DON STROCK

'Don Strock' (born November 27, 1950 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania) is a college football head coach and former player who until recently was the head coach of the Florida International University football team.

Contents

Playing career

College

Professional

Coaching career

Arena Football League, the World League and the NFL

Florida International University

External links

Playing career

College

Strock played collegiately at Virginia Tech and graduated in 1973. In 1972, Strock led the nation in total passing and total offense, yet finished only ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
To date, Strock still holds many collegiate football passing records at his alma mater Virginia Tech[1] and was inducted into the Virginia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985.[2]

Professional

Strock played in the NFL as a quarterback and spent the majority of his professional career with the Miami Dolphins (1973-1987). He also played one season each with the Cleveland Browns (1988) and Indianapolis Colts (1989) before retiring as a player.
Strock is well-remembered for coming off the bench on January 2, 1982, for the Miami Dolphins in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the San Diego Chargers at the Miami Orange Bowl. Strock led Miami from a 24-0 deficit to tie the score in the 3rd quarter. Ultimately, Miami lost the game to San Diego, 41-38, in overtime. The game is also remembered for the image of San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow being helped off the field by his teammates while suffering from exhaustion. Strock finished the game with 29 of 43 completions for 403 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception. The game later became known as The Epic in Miami and has entered NFL lore as one of the greatest games ever in NFL history.

Coaching career

Arena Football League, the World League and the NFL

Strock began his coaching career as the head coach of the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League for one season in 1993. The following season he moved on to be the head coach of the Massachusetts Marauders and again only stayed for one season. He then moved on to be an assistant coach of the Rhein Fire in the World League during 1995 season. Between 1996-1998 seasons, he was the quarterbacks coach of the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.

Florida International University

On September 13, 2000, Strock was named the first head football coach in FIU's history. He was named to the position just shy of two years before the university's inaugural football game. Prior to being named head coach he was the director of football operations a job he had obtained the year before. His overall record through the 2006 football season was 15-41.
On November 15, 2006 Strock resigned as head coach of the FIU Golden Panthers. Of his 15 career victories, none came during the 2006 campaign and only three of them came against Division I-A opponents. His resignation came after an 0-9 start and a much publicized brawl against the University of Miami Hurricanes caused 16 players from FIU to be suspended.^[1] ''See'' Miami-FIU brawl. His resignation became effective following FIU's last game against Troy University on December 2, 2006.

External links

★ Virginia Tech Hall of Fame