In the final installment of our “Before They Were Coaches” series, we head West to check out the exceptionally decorated college playing careers of Pac-10 coaches.
Click here for Part I profiling the SEC
Click here for Part II profiling the Big Ten
Click here for Part III profiling the Big East
Click here for Part IV profiling the Big 12
Click here for Part V profiling the ACC
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USC: Pete Carroll (Marin/Pacific, 1969-72)
Carroll played two years of JuCo ball, then starred as a two-time all-conference safety for Pacific. Now a part of the school’s hall of fame, he tried out for the World Football League’s Honolulu Hawaiians but did not make the team.
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Stanford: Jim Harbaugh (Michigan, 1983-86)
His list of accomplishments go on and on. He led Michigan to a 10-1-1 record in 1985, after which UM finished second in the final poll. As a senior, he went 11-2, was named conference MVP, finished third in the Heisman voting and – most importantly – backed up a guaranteed victory over Ohio State in Columbus. He went on to a 15-year NFL career.
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UCLA: Rick Neuheisel (UCLA, 1980-83)
Neuheisel is used to slow starts in Westwood. The walk-on placeholder earned the starting QB job at the start of 1983 but was benched for future NFL star Steve Bono after an 0-2-1 start. But due to a Bobo injury, Neuheisel redeemed himself by leading UCLA to a victory over arch-rival USC and then the ‘84 Rose Bowl – in which he was named MVP.
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Washington: Steve Sarkisian (El Camino/BYU, 1993-96)
Sarkisian actually started his collegiate career playing baseball at USC in 1992, but that didn’t pan out. Just three years later he was in Provo following a long line of great Cougar QBs. With mastermind Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator, Sarkisian won the WAC Offensive Player of the Year and Sammy Baugh Trophy as a junior. A year later he finished his career 27-2 as BYU’s starter and went out with a win over K-State in the Cotton Bowl.
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Arizona: Mike Stoops (Iowa, 1981-84)
After big brother “Bobby” was named 1982 Big Ten MVP, Mike filled right in at safety and was First Team All-Big Ten in ‘83 and ‘84. He’s still best remembered for running into a goal post and knocking it down during a game vs. Michigan State. Like his brothers, Mike made sure to wear No. 41.
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Oregon State: Mike Riley (Alabama, 1971-74)
The current Beavers head coach starred at nearby Corvallis High School but trekked 2,500 miles away to play corner for Bear Bryant. He was a member of the 1973 co-national championship team.
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California: Jeff Tedford (Cerritos College/Fresno State, 1979-82)
Before he turned into a QB guru developing talents like Trent Dilfer and Aaron Rodgers, Tedford tore up the record books at Fresno and was named All-American Honorable Mention in 1982 as a senior. That year he lead FSU to a conference title and a dramatic come-from-behind 29-28 win in the California Bowl.
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Arizona State: Dennis Erickson (Montana State, 1966-68)
He was a two-time All-Big Sky quarterback for the Bobcats and made Treasure State residents proud this spring when he said the “Brawl of the Wild” rivalry between Montana and Montana State was more intense than Florida State-Miami.
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Oregon: Chip Kelly (New Hampshire, 1986-89)
This year’s breakout coaching star, not much is known about his college career except he spent time at quarterback, receiver and defensive back for the FCS program where he served as an assistant from 1994-2006.
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Washington State: Paul Wulff (Washington State, 1986-89)
He started four years for the Cougs at center, playing for legends Dennis Erickson and Mike Price. With just two wins in his two seasons back in Pullman, his time left on campus looks short.
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