We took a prolonged break but now our “Before They Were Coaches” feature rolls on with the Big 12.
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Texas: Mack Brown (Vanderbilt/Florida State, 1970, 1972-73)
Aside from those eyes and nose, he’s barely even recognizable. The Tennessee H.S. legend known as “Mack the Knife” for his slashing style at RB followed his big brother Watson to Vanderbilt, but transferred after several injuries and a falling out with the coaching staff. He wound up in Tallahassee only to blow out his knee there, ending his playing career.
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Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa, 1979-82)
Don’t be fooled by this picture of him getting burned; hands down, Bob Stoops had the best career of any Big 12 coach. The big-hitting safety was 1982 Big Ten Player of the Year and the first of the three Stoops’ boys to play for Hayden Fry. He led Iowa to the ‘82 Rose Bowl and, as a senior, was named All-American Honorable Mention.
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Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State, 1986-89)
All anyone remembers about Gundy is his “I’m a man!” speech. But as Pokes QB he set Big 12 records for career TD (49) and passing yards (7,997). The four-year starter just-so-happened to have Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders (below) lining up behind him, which he undoubtedly hopes will help land super-recruit and OKC product Barry Sanders Jr.
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Baylor: Art Briles (Houston, 1974-76)
The offensive guru played QB in high school but switched to wideout for the Cougars. Horrifically, his parents and aunt were killed in a car wreck heading to Dallas for his game against SMU. After going to the 1977 Cotton Bowl, Briles quit the team – still devastated by his loss. He eventually re-enrolled at Texas Tech and graduated in ‘79.
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Kansas: Mark Mangino (Youngstown State, None)
Mangino is one of six current FBS coaches that didn’t play in college. The 5-9, 230-pound defensive tackle graduated high school in 1974, then spent a year as a janitor. He headed to Youngstown State in ‘76 but dropped out as a freshman. He eventually returned and landed an assistant position with Jim Tressel, driving ambulances on the side for some extra cash.
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Kansas State: Bill Snyder (Missouri/William Jewell, 1958-62)
A QB and DB in high school, Snyder started at Big 12 rival Missouri but left after one semester due to academic problems. After playing JuCo ball, he ended up at nearby NAIA school William Jewell, where he stuck to defensive back. His first job out of college? Teaching Spanish.
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Missouri: Gary Pinkel (Kent State, 1971-73)
He doesn’t look like a bruising TE now but Pinkel was a star for the Golden Flashes. Playing alongside Nick Saban under the legendary Don James, he caught 70 balls his last two years combined and was a 1973 All-American Honorable Mention. He helped lead Kent to its best record in school history (9-2).
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Nebraska: Bo Pelini (Ohio State, 1987-90)
Yes, Pelini is only 41 years old and played as recently as 1990. Kirk Herbstreit’s teammate in Columbus, he was a senior co-captain at safety and won the team award for most inspirational player.
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Texas Tech: Mike Leach (BYU, None)
Like Mangino, Leach never played a down of college football. The former Wyoming high school wideout and LB instead played club rugby at BYU while watching LaVell Edwards’ high-flying offense run by Steve Young. Graduating in 1983, Leach went on to Pepperdine Law School before finally breaking into the coaching ranks.
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Colorado: Dan Hawkins (UC Davis, 1980-83)
There haven’t been a lot of wins in Boulder recently, but Hawkins played fullback for UC Davis when the Aggies finished as 1982 Division II runner-ups.
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Texas A&M: Mike Sherman (Central Connecticut State, 1974-77)
The Boston native was a 178-pound OL in high school, started at DE for the DII Blue Devils and then switched back to the O-line.
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Iowa State: Paul Rhoads (Missouri Western, 1986-88)
Very little information is available about his college career, except that Rhoads played defensive back for the DII Griffons.
