Gary Moeller
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Gary O. Moeller (born January 26, 1941 in Lima, Ohio) is an American football coach best known for his stint as University of Michigan head coach from 1990 to 1994. He also coached at the University of Illinois from 1977 to 1979. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758. In Big Ten Conference play, his teams won 30 games, lost 8 and tied 2 for a winning percentage of .775, and won or shared conference titles in 1990, 1991 and 1992.
Moeller resigned in April 1995 after tapes were released of his alleged drunken outburst following an arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct at a Detroit-area restaurant. He was succeeded by Lloyd Carr, who had assisted him at both Illinois and Michigan. Both Moeller and Carr served under coaching great Bo Schembechler from 1980–89.
Moeller had been a three-year letterwinner at the Ohio State University, playing primarily at linebacker. He served as team co-captain in his senior year, along with offensive tackle Bob Vogel.
After graduation in 1963, he coached in the high school levels for several years before joining Bo Schembechler at Miami University. He moved with Bo to Michigan in 1969, and served as defensive ends coach until 1973, when he was promoted to defensive coordinator. After his stint at Illinois, Moeller rejoined the Wolverines as quarterbacks coach for a season in 1981. Moeller has the rare distinction of serving as both an offensive (1987-1990) and defensive (1974-1976, 1982-1987) coordinator during his time at Michigan. Moeller coached the Wolverines to a victory over Alabama in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, while Schembechler recovered from heart surgery.
In 2000, while serving as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Detroit Lions, Moeller was named head coach following the resignation of Bobby Ross nine games into the season. Moeller was given a 3-year contract by owner William Clay Ford, Sr., a move that seemingly guaranteed a future with the team. After the team narrowly missed the playoffs (losing their final game on a last-second 54 yard field goal), ownership endorsed Moeller as the Lions head coach for the foreseeable future. However, Moeller was eventually fired by newly named team President Matt Millen in early 2001, and was replaced by Marty Mornhinwheg. Moeller finished with a 4–3 record as head coach, making him the only Lions head coach in the past 30 years to post a winning record during his tenure.
In 2001, Moeller joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as defensive coordinator under head coach Tom Coughlin. He voluntarily stepped down from that position after one season.
Coaching record at Michigan
| Year | Overall | (Big Ten/place) | Bowl game |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9–3 | (6–2/1st‡) | Gator Bowl |
| 1991 | 10–2 | 8–0/1st | Rose Bowl |
| 1992 | 9–0–3 | 6–0–2/1st | Rose Bowl |
| 1993 | 8–4 | 5–3/3rd | Hall of Fame Bowl |
| 1994 | 8–4 | 5–3/3rd | Holiday Bowl |
‡denotes shared championship
Player accomplishments at Michigan
Michigan players to win national awards under Moeller:
- Heisman Trophy: Desmond Howard (1991)
- Walter Camp Award: Desmond Howard (1991)
- Maxwell Award: Desmond Howard (1991)
- Dick Butkus Award: Erick Anderson (1991)
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