. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Montana State Promotes Tiller". Toledo Blade. June 6, 1965. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ "Bobcats co-captains". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (photo). September 14, 1963. p. 9.
- ^ "2013 Bobcat History Book" (PDF). www.msubobcats.com. Montana State University. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
- ^ "1964 AFL Draft". www.pro-football-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ a b "Cougs Hire Joe Tiller to Grid Post". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 22, 1971. p. 18.
- ^ "1973 Washington State Cougars". www.totalfootballstats.com. Total Football Stats. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "Tiller to Replace Roach as Wyoming Coach". Los Angeles Times. December 20, 1990. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ "Wyoming Wins Its Division". Los Angeles Times. November 17, 1996. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
- ^ Boby Fischer (November 23, 1996). "Wyoming's Tiller Returning To Purdue As New Head Coach". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
- ^ "Sheets' late TD lifts Purdue, 32-25". www.rivals.yahoo.com. Yahoo!. September 20, 2008.
- ^ "Purdue has line of succession set up, with Hope to become coach in 2009". ESPN. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- ^ "Former Purdue coach Tiller dies at age 74". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ "How college football is paying tribute to Joe Tiller". SBNation.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ^ Dienhart, Tom (September 30, 2017). "Legendary Purdue football coach Joe Tiller, 74, dies". Big Ten Network.
- ^ "Bucket list is complete for a Regular Joe". indy.com. Retrieved July 7, 2011.