Dave Adolph
Dave Adolph (June 6, 1937 – February 12, 2017) was an American football coach.[1] He served as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns from 1986-88.[2][3] Prior to leaving the Browns in 1985 for the San Diego Chargers, he was the Browns' interim defensive coordinator in 1984. The promotion occurred after Marty Schottenheimer was elevated from the team's defensive coordinator position to head coach midway through the season. He joined Schottenheimer as his defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1992-1994. Adolph was the defensive coordinator in four AFC championship games for three different NFL teams.
Experienced in mentoring and managing both the highs and lows of football programs to achieve success, Adolph has worked with generations of coaches and players. Adolph is the source of the title quote for Jon Gruden's book "Do You Love Football?!" spoken by Adolph to the new Oakland Raider head coach after a demoralizing nationally televised, season-opening loss on Sunday Night Football. Adolph also served in the U.S. Air Force. He played football at the University of Akron. Adolph is originally from Mogadore, Ohio, and was on the 1954 Mogadore High School state champion football team.
Coaching History
- 1961-1962 Cleveland Shaw High School
- 1963-1964 University of Akron (graduate assistant)
- 1965-1968 University of Connecticut (LB)
- 1969-1973 University of Kentucky (LB)
- 1973-1977 University of Illinois (LB)
- 1977-1978 The Ohio State Buckeyes (DL), head coach Woody Hayes
- 1979-1980 Cleveland Browns (DL)
- 1981-1983 Cleveland Browns (LB)
- 1984 Cleveland Browns (DC/LB)
- 1985 San Diego Chargers (DC)
- 1986-1988 Cleveland Browns (DC) - Two AFC Championship Games
- 1989-1991 Los Angeles Raiders (DC) - AFC Championship Game
- 1992-1994 Kansas City Chiefs (DC) - AFC Championship Game
- 1995-1996 San Diego Chargers (DC)
- 1997-1998 Oakland Raiders (LB)
- 1999 Kansas City Chiefs (LB)
- 2004-2007 University of San Diego (DC/LB), head coach Jim Harbaugh - Twice National Champions
- 2008-2013 The Ohio State Buckeyes supplemental staff, head coaches Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer
- 2015- 2016 Michigan Wolverines football data analyst, head coach Jim Harbaugh
Adolph, one of few football staff members to serve both the Michigan and Ohio State programs, was selected to serve as honorary captain for both teams on the same day for the Michigan - Ohio State football game in Columbus, Ohio on November 26, 2016.
NFL All-Pro players coached by Dave Adolph include:
[[File:2016 Dave Adolph and Jim Harbaugh at UM-OSU Game.jpg}]]
References
External links
- 1937 births
- 2017 deaths
- American football linebackers
- Akron Zips baseball coaches
- Akron Zips football players
- Akron Zips football coaches
- Cleveland Browns coaches
- Connecticut Huskies football coaches
- Illinois Fighting Illini football coaches
- Kansas City Chiefs coaches
- Kentucky Wildcats football coaches
- Los Angeles Raiders coaches
- Oakland Raiders coaches
- Ohio State Buckeyes football coaches
- San Diego Chargers coaches
- San Diego Toreros football coaches
- National Football League defensive coordinators
- Sportspeople from Akron, Ohio
- Players of American football from Ohio