Jon Hoke
Encyclopedia
Jon Hoke is currently the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
.
in Kettering, Ohio
. He then attended Ball State University
, where he played defensive back on the football team. Hoke was a 2-time all-MAC
selection and his team earned league titles in 1976 and 1978.
Hoke spent time in the NFL as a player with the Chicago Bears
and Kansas City Chiefs
from 1980-1981.
, North Carolina State, and Bowling Green. Hoke was hired by head coach Denny Stolz
at BGSU, and then followed him when he was hired at San Diego State. After Stolz's dismissal at SDSU, Hoke went Kent State, Missouri
, and Florida
.
He served as defensive coordinator
for Kent State in 1993 and Florida from 1999-2001. At Florida, Hoke replaced friend Bob Stoops
, who had left to become the head coach at Oklahoma
. Hoke and Stoops had served on the same Kent State staff in 1989 under Dick Crum, and Stoops recommended Hoke as his successor. Hoke left Florida when Gators head coach Steve Spurrier
took the head coaching job with the Washington Redskins
of the NFL.
When Spurrier returned to college football to coach South Carolina
in 2004, he asked Hoke to join him as defensive coordinator. After deliberating with his family, Hoke declined.
Houston Texans
of the NFL in 2002 as secondary coach under Dom Capers
, and was retained by new head coach Gary Kubiak
in 2005.
Hoke joined the Chicago Bears as defensive backs coach in 2009, taking over for Steven Wilks
.
He remains as the Bears defensive backs coach through the 2010 season.
, who is currently the head football coach at the University of Michigan
.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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...
.
Playing career
Hoke played high school football at Fairmont East High SchoolFairmont East High School
In 1963, a second campus style high school located in the eastern part of the city of Kettering was opened as Fairmont East High School and the existing school was renamed Fairmont West High School...
in Kettering, Ohio
Kettering, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,502 people, 25,657 households, and 15,727 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,077.4 people per square mile . There were 26,936 housing units at an average density of 1,441.6 per square mile...
. He then attended Ball State University
Ball State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
, where he played defensive back on the football team. Hoke was a 2-time all-MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
selection and his team earned league titles in 1976 and 1978.
Hoke spent time in the NFL as a player with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and 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...
from 1980-1981.
College coaching career
Hoke embarked on a coaching career in 1982, and ultimately coached in the college ranks for 19 seasons. As a secondary coach, he served at DaytonUniversity of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
, North Carolina State, and Bowling Green. Hoke was hired by head coach Denny Stolz
Denny Stolz
Dennis E. "Denny" Stolz is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Alma College , Michigan State University , Bowling Green State University , and San Diego State University , compiling a career college football record of 125–93–5.Stolz graduated...
at BGSU, and then followed him when he was hired at San Diego State. After Stolz's dismissal at SDSU, Hoke went Kent State, Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, and Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
.
He served as defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for Kent State in 1993 and Florida from 1999-2001. At Florida, Hoke replaced friend Bob Stoops
Bob Stoops
Robert Anthony "Bob" Stoops is the head coach of the University of Oklahoma football team. During the 2000 season, Stoops led the Sooners to an Orange Bowl victory and a national championship....
, who had left to become the head coach at Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Hoke and Stoops had served on the same Kent State staff in 1989 under Dick Crum, and Stoops recommended Hoke as his successor. Hoke left Florida when Gators head coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
took the head coaching job with 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,...
of the NFL.
When Spurrier returned to college football to coach South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 2004, he asked Hoke to join him as defensive coordinator. After deliberating with his family, Hoke declined.
NFL coaching career
Hoke joined the expansion2002 Houston Texans season
The 2002 Houston Texans season was the franchise's first-ever season and the city of Houston's first NFL season since the Houston Oilers left in 1997 to move to Tennessee to become the Titans....
Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL in 2002 as secondary coach under Dom Capers
Dom Capers
Ernest Dominic "Dom" Capers is an American football coach, the current defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and the only man to serve two different National Football League expansion teams as their inaugural head coach....
, and was retained by new head coach Gary Kubiak
Gary Kubiak
Gary Wayne Kubiak is the head coach for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Kubiak has participated in six Super Bowls, losing three as a player with the Denver Broncos and winning three as an assistant coach with Denver and the San Francisco 49ers.-High school:Kubiak passed for a...
in 2005.
Hoke joined the Chicago Bears as defensive backs coach in 2009, taking over for Steven Wilks
Steven Wilks
Steven Bernard Wilks is a defensive backs coach, currently with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.-Pro career:Wilks played one year in the AFL for the Charlotte Rage.-Coaching career:...
.
He remains as the Bears defensive backs coach through the 2010 season.
Personal life
Hoke is the brother of Brady HokeBrady Hoke
Brady Hoke is the head football coach at the University of Michigan. He is in his first season. He grew up in Ohio and attended Ball State University where he played linebacker from 1977 to 1980...
, who is currently the head football coach 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...
.