Milan Vooletich
Encyclopedia
Milan Emil Vooletich, Jr. (October 9, 1941 – October 26, 2006) was an American football
player and coach. He played football at Geneva College
in the mid-1960s and later had a 32-year career as a football coach including eight years as an assistant coach under Bo Schembechler
at the University of Michigan
, five years as an assistant coach under Hayden Fry
at the University of Iowa
and stints as the defensive coordinator at Rice University
and Navy
.
and a graduate of Pittsburgh's Carrick High School
. Vooletich attended Geneva College
in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
where he played football for the Geneva Golden Tornadoes football team from 1962 to 1965.
in Sandusky, Ohio
. Vooletich also taught social studies at Sandusky High School. During Vooletich's years at Sandusky, he served under head coaches Earle Bruce
, Bob Seaman
and Bob Reublin. The 1966 Sandusky Blue Streakes posted a perfect 10–0 record and claimed the Ohio state championship. While coaching at Sandusky, Vooletich developed a close relationship with defensive standout, Thom Darden
. When Darden became an All-American at Michigan, he paid tribute to Vooletich for helping him become a top defensive player. Vooletich later said of Darden: "Thom and I came into the Sandusky High football program in 1964. He is a whole individual, warm person, concerned, and means a little extra to me and my family."
, was hired to replace Bo Schembechler
as the head football coach at Miami University
in Oxford, Ohio
. Mallory asked Vooletich and Sandusky head coach Bob Reublin to join him at Miami. Vooletich was a graduate assistant in 1969 and was promoted to full-time varsity football staff member in 1970. Vooletich also received his master's degree in education administration from Miami University in 1970. He served on Mallory's staff at Miami for five seasons from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, Mallory left Miami to take the head coaching position at Colorado
, and Vooletich and Rebulin moved to Colorado with Mallory. Vooletich was Colorado's defensive backs coach for four years from 1974 to 1977.
at the University of Michigan
. Vooletich remained a coach at Michigan for eight years under Schembechler. While at Michigan, Vooletich helped coached several strong defensive units, including the 1985 team
that allowed 98 points in 12 games (8.16 points per game), the 1978 team
that allowed 105 points in 12 games (8.75 points per game) and the 1980 team
that allowed 129 points in 12 games (10.75 points per game).
.
In 1987, Vooletich's former co-assistant at Michigan, Elliot Uzelac, was hired as the head coach at the United States Naval Academy
. Uzelac asked Vooletich to join him as the defensive coordinator at Navy, and Vooletich agreed. Vooletich remained at Navy as the defensive coordinator for three seasons from 1987 to 1989. While serving as the defensive coordinator for Navy in 1987, Vooletich told The Washington Post, "Football is a very simple game. You work within the structure of the offense and the defense and carry out your assignments, good things are going to happen."
as the defensive ends coach under Hayden Fry
. Vooletich was credited by Sports Illustrated
in 1990 with "a good deal of the credit" in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the 1990 Big Ten championship. Vooletich coached the defensive ends at Iowa from 1990 to 1995, and Iowa played in four bowl games during his years there, including the 1991 Rose Bowl
.
In January 1996, Iowa coach Hayden Fry told reporters that he had hired a new defensive coordinator and added, "I don't anticipate Milan being back. Un-unh." The following day, Vooletich told reporters he wanted to stay at Iowa, but that seemed unlikely based on Fry's comment. Vooletich said he did not know what was going on: "I'll be damned if I know. He might think I'm looking for a job, but I'm not. I'm going to sit down and talk with him and find out what the hell is going on. ... This has just devastated me." Several days later, Vooletich announced his resignation saying, "I've enjoyed my tenure at Iowa" and adding, "I'll leave Iowa with nothing but good memories."
under Bill Curry
.
and later went into coaching. Their younger son, Brian Vooletich, played at North Carolina and later at Michigan State University
. In 1996, Vooletich coached against his son, Brian, when Iowa played against Michigan State. Vooletich said at the time, "I just want to watch the kid play. He's a heck of a young man. His mother has done a great job of raising him."
After retiring from coaching, Vooletich lived in Missouri City, Texas
. He died in San Antonio, Texas
in October 2006 at age 65.
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 played football at Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in the mid-1960s and later had a 32-year career as a football coach including eight years as an assistant coach under Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, five years as an assistant coach under Hayden Fry
Hayden Fry
John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and stints as the defensive coordinator at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
and Navy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
Early years
Vooletich was a native of Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and a graduate of Pittsburgh's Carrick High School
Carrick High School
Carrick High School is a public school in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.Carrick is one of ten high schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and one of the few to offer Business Technology and Health Technology Programs.-Business Technology Program:The Business...
. Vooletich attended Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
where he played football for the Geneva Golden Tornadoes football team from 1962 to 1965.
Sandusky High School
After graduating from Geneva College in 1964, Vooletich began coaching high school football at Sandusky High SchoolSandusky High School
Sandusky High School, or SHS, is a secondary school in Sandusky, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Sandusky City School District, and one of three high schools in the city of Sandusky; the other two are St Mary Central Catholic High School, and Perkins High School.SHS was one of the first...
in Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
. Vooletich also taught social studies at Sandusky High School. During Vooletich's years at Sandusky, he served under head coaches Earle Bruce
Earle Bruce
Earle Bruce is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Tampa , Iowa State University , Ohio State University , the University of Northern Iowa , and Colorado State University , compiling a career college football record of 154–90–2...
, Bob Seaman
Bob Seaman
Bob Seaman was a college football coach in the United States. His lifetime coaching record was 23 wins, 40 losses, and 0 ties.-Wichita State University:...
and Bob Reublin. The 1966 Sandusky Blue Streakes posted a perfect 10–0 record and claimed the Ohio state championship. While coaching at Sandusky, Vooletich developed a close relationship with defensive standout, Thom Darden
Thom Darden
Thomas Vincent Darden is a former American football cornerback, safety, and punt returner who played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League . In the NFL, he was a three-time All-Pro free safety. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1978. He holds most Cleveland Browns franchise...
. When Darden became an All-American at Michigan, he paid tribute to Vooletich for helping him become a top defensive player. Vooletich later said of Darden: "Thom and I came into the Sandusky High football program in 1964. He is a whole individual, warm person, concerned, and means a little extra to me and my family."
Assistant to Bill Mallory at Miami and Colorado
In 1969, Sandusky High School graduate, Bill MalloryBill Mallory
William G. "Bill" Mallory is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Miami University , the University of Colorado at Boulder , Northern Illinois University , and Indiana University , compiling a career college football record of...
, was hired to replace Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
as the head football coach at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
in Oxford, Ohio
Oxford, Ohio
Oxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
. Mallory asked Vooletich and Sandusky head coach Bob Reublin to join him at Miami. Vooletich was a graduate assistant in 1969 and was promoted to full-time varsity football staff member in 1970. Vooletich also received his master's degree in education administration from Miami University in 1970. He served on Mallory's staff at Miami for five seasons from 1969 to 1973. In 1974, Mallory left Miami to take the head coaching position at Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, and Vooletich and Rebulin moved to Colorado with Mallory. Vooletich was Colorado's defensive backs coach for four years from 1974 to 1977.
University of Michigan
In 1978, Vooletich accepted a position as an assistant coach under Bo SchembechlerBo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Vooletich remained a coach at Michigan for eight years under Schembechler. While at Michigan, Vooletich helped coached several strong defensive units, including the 1985 team
1985 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1985 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
that allowed 98 points in 12 games (8.16 points per game), the 1978 team
1978 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1978 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
that allowed 105 points in 12 games (8.75 points per game) and the 1980 team
1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 10–2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the 1981 Rose Bowl game, 23–6...
that allowed 129 points in 12 games (10.75 points per game).
Defensive coordinator at Rice and Navy
In 1986, Vooletich left Michigan to become the defensive coordinator at Rice UniversityRice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
.
In 1987, Vooletich's former co-assistant at Michigan, Elliot Uzelac, was hired as the head coach at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. Uzelac asked Vooletich to join him as the defensive coordinator at Navy, and Vooletich agreed. Vooletich remained at Navy as the defensive coordinator for three seasons from 1987 to 1989. While serving as the defensive coordinator for Navy in 1987, Vooletich told The Washington Post, "Football is a very simple game. You work within the structure of the offense and the defense and carry out your assignments, good things are going to happen."
University of Iowa
In 1990, Vooletich was hired by the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
as the defensive ends coach under Hayden Fry
Hayden Fry
John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
. Vooletich was credited by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1990 with "a good deal of the credit" in leading the Iowa Hawkeyes to the 1990 Big Ten championship. Vooletich coached the defensive ends at Iowa from 1990 to 1995, and Iowa played in four bowl games during his years there, including the 1991 Rose Bowl
1991 Rose Bowl
The 1991 Rose Bowl was the 77th Rose Bowl Game, played on January 1, 1991. The #8 Washington Huskies built a 33-7 halftime lead and defeated the #17 Iowa Hawkeyes 46-34. Washington sophomore quarterback Mark Brunell was named the Player of the Game....
.
In January 1996, Iowa coach Hayden Fry told reporters that he had hired a new defensive coordinator and added, "I don't anticipate Milan being back. Un-unh." The following day, Vooletich told reporters he wanted to stay at Iowa, but that seemed unlikely based on Fry's comment. Vooletich said he did not know what was going on: "I'll be damned if I know. He might think I'm looking for a job, but I'm not. I'm going to sit down and talk with him and find out what the hell is going on. ... This has just devastated me." Several days later, Vooletich announced his resignation saying, "I've enjoyed my tenure at Iowa" and adding, "I'll leave Iowa with nothing but good memories."
University of Kentucky
Vooletich's final coaching position was in 1996 as the linebackers coach at the University of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
under Bill Curry
Bill Curry
William Alexander "Bill" Curry is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head coach at Georgia State University, which began competing in college football in 2010...
.
Later years and family
Vooletich was married for 42 years to Rosemary Loughman Vooletich. They had two children, Brian and Dan, both of whom played college football. Their older son, Dan Vooletich, played for the University of North CarolinaUniversity of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
and later went into coaching. Their younger son, Brian Vooletich, played at North Carolina and later at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. In 1996, Vooletich coached against his son, Brian, when Iowa played against Michigan State. Vooletich said at the time, "I just want to watch the kid play. He's a heck of a young man. His mother has done a great job of raising him."
After retiring from coaching, Vooletich lived in Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
. He died in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in October 2006 at age 65.