Virginia Destroyers Name Marty Schottenheimer Head Coach
March 23, 2011 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Virginia Destroyers News Release
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - Wednesday, March 23 - Legendary former NFL coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER has been named the new Head Coach and General Manager of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League.
Schottenheimer brings more than 30 years of NFL coaching and playing experience to the Destroyers having coached in the National Football league for the San Diego Chargers (2002-2006), Washington Redskins (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (1989-1998) and Cleveland Browns (1984-1988).
"I am excited to lead the Destroyers and am eager to return to the football field in Virginia," said Schottenheimer. "I have been impressed with the fervor and passion that has been created in the region for a team that has yet to play a down of football. I promise the fans there that we will repay them with a great product on the field and a franchise to make them proud."
Schottenheimer's NFL head coaching record is 205-139-1 (.596). He is one of a handful of NFL head coaches to lead at least three different franchises to the playoffs. In 2004, he led the Chargers to one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history, taking a team that finished last in the AFC West (4-12) in 2003 and turning it into an AFC West Champion (12-4) in 2004. It was the franchise's first division title since 1994, and the Chargers became the 22nd team in NFL history to go from worst to first since 1967.
"The Destroyers fans have been very patient in waiting for a head coach and we believe we have rewarded them with a great leader and a proven winner," said UFL Commissioner MICHAEL HUYGHUE. "Marty Schottenheimer is among the NFL coaching greats and his record speaks for itself. He is another quality coach whose appointment will benefit all areas of the United Football League from player development to ensuring we continue to provide great entertainment for our fans."
Schottenheimer joins Jim Fassel (Las Vegas), Dennis Green (Sacramento) and the new Hartford Colonials leader Jerry Glanville as current UFL head coaches with NFL head coaching experience.
Virginia Destroyers Director of Business Operations, JOHN CASTLEBERRY, added: "This is a classic example of great things happening to those who wait. Marty Schottenheimer is the consummate football coach. His no-nonsense brand of football is exactly what we need. His credibility will be a huge factor in making the Virginia Destroyers a rousing success in Hampton Roads."
The Destroyers will inherit the roster of the Florida Tuskers who were defeated in the 2009 and 2010 UFL Championship Game and Schottenheimer will lead his expansion team Destroyers against the reigning champion Las Vegas Locos, Hartford Colonials, Omaha Nighthawks, and Sacramento Mountain Lions when the third UFL season kicks off in August. Fans can register for tickets for the 2011 Destroyers season at www.VADestroyers.com.
Schottenheimer will meet with fans, media, team staff and members of the local business community when in Virginia this week and will also tour team facilities. He will tweet throughout his visit to the Hampton Roads region from www.Twitter.com/DestroyersMarty and as the UFL continues to embrace innovation, his time as head coach of the Destroyers will be documented daily on Twitter.
Schottenheimer's coaching career is highlighted by numerous awards and he was named NFL Coach of the year in 2004 by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, the Professional Football Writers of America, SportsIllustrated.com, American Football Monthly, the Dallas Morning News, CBS Sportsline.com and the NFL Alumni Association.
As coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Schottenheimer was named AFC Coach of the Year by Football News in 1995, and the NFL Coach of the Year (Football Digest) and AFC Coach of the Year (USA Today) in 1997. He began his NFL coaching career as linebacker coach for the New York Giants in 1975, after ending his playing career.
Schottenheimer spent seven seasons as a professional linebacker after being selected by both the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League (seventh round) and Baltimore Colts in the NFL (fourth round) in 1965. He played four seasons (1965-68) in Buffalo, winning the AFL Championship as a rookie. He then played two seasons with the Boston / New England Patriots (1969-70), and returned to the field in 1974 with the Portland Storm of the World Football League before a shoulder injury finished his playing career.
Schottenheimer earned his college degree in English from Pittsburgh, where he was an All-American linebacker. He graduated from Ft. Cherry High School in McDonald, Pennsylvania, where he was an honors student and an All-Western Pennsylvania linebacker, and a center on the school's state-championship basketball team.
Schottenheimer was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania in 1943. He and his wife, Pat, have two children, Kristen and Brian, and four grandchildren - Brandon, Catherine, Sutton and Savannah. Brian Schottenheimer is currently the Offensive Coordinator for the New York Jets. His brother, Kurt, is the Special Teams Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
Schottenheimer is an avid golfer and a licensed pilot. He has flown with the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds.
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