Frank Gansz
Encyclopedia
Frank Gansz was an American football
coach whose career spanned nearly 40 years. He died in Dallas on April 27, 2009, from complications following knee replacement surgery.
At the college level, Gansz served as an assistant at Colgate
, Oklahoma State
, SMU
, Army
, UCLA
, Air Force
and Navy
, his alma mater
(1960).
In January 1986, Gansz was named assistant head coach and special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs
. He took over as head coach
of the Chiefs in January 1987 after John Mackovic
was fired. In his first year, a strike-shortened season, he finished 4-11. The following year, he went 4-11-1. In January 1989, Gansz was fired and replaced by Marty Schottenheimer
.
Once called "the best special teams coach ever" by former NFL head coach Dick Vermeil
, Gansz twice earned special teams coach of the year honors, including 1999 when helped the St. Louis Rams
to a Super Bowl victory.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania
, Gansz retired as an NFL coach in 2001 after coaching in the league for 24 seasons, including stops in San Francisco
, Cincinnati
, Philadelphia
, Detroit
, Atlanta
and Jacksonville
. After retirement, he lived in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Barbara, though he continued to speak at colleges and clinics around the country.
On February 20, 2008, Gansz came out of retirement to join SMU as its special teams coach under head coach June Jones
, with whom he had worked in Atlanta and Detroit.
Gansz was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2009 The United States Naval Academy and Southern Methodist University jointly created the Gansz Trophy
which is to be awarded to the winner of any football match between the two institutions.
.
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 whose career spanned nearly 40 years. He died in Dallas on April 27, 2009, from complications following knee replacement surgery.
At the college level, Gansz served as an assistant at Colgate
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
, Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
, SMU
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
, Army
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
, UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
, Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
and Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
, his alma mater
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
(1960).
In January 1986, Gansz was named assistant head coach and special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. He took over as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Chiefs in January 1987 after John Mackovic
John Mackovic
John Mackovic is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of United States national American football team, which was formed to compete in the American Football World Cup...
was fired. In his first year, a strike-shortened season, he finished 4-11. The following year, he went 4-11-1. In January 1989, Gansz was fired and replaced by Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
.
Once called "the best special teams coach ever" by former NFL head coach Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
, Gansz twice earned special teams coach of the year honors, including 1999 when helped the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
to a Super Bowl victory.
A native of Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, Gansz retired as an NFL coach in 2001 after coaching in the league for 24 seasons, including stops in San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Detroit
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Atlanta
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After retirement, he lived in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife Barbara, though he continued to speak at colleges and clinics around the country.
On February 20, 2008, Gansz came out of retirement to join SMU as its special teams coach under head coach June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
, with whom he had worked in Atlanta and Detroit.
Gansz was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2009 The United States Naval Academy and Southern Methodist University jointly created the Gansz Trophy
Gansz Trophy
The Gansz Trophy was created in 2009 through a collaboration between the athletic departments of the United States Naval Academy and Southern Methodist University. The trophy is named for Frank Gansz who played linebacker at the Naval Academy from 1957 through 1959...
which is to be awarded to the winner of any football match between the two institutions.
NFL career timeline
- ST - San Francisco 49ers (1978)
- TE and ST - Cincinnati Bengals (1979–1980)
- TE and ST - Kansas City Chiefs (1981–1982)
- TE and ST - Philadelphia Eagles (1983–1985)
- ST - Kansas City Chiefs (1986)
- Head Coach - Kansas City Chiefs (1987–1988)
- ST - Detroit Lions (1989–1993)
- ST - Atlanta Falcons (1994–1996)
- ST - St. Louis Rams (1997–1999)
- ST - Jacksonville Jaguars (2000–2001)
Family
His son, Frank Gansz, Jr. is a special teams coach with the UCLA football teamUCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
.