Bob Tyler
Encyclopedia
Bob Tyler is a former American football
coach. He coached in the high school and collegiate ranks.
A native of Water Valley, Mississippi
, Tyler was a star athlete at Water Valley High School before entering military service. Following his term of duty at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Tyler achieved his college degrees at the University of Mississippi
. He began coaching in 1955 at Water Valley High and has coached football at Okolona
, Senatobia and Meridian. His high school teams played in 119 games and achieved a record of 94–19–6.
Tyler continued his career in the collegiate ranks, as receivers coach on Johnny Vaught
's Ole Miss Rebel staff. He later worked as an assistant under Bear Bryant
at the University of Alabama
before moving to Mississippi State
as offensive coordinator.
Tyler was named head coach of the Bulldogs in 1973 and led State to a 9–3 season in the tough Southeastern Conference
and a victory in the 1974 Sun Bowl
over North Carolina
. During that season, his team beat perennial powerhouses in Georgia, and LSU
. The Bulldogs' record was 6–4–1 in 1975, and it was an impressive 9–2 in 1976, ending the season ranked #20 in the AP Poll
. His team compiled a 5–6 record in 1977, and he went 6–5 in his final season with the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA prior
to the 1975 season due to alleged improper benefits to student athletes. The school sought and won court approval to play in an adverse legal opinion to the NCAA. Regardless and after the fact, the NCAA forced the school to forfeit most games it won in the 1975, 1976, and 1977 seasons.
In 1981, Tyler coached at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas
), where he went 2–9 in his only season there. Tyler then went on to coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College
and Oxford High School
in the 1980s. He was named Director of Mississippi State Parks, Wildlife and Fisheries and served in that capacity from 1992 to 1996. He also served as head coach of Millsaps Majors from 2000 until his retirement in 2002. His later-life hobbies include attending antique fairs regionally with his wife, Dale.
Tyler is recipient of numerous Coach of the Year awards on the high school and college levels. He also served as assistant and head coach of the Mississippi High School All-Star football games in 1966 and 1967.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. He coached in the high school and collegiate ranks.
A native of Water Valley, Mississippi
Water Valley, Mississippi
Water Valley is a city in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,677 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Water Valley is located at ....
, Tyler was a star athlete at Water Valley High School before entering military service. Following his term of duty at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Tyler achieved his college degrees at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
. He began coaching in 1955 at Water Valley High and has coached football at Okolona
Okolona High School
Okolona High School is a public high school located in Okolona, Mississippi . It serves grades 9 - 12. It is part of the Okolona Municipal Separate School District. The school nickname is "The Chieftains". They boast athletic teams in track, tennis, football, baseball, softball, and basketball. ...
, Senatobia and Meridian. His high school teams played in 119 games and achieved a record of 94–19–6.
Tyler continued his career in the collegiate ranks, as receivers coach on Johnny Vaught
Johnny Vaught
John Howard Vaught was an American college football coach at the University of Mississippi from 1947 to 1970 and again in 1973....
's Ole Miss Rebel staff. He later worked as an assistant under Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
before moving to Mississippi State
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
as offensive coordinator.
Tyler was named head coach of the Bulldogs in 1973 and led State to a 9–3 season in the tough Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
and a victory in the 1974 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
over North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
. During that season, his team beat perennial powerhouses in Georgia, and LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
. The Bulldogs' record was 6–4–1 in 1975, and it was an impressive 9–2 in 1976, ending the season ranked #20 in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. His team compiled a 5–6 record in 1977, and he went 6–5 in his final season with the Bulldogs.
Mississippi State was placed on probation by the NCAA prior
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
to the 1975 season due to alleged improper benefits to student athletes. The school sought and won court approval to play in an adverse legal opinion to the NCAA. Regardless and after the fact, the NCAA forced the school to forfeit most games it won in the 1975, 1976, and 1977 seasons.
In 1981, Tyler coached at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
), where he went 2–9 in his only season there. Tyler then went on to coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College
Northwest Mississippi Community College is a two-year public community college located in Senatobia, Mississippi, USA and has been in existence since 1928. As of August 2008, Northwest's enrollment exceeds 7,100 students. There are approximately 3,000 students on the Senatobia campus—1,100 of which...
and Oxford High School
Oxford High School (Mississippi)
Oxford High School is a public high school in Oxford, Mississippi. It educates 877 students in grades nine through twelve. It is part of the Oxford School District....
in the 1980s. He was named Director of Mississippi State Parks, Wildlife and Fisheries and served in that capacity from 1992 to 1996. He also served as head coach of Millsaps Majors from 2000 until his retirement in 2002. His later-life hobbies include attending antique fairs regionally with his wife, Dale.
Tyler is recipient of numerous Coach of the Year awards on the high school and college levels. He also served as assistant and head coach of the Mississippi High School All-Star football games in 1966 and 1967.