Chuck Curtis
Encyclopedia
Charles “Chuck” Curtis (born 1935) is a former American football
coach. After a stellar collegiate career and a short stint with the NFL's New York Giants
, Curtis began his coaching career at the high school level
, before serving as last head coach at the University of Texas at Arlington
.
Growing up in Gainesville, Texas
as son of a minister, Curtis played quarterback
at Gainesville High School
in the late 1940s and early 1950s. During his senior year Curtis' father moved to Taylor
but allowed him to remain at Gainesville in a garage apartment in order to keep his eligibility. Despite All-State honors, college recruiters ignored him, except for Texas Christian's Abe Martin
.
At TCU, Curtis led the Horned Frogs
to the 1955 Southwest Conference championship. In the 1957 Cotton Bowl, Curtis threw two touchdown passes and ran for another TD to lead the Horned Frogs to a 28-27 win over Syracuse
and standout running back Jim Brown
. Garnering All-Southwest Conference honors in 1955 and 1956, Curtis was selected 85th overall by the defending champions, the New York Giants
, in the 1957 NFL Draft
. As back-up quarterback for Charley Conerly Curtis did not see any action during the 1957 NFL season
, yet as an aspiring coach it worked to his advantage. Both Vince Lombardi
and Tom Landry
were assistants on the Giants staff, and their system, he soon realized, far surpassed anything he had seen in four years at TCU.
After one season with the Giants, Curtis returned to Texas in order to pursue a coaching career. He began at Holliday
, where he led the 1958 Eagles to an 8–2 record and barely missed the playoffs. The following year Curtis moved to 2A Jacksboro
, where he turned around a program in the dumps for 10 straight years and culminating in the state title in 1962. The Tigers outscored their opponents 602-43 that year. Curtis soon moved on, as he succeeded Homer Johnson as head coach at 4A Garland
. Guiding the Owls to back-to-back state titles in 1963 and '64, Curtis became the first coach in Texas high school football to win consecutive titles at different schools in different classifications, going 26-1-1 during that stretch. He also joined, at that time, Waco
's Paul Tyson
, Amarillo
's Blair Cherry
and Abilene
's Chuck Moser
as the only coaches to win three straight state crowns.
Curtis seriously considered the head coaching job at Odessa Permian
, which just became vacant as Jim Cashion resigned, but eventually accepted an assistant coaching position on Hayden Fry
's staff at Southern Methodist University
. In 1968 he returned to the high school level, taking over at Grand Prairie
.
In 1979 Curtis briefly returned to Jacksboro, before taking over head coaching duties at Cleburne High School in 1981. In 1982, he guided the Yellow Jackets to the state semifinals, but lost 7-3 to Don Denbow's Corsicana squad. Cleburne's 1983 team carried an unbeaten 13–0 record in the quarterfinal round, only to lose 13-3 to Lubbock Estacado. Curtis also coached in the Oil Bowl
in 1983.
In 1984 Curtis finally got his first head coaching job at the collegiate level
, taking over as 13th head football coach at the University of Texas at Arlington. His career coaching record for the Mavericks was 11–10–1. This ranks him sixth at UT Arlington in total wins and eighth at UT Arlington in winning percentage. UT-Arlington discontinued its football program after the conclusion of the 1985 season.
After one year out of coaching, Curtis returned to the high school level, becoming head coach at 3A Aledo
. He guided the Bearcats to a 6–5 and 8–3 record in 1987 and 1988, respectively, before he retired.
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. After a stellar collegiate career and a short stint with the NFL's New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Curtis began his coaching career at the high school level
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, before serving as last head coach at the University of Texas at Arlington
UT Arlington Mavericks football
The UT Arlington Mavericks football team represented the University of Texas at Arlington from the 1959 through 1985 seasons. Between 1919 through 1958, UTA competed as a junior college prior to moving to Division II in 1959 and ultimately Division I in 1970...
.
Growing up in Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
as son of a minister, Curtis played 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...
at Gainesville High School
Gainesville High School (Texas)
Gainesville High School is a 3A high school located in Gainesville, Texas . It is part of the Gainesville Independent School District located in north central Cooke County...
in the late 1940s and early 1950s. During his senior year Curtis' father moved to Taylor
Taylor, Texas
Taylor is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,575 at the 2000 census; it was 15,191 in the 2010 census estimate. Taylors largest employers include the Electric Reliability Council of Texas , Durcon Inc, and the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, an immigration...
but allowed him to remain at Gainesville in a garage apartment in order to keep his eligibility. Despite All-State honors, college recruiters ignored him, except for Texas Christian's Abe Martin
Abe Martin
-External links:* at the Handbook of Texas...
.
At TCU, Curtis led the Horned Frogs
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
to the 1955 Southwest Conference championship. In the 1957 Cotton Bowl, Curtis threw two touchdown passes and ran for another TD to lead the Horned Frogs to a 28-27 win over Syracuse
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
and standout running back Jim Brown
Jim Brown
James Nathaniel "Jim" Brown is an American former professional football player who has also made his mark as an actor. He is best known for his exceptional and record-setting nine-year career as a running back for the NFL Cleveland Browns from 1957 to 1965. In 2002, he was named by Sporting News...
. Garnering All-Southwest Conference honors in 1955 and 1956, Curtis was selected 85th overall by the defending champions, the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, in the 1957 NFL Draft
1957 NFL Draft
The 1957 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1956.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. As back-up quarterback for Charley Conerly Curtis did not see any action during the 1957 NFL season
1957 NFL season
The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:...
, yet as an aspiring coach it worked to his advantage. Both Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
and Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
were assistants on the Giants staff, and their system, he soon realized, far surpassed anything he had seen in four years at TCU.
After one season with the Giants, Curtis returned to Texas in order to pursue a coaching career. He began at Holliday
Holliday High School
Holliday High School is a 2A high school located in Holliday, Texas . It is part of the Holliday Independent School District located in northwestern Archer County...
, where he led the 1958 Eagles to an 8–2 record and barely missed the playoffs. The following year Curtis moved to 2A Jacksboro
Jacksboro High School
Jacksboro High School is a 2A high school located in Jacksboro, Texas . It is part of the Jacksboro Independent School District located in central Jack County.-Athletics:The Jacksboro Tigers compete in the following sports:...
, where he turned around a program in the dumps for 10 straight years and culminating in the state title in 1962. The Tigers outscored their opponents 602-43 that year. Curtis soon moved on, as he succeeded Homer Johnson as head coach at 4A Garland
Garland High School
Garland High School is a public secondary school located in Dallas, Texas . Garland High School enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Garland Independent School District. The school is a member of the AP program, the IB program, and is known for its football team, the Garland...
. Guiding the Owls to back-to-back state titles in 1963 and '64, Curtis became the first coach in Texas high school football to win consecutive titles at different schools in different classifications, going 26-1-1 during that stretch. He also joined, at that time, Waco
Waco High School
Waco High School is a Texas UIL Class 4A public high school located on N. 42 Street in Waco, Texas. As of August 2009, enrollment was 1902 with 139 teachers. The ethnicity is roughly 44.95% African American, 36.91% Hispanic, 17.19% White American and 0.95% Other. The school mascot is the lion...
's Paul Tyson
Paul Tyson
Paul Leighton Tyson was an American football coach. He is one of the most successful high school football coaches of all time, winning four Texas state championships and one mythical national championship in the 1920s...
, Amarillo
Amarillo High School
Amarillo High School is a school located in the city of Amarillo, Texas, United States, in the Amarillo Independent School District.- History :...
's Blair Cherry
Blair Cherry
-Baseball:Cherry also served as baseball coach from 1943 to 1945 during Bibb Falk's absence. His teams compiled a 30-23 overall record, but won 2 conference titles with a 22-4 conference record in 3 seasons .-Post-coaching life:...
and Abilene
Abilene High School (Abilene, Texas)
Abilene High School is a public high school located in Abilene, Texas and is part of the Abilene Independent School District. Abilene High School is the name given to three different schools in the past 150 years. The first Abilene High was an old warehouse. Not long after that, the school was...
's Chuck Moser
Chuck Moser
Charles H. “Chuck” Moser was an American football coach. He was known for guiding Abilene High School to a 49-game winning streak from 1954–57, which as still Texas state record for 4A and 5A schools...
as the only coaches to win three straight state crowns.
Curtis seriously considered the head coaching job at Odessa Permian
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
, which just became vacant as Jim Cashion resigned, but eventually accepted an assistant coaching position on 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...
's staff at Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. In 1968 he returned to the high school level, taking over at Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie High School
Grand Prairie High School is a public high school in Grand Prairie, Texas, the seventh-largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and 17th-largest in Texas...
.
In 1979 Curtis briefly returned to Jacksboro, before taking over head coaching duties at Cleburne High School in 1981. In 1982, he guided the Yellow Jackets to the state semifinals, but lost 7-3 to Don Denbow's Corsicana squad. Cleburne's 1983 team carried an unbeaten 13–0 record in the quarterfinal round, only to lose 13-3 to Lubbock Estacado. Curtis also coached in the Oil Bowl
Oil Bowl (high school)
The Oil Bowl is a high school football game played between All-Star teams from Texas and Oklahoma. The all star game began in 1938, originally between East and West Texas high school football all-stars. It was not until 1945 that the game began pitting Oklahoma against Texas...
in 1983.
In 1984 Curtis finally got his first head coaching job at the collegiate level
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...
, taking over as 13th head football coach at the University of Texas at Arlington. His career coaching record for the Mavericks was 11–10–1. This ranks him sixth at UT Arlington in total wins and eighth at UT Arlington in winning percentage. UT-Arlington discontinued its football program after the conclusion of the 1985 season.
After one year out of coaching, Curtis returned to the high school level, becoming head coach at 3A Aledo
Aledo High School (Texas)
Aledo High School is a 4A high school located in Aledo, Texas . It is part of the Aledo Independent School District located in south central Parker County...
. He guided the Bearcats to a 6–5 and 8–3 record in 1987 and 1988, respectively, before he retired.