Joe Kuharich
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lawrence Kuharich (April 14, 1917 – January 25, 1981) was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco
from 1948 to 1951 and at the University of Notre Dame
from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football
record of 43–37. Kuharich was also the head coach of the Chicago Cardinals
in 1952, the Washington Redskins
from 1954 to 1958, and the Philadelphia Eagles
from 1964 to 1968, amassing a career coaching record of 58–81–3 in the NFL
. He played football as a guard
at Notre Dame from 1935 to 1937 and with the Chicago Cardinals in 1940, 1941, and 1945.
. He played college football
at the University of Notre Dame
under coach Elmer Layden
, who rated Kuharich as one of the best and smartest players he ever had. In his college career, Kuharich's greatest game was the stunning Fighting Irish comeback over Ohio State
in 1935.
as line coach and was promoted to head coach in 1948. His overall record was 26–14, including an undefeated 9–0 docket in 1951. Among his most prized pupils was Ollie Matson
, who would become a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back with the Chicago Cardinals
. When Kuharich felt the time was right, he moved up to the NFL
himself, serving as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, succeeding Curly Lambeau
. In 1953, he served as a scout for several pro teams, then in 1954 became coach of the Washington Redskins
, then owned by the controversial George Preston Marshall
. Once again, Kuharich succeeded Lambeau. The team "boasted" of diminutive Eddie LeBaron
, the smallest quarterback
in the league, who had the daunting task of succeeding the legendary Sammy Baugh
. A successful campaign in 1955 landed Kuharich "Coach of the Year" honors, then hardships sent Kuharich's 'Skins to a losing stretch. After five seasons in Washington, Kuharich resigned when Notre Dame beckoned.
in 1959, realizing a longtime ambition to return to his alma mater. He had earlier been courted by Notre Dame after the 1956 season, after the Irish finished 2–8, but before he had a chance to accept an offer, Terry Brennan
was given a reprieve. He brought a professional touch to Irish football, putting shamrocks on the players' helmets and shoulder stripes on their jerseys. Kuharich compiled a 17–23 record over four non-winning seasons and remains to this day the only coach ever to have an overall losing record at Notre Dame. Included was a school-record eight-game losing streak in 1960, a year in which the Irish would finish 2–8. It was one of the worst stretches in Notre Dame football
history. The consensus opinion was that Kuharich never made the adjustment from pro football to college football, attempting to use complicated pro coaching techniques with collegiate players, and never adapted to the limited substitution rules in effect at the time, having big, immobile linemen playing both ways in an era where smaller, quicker players were preferred. He often said, "You win some and you lose some," and seemed perfectly content finishing 5–5 every year. This did not sit well with the Irish faithful, who expected Notre Dame to beat everybody. When the pressure of winning became too much to bear, Kuharich resigned in the spring of 1963 and assumed the post of supervisor of NFL officials. Because it was so late in the spring, Hugh Devore
was named interim head coach while the search for a permanent replacement was being conducted. Little did Joe know at the time that the players he had recruited would come to within 93 seconds of an undefeated season and a national championship in 1964 under first-year coach Ara Parseghian
.
Kuharich was involved in a game whose controversial ending resulted in a rule change still in effect today. In 1961, Notre Dame faced Syracuse at home and trailed, 15–14, with three seconds left to play. A desperation 56-yard field goal attempt fell short as time ran out, and Syracuse appeared to have won the game. But the Orangemen were penalized 15 yards for roughing the placekick holder, and given a second chance with no time showing on the clock, Notre Dame kicker Joe Perkowski drilled a 41-yard field goal for a 17–15 Irish victory. Syracuse immediately cried foul, claiming that under the existing rules, the second kick should not have been allowed because time had expired. It was later determined that the officials had erred in allowing the extra play, but the Irish victory was permitted to stand. The current rule which states that a half cannot end on an accepted defensive foul was implemented as a result of this game.
in 1964. The team had gone through an unsteady 1963. Eagles' owner Jerry Wolman
made Kuharich head coach and general manager with an unprecedented 15-year contract. In return for quarterback Norm Snead
and defensive back Jimmy Carr
, Kuharich traded away Hall of Fame and perennial Pro-Bowlers Sonny Jurgensen
and Tommy McDonald. Philadelphia also acquired Ollie Matson from the Detroit Lions
. Despite the acquisitions, the Eagles continued to decline.
Kuharich's only winning season with the Eagles came in 1966. That gave the team a date with the Baltimore Colts
in the "Playoff Bowl," a postseason exhibition intended to draw fans and help coaches plan for the following season. In the "Playoff Bowl" of January 8, 1967 that Kuharich became the first coach to wear a wireless microphone for NFL Films. Portions of his wiring and the Playoff Bowl itself, were used at the end of NFL Films' 1967 special They Call It Pro Football.
The 1968 season would be Kuharich's last; the Eagles vied most of the season for the league's worst record, which would have had them finishing ahead of the Buffalo Bills
, which thereby earned the chance to draft Heisman Trophy winner O. J. Simpson
No. 1 overall. But the Eagles won their last two games and the Buffalo Bills won the rights to Simpson.
Three months after the 1969 NFL draft, financially-distressed owner Jerry Wolman
sold the Eagles on May 1, 1969 to trucking millionaire Leonard Tose
. Tose and Kuharich agreed to a settlement on the final eleven years of the ex-coach's $60,000 annual contract.
) a former CFL
and AFL head coach, and Bill
who has followed in his father's footsteps as the New Orleans Saints
General Manager
from 1996 to 2000 and Vice President of Player Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2009.
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...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
from 1948 to 1951 and at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 43–37. Kuharich was also the head coach of the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1952, the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
from 1954 to 1958, and the Philadelphia Eagles
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...
from 1964 to 1968, amassing a career coaching record of 58–81–3 in the NFL
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...
. He played football as a guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
at Notre Dame from 1935 to 1937 and with the Chicago Cardinals in 1940, 1941, and 1945.
Early life and playing career
Kuharich was born April 14, 1917 in South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
under coach Elmer Layden
Elmer Layden
Elmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield...
, who rated Kuharich as one of the best and smartest players he ever had. In his college career, Kuharich's greatest game was the stunning Fighting Irish comeback over Ohio State
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1935.
Early coaching career
Kuharich began his coaching career as an assistant freshman coach at Notre Dame in 1938. In 1939, he coached at the Vincentian Institute in Albany. He then moved to the pro ranks as a player, playing guard for the Chicago Cardinals in 1940 and 1941. After serving in the Navy, he returned to the Cardinals in 1945, his last season as a player. In 1946, Kuharich served as line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, then in 1947 he moved on to the University of San FranciscoUniversity of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
as line coach and was promoted to head coach in 1948. His overall record was 26–14, including an undefeated 9–0 docket in 1951. Among his most prized pupils was Ollie Matson
Ollie Matson
Ollie Genoa Matson II was an American Olympic medal winning sprinter and professional American football running back who played in the National Football League, in 1952 and from 1954 to 1966...
, who would become a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back with the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. When Kuharich felt the time was right, he moved up to the NFL
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...
himself, serving as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, succeeding Curly Lambeau
Curly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
. In 1953, he served as a scout for several pro teams, then in 1954 became coach of the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, then owned by the controversial George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall
George Preston Marshall was the owner and president of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League from 1932 until his death in 1969.-Contributions:...
. Once again, Kuharich succeeded Lambeau. The team "boasted" of diminutive Eddie LeBaron
Eddie LeBaron
Edward Wayne LeBaron, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the 1950s and early 1960s in the National Football League.-Early years:LeBaron graduated from Oakdale High School in Oakdale, California....
, the smallest 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...
in the league, who had the daunting task of succeeding the legendary Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
. A successful campaign in 1955 landed Kuharich "Coach of the Year" honors, then hardships sent Kuharich's 'Skins to a losing stretch. After five seasons in Washington, Kuharich resigned when Notre Dame beckoned.
Notre Dame
He took the head coaching position at the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in 1959, realizing a longtime ambition to return to his alma mater. He had earlier been courted by Notre Dame after the 1956 season, after the Irish finished 2–8, but before he had a chance to accept an offer, Terry Brennan
Terry Brennan
Terence Patrick Brennan is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1954 to 1958, compiling a record of 32–18.-Early life and playing career:...
was given a reprieve. He brought a professional touch to Irish football, putting shamrocks on the players' helmets and shoulder stripes on their jerseys. Kuharich compiled a 17–23 record over four non-winning seasons and remains to this day the only coach ever to have an overall losing record at Notre Dame. Included was a school-record eight-game losing streak in 1960, a year in which the Irish would finish 2–8. It was one of the worst stretches in Notre Dame football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
history. The consensus opinion was that Kuharich never made the adjustment from pro football to college football, attempting to use complicated pro coaching techniques with collegiate players, and never adapted to the limited substitution rules in effect at the time, having big, immobile linemen playing both ways in an era where smaller, quicker players were preferred. He often said, "You win some and you lose some," and seemed perfectly content finishing 5–5 every year. This did not sit well with the Irish faithful, who expected Notre Dame to beat everybody. When the pressure of winning became too much to bear, Kuharich resigned in the spring of 1963 and assumed the post of supervisor of NFL officials. Because it was so late in the spring, Hugh Devore
Hugh Devore
Hugh John Devore was a football player and coach whose close connection to the University of Notre Dame saw him serve in both capacities, while also seeing time as head coach at two other colleges as well as the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.-Early career:Devore was born and...
was named interim head coach while the search for a permanent replacement was being conducted. Little did Joe know at the time that the players he had recruited would come to within 93 seconds of an undefeated season and a national championship in 1964 under first-year coach Ara Parseghian
Ara Parseghian
Ara Raoul Parseghian is a former American football player and coach of Armenian descent. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , Northwestern University , and the University of Notre Dame , compiling a career college football record of 170–58–6...
.
Kuharich was involved in a game whose controversial ending resulted in a rule change still in effect today. In 1961, Notre Dame faced Syracuse at home and trailed, 15–14, with three seconds left to play. A desperation 56-yard field goal attempt fell short as time ran out, and Syracuse appeared to have won the game. But the Orangemen were penalized 15 yards for roughing the placekick holder, and given a second chance with no time showing on the clock, Notre Dame kicker Joe Perkowski drilled a 41-yard field goal for a 17–15 Irish victory. Syracuse immediately cried foul, claiming that under the existing rules, the second kick should not have been allowed because time had expired. It was later determined that the officials had erred in allowing the extra play, but the Irish victory was permitted to stand. The current rule which states that a half cannot end on an accepted defensive foul was implemented as a result of this game.
Philadelphia Eagles
Kuharich returned to the NFL coaching ranks with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia 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...
in 1964. The team had gone through an unsteady 1963. Eagles' owner Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman is a former Washington, D.C. developer and the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football team of the National Football League. Wolman bought the Eagles franchise in 1963 from the "Happy Hundred," a group of investors that owned the team from 1949–1963, for a sale price of...
made Kuharich head coach and general manager with an unprecedented 15-year contract. In return for quarterback Norm Snead
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football for Wake Forest University and was drafted in the first round of...
and defensive back Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr (American football)
James Henry Carr is a former American football player who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. Carr also played one season in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes in 1958...
, Kuharich traded away Hall of Fame and perennial Pro-Bowlers Sonny Jurgensen
Sonny Jurgensen
Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
and Tommy McDonald. Philadelphia also acquired Ollie Matson from the Detroit Lions
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...
. Despite the acquisitions, the Eagles continued to decline.
Kuharich's only winning season with the Eagles came in 1966. That gave the team a date with the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the "Playoff Bowl," a postseason exhibition intended to draw fans and help coaches plan for the following season. In the "Playoff Bowl" of January 8, 1967 that Kuharich became the first coach to wear a wireless microphone for NFL Films. Portions of his wiring and the Playoff Bowl itself, were used at the end of NFL Films' 1967 special They Call It Pro Football.
The 1968 season would be Kuharich's last; the Eagles vied most of the season for the league's worst record, which would have had them finishing ahead of the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, which thereby earned the chance to draft Heisman Trophy winner O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
No. 1 overall. But the Eagles won their last two games and the Buffalo Bills won the rights to Simpson.
Three months after the 1969 NFL draft, financially-distressed owner Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman is a former Washington, D.C. developer and the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football team of the National Football League. Wolman bought the Eagles franchise in 1963 from the "Happy Hundred," a group of investors that owned the team from 1949–1963, for a sale price of...
sold the Eagles on May 1, 1969 to trucking millionaire Leonard Tose
Leonard Tose
Leonard Hyman Tose was an owner of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969–1985. He made a fortune in the trucking industry and was known for his lavish lifestyle...
. Tose and Kuharich agreed to a settlement on the final eleven years of the ex-coach's $60,000 annual contract.
Personal life
Kuharich was married to the former Madelyn Eleanor Imholz on October 6, 1943. They had two sons, Joseph Lawrence, Jr. (LaryLary Kuharich
Joseph Lawrence Kuharich, Jr. is an American football coach currently serving as the Offensive Coordinator of the Arena Football League's Columbus Destroyers...
) a former CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
and AFL head coach, and Bill
Bill Kuharich
Bill Kuharich is the former Vice President of Player Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Kuharich is the son of the late Joe Kuharich, former college and NFL head coach...
who has followed in his father's footsteps as the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
from 1996 to 2000 and Vice President of Player Personnel for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2006 to 2009.