Turk Schonert
Encyclopedia
Turk Leroy Schonert is a former quarterback
, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator
in the National Football League
.
in Anaheim, California
. He also played in the Little League World Series
in 1968 as a shortstop and third baseman.
, Schonert followed Guy Benjamin
and Steve Dils
, who each won the Sammy Baugh Trophy
given to college football's top passer, and was backed up by freshman John Elway
. Schonert finished as the school's third consecutive NCAA passing champion and set a team record for completion percentage. The season highlight came when Schoenert led Stanford back from a 21-0 halftime deficit to tie top ranked USC, 21-21, ultimately costing the Trojans the national title.
in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft
but never played for the franchise. He played nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals
, including the Super Bowl XVI
and Super Bowl XXIII
teams, and spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons
. Schonert retired in 1989, finishing his career with 11 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and a 7-5 record as a starting quarterback.
under Sam Wyche
, his former head coach with the Bengals. His quarterback coach at Stanford, Jim Fassel
, later became the head coach of the New York Giants
and hired Schonert, who also served with the Buffalo Bills
, Carolina Panthers
and New Orleans Saints
.
Schonert, who returned to the Bills in 2006 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2008, has worked with Trent Edwards
, a graduate of his alma mater, since Buffalo drafted the Stanford quarterback in 2007. Schonert was fired as the offensive coordinator
for the Bills on September 4, 2009, just before the start of the season and replaced with Alex Van Pelt
. The move proved to be uninspired, Bills head-coach Dick Jauron being fired after 9 games in the 2009 NFL season, due to a lack of offensive fire-power.
's Hartford Colonials by head coach Jerry Glanville
in 2011, but was let go with the rest of the coaching staff when the franchise ceased operation prior to the 2011 season. He was then hired by Fassel as an offensive assistant for the UFL
's Las Vegas Locomotives
.
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...
, quarterbacks coach and 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...
in 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...
.
Early years
Schonert was a two-time All-American quarterback at Servite High SchoolServite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
in Anaheim, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He also played in the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
in 1968 as a shortstop and third baseman.
College career
As a senior quarterback at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, Schonert followed Guy Benjamin
Guy Benjamin
Guy Emory Benjamin is a retired American football quarterback who played six seasons in the National Football League.-College career:...
and Steve Dils
Steve Dils
Stephen Whitfield "Steve" Dils is a retired American football quarterback who played 10 seasons in the National Football League.-College career:...
, who each won the Sammy Baugh Trophy
Sammy Baugh Trophy
The Sammy Baugh Trophy is awarded annually to the nation's top college passer. The award is named in honor of former Texas Christian University and Washington Redskins quarterback "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh. The trophy has been given out by the Touchdown Club of Columbus since 1959...
given to college football's top passer, and was backed up by freshman John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
. Schonert finished as the school's third consecutive NCAA passing champion and set a team record for completion percentage. The season highlight came when Schoenert led Stanford back from a 21-0 halftime deficit to tie top ranked USC, 21-21, ultimately costing the Trojans the national title.
Professional career
Schonert was selected by the Chicago BearsChicago 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...
in the ninth round of the 1980 NFL Draft
1980 NFL Draft
The 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
but never played for the franchise. He played nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, including the Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI was an American football game played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan to decide the National Football League champion following the 1981 regular season. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city...
and Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
teams, and spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Schonert retired in 1989, finishing his career with 11 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and a 7-5 record as a starting quarterback.
NFL
Schonert began coaching quarterbacks in 1992 with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
under Sam Wyche
Sam Wyche
Samuel David "Sam" Wyche is a former American football player and head coach, who is best known as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL...
, his former head coach with the Bengals. His quarterback coach at Stanford, Jim Fassel
Jim Fassel
-Professional:-Personal life:Before the 2003 NFL season, Fassel was reunited with a son, John Mathieson, whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969. The couple was unmarried when he was born....
, later became the head coach of 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...
and hired Schonert, who also served with 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...
, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
and 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 ....
.
Schonert, who returned to the Bills in 2006 and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2008, has worked with Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards
Trent Edwards is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, a graduate of his alma mater, since Buffalo drafted the Stanford quarterback in 2007. Schonert was fired as the 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...
for the Bills on September 4, 2009, just before the start of the season and replaced with Alex Van Pelt
Alex Van Pelt
Alexander "Alex" Van Pelt is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers of the National Football League.-College:...
. The move proved to be uninspired, Bills head-coach Dick Jauron being fired after 9 games in the 2009 NFL season, due to a lack of offensive fire-power.
UFL
Schonert was hired as quarterback's coach for the UFLUFL
UFL or UFl may refer to:Chemistry:* Upper flammable limit, the flammability limit describing the richest flammable mixture of a combustible gasColleges and universities:...
's Hartford Colonials by head coach Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville
Jerry Glanville is a former American football player and current head coach of the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League, former NASCAR driver and owner, and sportscaster in the United States. He served the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986 to 1990 and the Atlanta Falcons from...
in 2011, but was let go with the rest of the coaching staff when the franchise ceased operation prior to the 2011 season. He was then hired by Fassel as an offensive assistant for the UFL
UFL
UFL or UFl may refer to:Chemistry:* Upper flammable limit, the flammability limit describing the richest flammable mixture of a combustible gasColleges and universities:...
's Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
.