Woody Widenhofer
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 20, 1943
Died | March 22, 2020 | (aged 77)
Playing career | |
1961–1964 | Missouri |
Position(s) | Oklahoma Outlaws |
1985–1988 | Missouri |
1989–1992 | Detroit Lions (DC) |
1993–1994 | Cleveland Browns (LB) |
1995–1996 | Vanderbilt (DC) |
1997–2001 | Vanderbilt |
2003–2004 | Southeastern Louisiana (DC) |
2005–2007 | New Mexico State (DC) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 27–71–1 (college) |
Robert "Woody" Widenhofer (January 20, 1943 – March 22, 2020)
Widenhofer attended Riverview High School in Riverview, Michigan, and played linebacker at Missouri from 1961 to 1964 under coach Dan Devine. He went on to receive a master's degree at Michigan State University.
Coaching career
Widenhofer began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State where he coached the defensive line. Widenhofer then moved to Eastern Michigan and Minnesota where he served as linebackers coach. After several years as a college assistant, Widenhofer was hired to coach linebackers for the Steelers in 1973. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1979. By the time he left after the 1983 season, Widenhofer had won four Super Bowls and made the postseason nine times.
He spent one year as head coach of the short-lived
Widenhofer returned to the NFL for six years as an assistant coach, serving as
Widenhofer considered retiring, but ultimately joined friend
In January 2009 he was announced as the head coach of the
Personal life
Widenhofer had five children: Kim, Stacy, Ryan, Ross, Katlyn and grandchildren Addison, Mia, Jackson, and Sophie. After his recent retirement from football, Widenhofer resided in Florida with his wife Sabrina.[3]
After leaving the Vanderbilt campus in 2001, Woody worked in a toll booth in Destin, Florida for three years. Woody stated that he didn't have anything else to do and enjoyed meeting people. However, his wife Sabrina, who works for Spirit Airlines, got transferred to Dallas, TX. Woody did not return to the Vanderbilt campus since his departure.[4] He died on March 22, 2020, aged 77.[1]
Head coaching record
USFL
Team | Year | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | |||
OKL |
1984 | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 | 4th in Central Div. | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
Total | 6 | 12 | 0 | .333 |
College
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big 8 Conference ) (1985–1988)
| |||||||||
1985 | Missouri | 1–10 | 1–6 | T–7th | |||||
1986 | Missouri | 3–8 | 2–5 | 6th | |||||
1987 | Missouri | 5–6 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
1988 | Missouri | 3–7–1 | 2–5 | 6th | |||||
Missouri: | 12–31–1 | 8–20 | |||||||
Vanderbilt Commodores (Southeastern Conference) (1997–2001) | |||||||||
1997 | Vanderbilt | 3–8 | 0–8 | 6th (Eastern) | |||||
1998 | Vanderbilt | 2–9 | 1–7 | 5th (Eastern) | |||||
1999 | Vanderbilt | 5–6 | 2–6 | 5th (Eastern) | |||||
2000 | Vanderbilt | 3–8 | 1–7 | 5th (Eastern) | |||||
2001 | Vanderbilt | 2–9 | 0–8 | 6th (Eastern) | |||||
Vanderbilt: | 15–40 | 4–36 | |||||||
Total: | 27–71–1 |
References
- ^ a b Organ, Mike (March 23, 2020). "Former Vanderbilt football coach Woody Widenhofer has died at 77". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
- ^ "Widenhofer Announces Retirement from Football". Nmotsc.com. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "Pat Forde kicks off the season by introducing us to the most interesting men in Gridworld - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. January 1, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
- ^ "For Woody Widenhofer, life after Vanderbilt took toll". The Tennessean. June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2013.