Dick Hoak
Encyclopedia
Richard John Hoak is a former running back
s coach
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
— the longest tenured coach in the team's history. He was also a running back with the Steelers (1961–1970) and a noted collegiate player at Penn State.
at Penn State University from 1958–1961, and was the Nittany Lions' MVP
in 1960. He graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree
in Social Studies
. He roomed with Jim Ragano his freshman year at Penn St.
, Hoak had an impressive career, amassing 3,965 rushing yards in 1132 attempts (3.5 avg) with 25 touchdowns. He also caught 146 passes for 1,452 yards (9.9 avg) and 8 touchdown
s. He was named to one Pro Bowl
and led the team in rushing three times. He retired after the 1970 season as Pittsburghs number 2 all-time rusher, and is currently fifth all time in rushing yards out of all Steelers.
as an offensive backfield coach in 1972, and served in that position for 20 seasons. He passed on the head coaching job with the USFL
's Pittsburgh Maulers
' when offered it in 1983. Following Noll's retirement in 1992, his successor, Bill Cowher
, immediately named Hoak running backs coach. During his tenure the Steelers have rushed for over 30,000 yards (the only team to do so in this time period) and have led the league in rushing yards three times. On January 1, 2007, Hoak announced his retirement
after 45 seasons with the team: 10 as a player, 35 as a coach.
Hoak has the distinction of being the only coach to work for both Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. At the time of his retirement, he had been a Steeler for 742 of the franchise’s 1,057 games and had been involved in every title game and playoff victory during its 74 seasons. http://www.imakenews.com/footballletter/e_article000723516.cfm?x=b8JP2ML,b2VyWl7g,w
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
s coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for 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...
— the longest tenured coach in the team's history. He was also a running back with the Steelers (1961–1970) and a noted collegiate player at Penn State.
College career
Hoak played running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
at Penn State University from 1958–1961, and was the Nittany Lions' MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in 1960. He graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Social Studies
Social studies
Social studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
. He roomed with Jim Ragano his freshman year at Penn St.
Professional playing career
Chosen by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
, Hoak had an impressive career, amassing 3,965 rushing yards in 1132 attempts (3.5 avg) with 25 touchdowns. He also caught 146 passes for 1,452 yards (9.9 avg) and 8 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He was named to one Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and led the team in rushing three times. He retired after the 1970 season as Pittsburghs number 2 all-time rusher, and is currently fifth all time in rushing yards out of all Steelers.
Coaching career
After a highly successful playing career, Hoak was hired by then-coach Chuck NollChuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
as an offensive backfield coach in 1972, and served in that position for 20 seasons. He passed on the head coaching job with the USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
's Pittsburgh Maulers
Pittsburgh Maulers
The Pittsburgh Maulers competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.They were...
' when offered it in 1983. Following Noll's retirement in 1992, his successor, Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
, immediately named Hoak running backs coach. During his tenure the Steelers have rushed for over 30,000 yards (the only team to do so in this time period) and have led the league in rushing yards three times. On January 1, 2007, Hoak announced his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
after 45 seasons with the team: 10 as a player, 35 as a coach.
Hoak has the distinction of being the only coach to work for both Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. At the time of his retirement, he had been a Steeler for 742 of the franchise’s 1,057 games and had been involved in every title game and playoff victory during its 74 seasons. http://www.imakenews.com/footballletter/e_article000723516.cfm?x=b8JP2ML,b2VyWl7g,w
External links
- Hoak to retire after 45 seasons with Steelers, NFL.com wire report, January 1, 2007
- "Dick Hoak retires after 45 years with Steelers as coach and player", Pittsburgh Post-GazettePittsburgh Post-GazetteThe Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, January 3, 2007