Hudson Houck
Encyclopedia
Hudson Houck is the offensive line coach
for the Dallas Cowboys
of the National Football League
. A veteran of over two decades of football coaching experience, Houck was re-hired by the Cowboys after being let go by the Miami Dolphins
.
for the Trojans of Southern California
from 1962 to 1964. He won a National Championship as a member of the 1962 team.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Crescenta Valley High School
in California
. Following two years in the United States Army
, Houck resumed his role at Crescenta Valley.
In 1970 Houck coached the freshmen team at Southern California, and after two years he became the offensive line coach
at Stanford
. There he coached the first Stanford 2-time All Pac-8 offensive guard, Alex Karakozoff and sent several players to the NFL including Gary Anderson, Bill Reid and tutoring eventual All-American and first round NFL draft pick Gordon King
.
Houck returned to his alma mater
in 1976, coaching the offensive line at Southern California. During this time, he helped send numerous Trojans to the National Football League
including Marvin Powell
, Pat Howell
, Brad Budde
, Anthony Muñoz
, Keith Van Horne
, Chris Foote, Roy Foster, Bruce Matthews, Don Mosebar
and Tony Slaton
, among others. This group helped lead the way for Heisman Trophy
-winning running backs Charles White
and Marcus Allen
, in addition to another USC great, Ricky Bell
, an NFL first-round draft choice in 1977.
to 1991
. In his nine years with the team the Rams had 1,000-yard rushers seven seasons, highlighted by Eric Dickerson
's record-setting 2,105 yards in 1984
. During Houck's tenure, five Rams offensive linemen combined for 21 Pro Bowl
appearances, including Jackie Slater (7), Doug Smith
(6), Kent Hill
(3), Dennis Harrah
(3) and Tom Newberry
(2). In Houck's final three years with the team, Rams quarterback
Jim Everett
threw for more yards than any passer in that span and did not miss a start.
in 1992
. Seahawks running back Chris Warren logged the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career with Houck tutoring his blockers.
. At times during Houck's tenure the Cowboys' line was one of the most dominant in the history of the game. The 203 sacks they allowed in nine years under Houck were the fewest of any NFL team in that span. Six offensive linemen earned 22 trips to the Pro Bowl
under Houck, including Larry Allen
(7), Nate Newton
(5), Erik Williams
(4), Ray Donaldson
(2), Mark Stepnoski
(2) and Mark Tuinei
(2). Future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith
earned a pair of rushing titles during Houck's tenure, and rushed for over 1,000 yards every season. Houck was also the assistant head coach from 1994 to 1997.
from 2002
to 2004
, Houck transformed one of the league's worst offensive lines to one of the best. Running back
LaDainian Tomlinson
rushed for more than 1,300 yards in each of Houck's three seasons with the team. With five new starters on the line in 2004, the Chargers ranked tenth in total offense and sixth in rushing. The Chargers allowed fewer than 25 sacks per season under Houck.
head coach Nick Saban
with a three-year contract worth $2.5 million. The contract made him the second highest paid offensive line coach in the NFL at the time, behind only Alex Gibbs
with the Atlanta Falcons
. During his first year with the Dolphins in 2005
, Houck's offensive line ranked fourth in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed, cutting their number in half from the previous year. In 2007
, Houck was reunited with then Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
. Houck and Cameron worked together in San Diego when Cameron was offensive coordinator
for the Chargers.
. Jerry Jones
quickly re-hired Houck when Parcells hired Cowboys line coach Tony Sparano to serve as the Dolphins' head coach.
in Los Angeles, California
. He has a son, Troy. His wife Elsie, has two children, Scott and Holly.
Offensive line coach
The offensive line coach is a coaching position in gridiron football that is in charge of the offensive line. This role is very common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The offensive line coach serves the offense, which is led by the offensive coordinator....
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. A veteran of over two decades of football coaching experience, Houck was re-hired by the Cowboys after being let go by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Playing career and coaching beginnings
Houck was a centerCenter (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Trojans of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
from 1962 to 1964. He won a National Championship as a member of the 1962 team.
He began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Crescenta Valley High School
Crescenta Valley High School
Crescenta Valley High School is a secondary school located at 2900 Community Avenue in La Crescenta-Montrose, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The school is a part of the Glendale Unified School District....
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Following two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Houck resumed his role at Crescenta Valley.
In 1970 Houck coached the freshmen team at Southern California, and after two years he became the offensive line coach
Offensive line coach
The offensive line coach is a coaching position in gridiron football that is in charge of the offensive line. This role is very common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The offensive line coach serves the offense, which is led by the offensive coordinator....
at Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. There he coached the first Stanford 2-time All Pac-8 offensive guard, Alex Karakozoff and sent several players to the NFL including Gary Anderson, Bill Reid and tutoring eventual All-American and first round NFL draft pick Gordon King
Gordon King
Gordon David King is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the New York Giants and the New York Jets. He played college football at Stanford University and was drafted in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft....
.
Houck returned to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
in 1976, coaching the offensive line at Southern California. During this time, he helped send numerous Trojans to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
including Marvin Powell
Marvin Powell
Marvin Powell is a former Offensive Tackle for the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.-College career:Powell was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994...
, Pat Howell
Pat Howell
Pat Howell is a retired American football offensive lineman.-Professional career:Howell played for the National Football League Houston Oilers and Atlanta Falcons between 1979 and 1985...
, Brad Budde
Brad Budde
Brad Edward Budde is a former American football offensive guard in the National Football League .-College career:...
, Anthony Muñoz
Anthony Muñoz
Michael Anthony Muñoz , is a Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle who played most of his career for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals...
, Keith Van Horne
Keith Van Horne
Keith Van Horne is a retired American football tackle.-High school:Keith attended Fullerton High School, Fullerton, California.His Fullerton football varsity team mate was future NFL...
, Chris Foote, Roy Foster, Bruce Matthews, Don Mosebar
Don Mosebar
Donald Mosebar is a retired American Football Center.-College career:Mosebar was an All-American offensive lineman in 1982 at the University of Southern California and drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders....
and Tony Slaton
Tony Slaton
Anthony Tyrone Slaton is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League.-College career:Slaton was an All-America center for the University of Southern California in 1984....
, among others. This group helped lead the way for Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
-winning running backs Charles White
Charles White (American football)
Charles White is a former professional American football running back. He had a distinguished college career and later played in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams.-College football:...
and Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
, in addition to another USC great, Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (running back)
Ricky Lynn Bell younger brother of recording artist Archie Bell, was an American professional football player who played running back in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Diego Chargers from 1977 to 1982...
, an NFL first-round draft choice in 1977.
Los Angeles Rams
Houck's first pro coaching experience came with the Los Angeles Rams, where he coached the offensive line from 19831983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
to 1991
1991 NFL season
The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills....
. In his nine years with the team the Rams had 1,000-yard rushers seven seasons, highlighted by Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
's record-setting 2,105 yards in 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
. During Houck's tenure, five Rams offensive linemen combined for 21 Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances, including Jackie Slater (7), Doug Smith
Doug Smith (football player)
Carl Douglas Smith is a former professional American football player who played the positions of center and offensive guard for the Los Angeles Rams from the 1978 season through the 1991 season...
(6), Kent Hill
Kent Hill
Kent Angelo Hill is a former American football offensive lineman who played nine seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Los Angeles Rams. He was selected to five Pro Bowls. He was selected in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech....
(3), Dennis Harrah
Dennis Harrah
Dennis Wayne Harrah is a former NFL Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the University of Miami.- University of Miami :...
(3) and Tom Newberry
Tom Newberry
Thomas J. "Tom" Newberry is a former American football guard who played ten seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams for 9 years and the Pittsburgh Steelers for 1 year. He was a starter for the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. He was a 2 time Pro Bowl and NFL All-Pro offensive...
(2). In Houck's final three years with the team, Rams quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Everett
Jim Everett
James Samuel Everett III is a retired professional American football quarterback who played for twelve seasons in the National Football League ....
threw for more yards than any passer in that span and did not miss a start.
Seattle Seahawks
Houck spent one season as offensive line coach for the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
. Seahawks running back Chris Warren logged the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career with Houck tutoring his blockers.
Dallas Cowboys
Houck spent the next nine years coaching the offensive line for the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. At times during Houck's tenure the Cowboys' line was one of the most dominant in the history of the game. The 203 sacks they allowed in nine years under Houck were the fewest of any NFL team in that span. Six offensive linemen earned 22 trips to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
under Houck, including Larry Allen
Larry Allen
Larry Christopher Allen, Sr. is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
(7), Nate Newton
Nate Newton
Nathaniel Newton is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys and the Carolina Panthers . He also played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, in 1984 and 1985...
(5), Erik Williams
Erik Williams
Erik George Williams is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he was an NAIA All-American offensive lineman. Williams was...
(4), Ray Donaldson
Ray Donaldson
Raymond Canute Donaldson is a former American football Center who played 17 seasons in the National Football League. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and then he played in Super Bowl XXX as a member of the Dallas Cowboys...
(2), Mark Stepnoski
Mark Stepnoski
Mark Matthew Stepnoski is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went on to star at the University of Pittsburgh....
(2) and Mark Tuinei
Mark Tuinei
Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
(2). Future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
earned a pair of rushing titles during Houck's tenure, and rushed for over 1,000 yards every season. Houck was also the assistant head coach from 1994 to 1997.
San Diego Chargers
With the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
to 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, Houck transformed one of the league's worst offensive lines to one of the best. Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tomlinson
LaDainian Tramayne Tomlinson is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers fifth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Christian.Tomlinson, often referred to by his initials, L...
rushed for more than 1,300 yards in each of Houck's three seasons with the team. With five new starters on the line in 2004, the Chargers ranked tenth in total offense and sixth in rushing. The Chargers allowed fewer than 25 sacks per season under Houck.
Miami Dolphins
Houck was lured away from the Chargers by former Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
head coach Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
with a three-year contract worth $2.5 million. The contract made him the second highest paid offensive line coach in the NFL at the time, behind only Alex Gibbs
Alex Gibbs
Alex Gibbs is a retired American football coach. Gibbs was to enter his first season on Pete Carroll's Seattle Seahawks staff as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Line coach in 2010, but announced his unexpected retirement a week before the start of the NFL's 2010 regular season.Gibbs is a...
with the Atlanta Falcons
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...
. During his first year with the Dolphins in 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, Houck's offensive line ranked fourth in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed, cutting their number in half from the previous year. In 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, Houck was reunited with then Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
. Houck and Cameron worked together in San Diego when Cameron was offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Chargers.
Return to Dallas
After the Dolphins' disastrous 1-15 campaign in 2007, Houck was fired along with most of the Dolphins' coaching staff by incoming general manager Bill ParcellsBill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
. Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
quickly re-hired Houck when Parcells hired Cowboys line coach Tony Sparano to serve as the Dolphins' head coach.
Personal
Houck attended Eagle Rock High SchoolEagle Rock High School (Los Angeles, California)
Eagle Rock High School is a public school located in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock of northeast Los Angeles, California.Eagle Rock is the only combination junior and senior high school that serves grades 7 to 12 as part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.-History:The school first opened...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He has a son, Troy. His wife Elsie, has two children, Scott and Holly.