Larry Zierlein
Encyclopedia
Larry Zierlein is a long-time American football
coach at the high school, college and professional levels.
. After spending two years in the Marines
from 1966–1968, including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967, he attended Fort Hays State College
. He played defensive end for Fort Hays State in 1969 before graduating in 1971.
where he served as offensive line coach for nine seasons.
In 1987 he got his first professional experience as an assistant with the Washington Commandos
of the Arena Football League. When the Commandos went on hiatus the next year, Zierlein took a job at Tulane
where he worked the next three seasons before returning to the pro ranks with the New York/New Jersey Knights
of the National Football League
's development league, the World League of American Football
. With the Knights he held the title of offensive coordinator
under Mouse Davis
as well as coaching the offensive line. When the Knights folded in 1992, Zierlein once more headed back to college, this time at LSU
.
Zierlein spent two years at LSU, coaching the offensive line under head coach Curley Hallman
. In 1995 he returned to Tulane, this time for what would be a two year stint under Tommy Bowden
. In 1997 he moved on to the University of Cincinnati
as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach under Rick Minter
.
In 2001, Zierlein gained his first NFL
experience with the Cleveland Browns
. He served for four seasons as the Brown's o-line coach under the Butch Davis
regime. Zierlein's current Steelers colleague Bruce Arians
served as the offensive coordinator for the first three of Zierlein's seasons at Clevelend. He returned from a one year absence from football in 2006 as the assistant o-line coach for the Buffalo Bills
under Dick Jauron
.
When Mike Tomlin
was hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers
new head coach in 2007, he brought Zierlein to Pittsburgh to coach the offensive line. Tomlin and Zierlein had previously worked together in 1999–2000 with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Steelers assistant special teams coach Amos Jones
was also a member of that Bearcats coaching staff. Zierlein was relieved of his duties with the Steelers on January 6, 2010.
. The e-mail, which Zierlein had received from Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley
contained a pornographic video. Zierlein apologized for the gaffe, but was not disciplined by the team or the league.
, is a sports talk radio
host at Houston's
"Sports talk 790
" and a blogger for the Houston Chronicle
. Their son Mike (Lance's brother) is now the Head Football Coach at Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas.
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 at the high school, college and professional levels.
Biography
Zierlein grew up in Lenora, KansasLenora, Kansas
Lenora is a city in Norton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 250.-Geography:Lenora is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 306...
. After spending two years in the Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
from 1966–1968, including a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1967, he attended Fort Hays State College
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University is a public, co-educational university located in Hays, Kansas, United States. It is the fourth-largest of the six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents, with an enrollment of approximately 11,200 students .- History :FHSU was founded in 1902 as the...
. He played defensive end for Fort Hays State in 1969 before graduating in 1971.
Coaching career
Zierlein embarked on his coaching career as a graduate assistant and linebackers coach at his alma mater in 1970. After two years coaching at Fort Hays State, he spent the following six seasons (1972–1977) as a high school assistant in Texas. In 1978 he returned to the college game at the University of HoustonHouston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
where he served as offensive line coach for nine seasons.
In 1987 he got his first professional experience as an assistant with the Washington Commandos
Washington Commandos
The Washington Commandos were an Arena football team that operated from 1987 to 1990.-Inaugural season :The Washington Commandos were a charter member of the Arena Football League, playing in the initial four-team "demonstration season" of 1987....
of the Arena Football League. When the Commandos went on hiatus the next year, Zierlein took a job at Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
where he worked the next three seasons before returning to the pro ranks with the New York/New Jersey Knights
New York/New Jersey Knights
New York/New Jersey Knights was a franchise in the World League of American Football for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. They played in the North American East division, which they won in the 1991 season. They were coached by Mouse Davis, an architect of the Run & Shoot offense.After 1992 the NFL ...
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...
's development league, the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
. With the Knights he held the title of 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...
under Mouse Davis
Mouse Davis
Darrel "Mouse" Davis is an American football coach and former player. A veteran coach at the high school, college, and professional levels, he is currently the wide receivers coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Davis served as the head football coach at Portland State University from...
as well as coaching the offensive line. When the Knights folded in 1992, Zierlein once more headed back to college, this time at LSU
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Zierlein spent two years at LSU, coaching the offensive line under head coach Curley Hallman
Curley Hallman
Hudson "Curley" Hallman is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi and Louisiana State University , compiling a career record of 39–39.-Early years:Growing up near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Hallman aspired to play for...
. In 1995 he returned to Tulane, this time for what would be a two year stint under Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden
Tommy Bowden is an American football coach who served as the head coach at Clemson University from 1999 until October 13, 2008...
. In 1997 he moved on to the University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
as the running game coordinator and offensive line coach under Rick Minter
Rick Minter
Rick Minter is an American football coach in the United States. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky...
.
In 2001, Zierlein gained his first 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...
experience with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He served for four seasons as the Brown's o-line coach under the Butch Davis
Butch Davis
Paul Hilton "Butch" Davis, Jr. is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He was the head coach at the University of Miami from 1995 to 2000, the Cleveland Browns of the NFL from 2001 to 2004, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2007 to 2011.-Early...
regime. Zierlein's current Steelers colleague Bruce Arians
Bruce Arians
Bruce Arians is the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Prior to holding this position, Arians served as the wide receivers coach for the Steelers, a position that he held with the team since the 2004 season...
served as the offensive coordinator for the first three of Zierlein's seasons at Clevelend. He returned from a one year absence from football in 2006 as the assistant o-line coach for 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...
under Dick Jauron
Dick Jauron
Richard Manuel Jauron is the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills from 2006 until November 2009. Jauron has previously held head coaching positions with the Chicago Bears and, on an interim basis, with the...
.
When Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
was hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
new head coach in 2007, he brought Zierlein to Pittsburgh to coach the offensive line. Tomlin and Zierlein had previously worked together in 1999–2000 with the Cincinnati Bearcats. Steelers assistant special teams coach Amos Jones
Amos Jones
Amos Jones is an assistant special teams coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.-College Playing Career:Jones played safety and running back at the University of Alabama, under Paul "Bear" Bryant...
was also a member of that Bearcats coaching staff. Zierlein was relieved of his duties with the Steelers on January 6, 2010.
E-mail gaffe
Zierlein gained unwanted notoriety in 2007 when he mistakenly forwarded an inappropriate e-mail to a large number of high-level NFL employees, including commissioner Roger GoodellRoger Goodell
Roger S. Goodell is the Commissioner of the National Football League , having been chosen to succeed the retiring Paul Tagliabue on August 8, 2006. He was chosen over four finalists for the position, winning a close vote on the fifth ballot before being unanimously approved by acclamation of the...
. The e-mail, which Zierlein had received from Steelers pro personnel coordinator Doug Whaley
Doug Whaley
Doug Whaley is the Assistant General Manager and the Director of Player Personnel for the Buffalo Bills.-Pittsburgh Steelers:Whaley worked for the Steelers as a Pro Personnel Coordinator. He worked there for 10 years before accepting the Buffalo Bills job. Whaley worked directly under Kevin Colbert...
contained a pornographic video. Zierlein apologized for the gaffe, but was not disciplined by the team or the league.
Personal
Zierlein and his wife, Marcia, have three children and several grandchildren. Their son, LanceLance Zierlein
Lance Zierlein is a sports talk show host on KMBE 790 AM in Houston, Texas. He formerly hosted sports talk shows on KILT 610 and KGOW 1560 AM in Houston, Texas.- Career :...
, is a sports talk radio
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
host at Houston's
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
"Sports talk 790
KBME (AM)
KBME AM is a sports-talk radio station in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area. It is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications. The station airs local sports-talk every weekday from 6am until 9pm and carries nationally syndicated Fox Sports Radio programming.-History:The station first went...
" and a blogger for the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...
. Their son Mike (Lance's brother) is now the Head Football Coach at Clear Falls High School in League City, Texas.
Coaching tree
| Head Coach | Team | Capacity | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Tomlin Mike Tomlin Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history... |
Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
offensive line coach | 2007 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the 75th season of the Steelers franchise. The season saw the team improve upon their 8–8 record from 2006, finish with a record of 10–6, and win the AFC North Division... –2009 |
External links
- A Closer Look at Larry Zierlein's Career, Behind the Steel Curtain (a Pittsburgh Steelers blog), June 30, 2008