Jerry Glanville

Playing career

Glanville played college football as a middle linebacker at Northern Michigan University, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor's degree. He also holds a master's degree from Western Kentucky University, where he worked as an assistant football coach on campus and roomed with fellow former NFL coach Joe Bugel. The two were known for drawing football plays on pizza boxes.

National Football League

During Glanville's time in the National Football League he was the special teams/defensive assistant for the Detroit Lions from 1974–1976, the secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 1977–1978 and the Falcons defensive coordinator from 1979–1982, the secondary coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1983, the defensive coordinator of the then Houston Oilers from 1984–1985 and then as head coach from 1985–1989 (initially being the interim coach after the firing of Hugh Campbell, and then being the permanent replacement starting in 1986), and head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1990–1993.

As an NFL head coach, Glanville led the Houston Oilers (1985–1989) during the era known as the "House of Pain." He was famous for often leaving tickets at will-call for Elvis Presley (who by that point had been dead for over a decade), wearing all black to be easily recognized by his players, and driving replicas of vehicles driven by actor James Dean. The Oilers were often chastised for being a dirty, cheap-shot style team, and Glanville often feuded with AFC Central Division rival head coaches Sam Wyche, Marty Schottenheimer. He received a highly publicized post-game handshake from Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Chuck Noll after the Oilers defeated the Steelers in the Houston Astrodome during the 1987 season.

Glanville turned the Oilers, a team that had struggled through most of the 1980s, into an aggressive, hard-hitting group that preached a "hit the beach" mentality and he made players, such as future Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon into household names. The Oilers made three playoff appearances during Glanville's tenure (which happened to be during the last three seasons of his tenure), twice playing in the AFC divisional round, before he resigned in 1990 to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons (1990–1993). He had been a defensive coordinator for the Falcons, best known for developing the famous "Gritz Blitz" defense that featured rushing multiple players on the defensive side of the football against opposing offenses.

Glanville claimed with Atlanta he inherited a "flat-tire" but would take the team to the NFC divisional round in the 1991 season. During his time with the Falcons, the team would pitch a "Back in Black" motto with new uniforms and the same aggressive type play on defense, an offensive system known as the "Red Gun" that would implement most of the principles associated with the Run-N-Shoot offense, and an emphasis on special teams as he had done in Houston. The Falcons featured talented players such as future Hall of Famer CB "Prime Time" Deion Sanders and were known for unorthodox antics. Expectations were high after the success of the 1991 season, but the team's consecutive 6–10 records for the 1992 and 1993 led the Falcons to dismiss Glanville in 1994. He was out of football until he became the University of Hawaii's defensive coordinator over a decade later. His career record as an NFL head coach is 63–73.

When Atlanta Falcons general manager Ken Herock selected Brett Favre in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, Glanville did not approve of the pick because of Favre's personal issues with alcohol and the party lifestyle. He said it would take a plane crash for him to put Favre into a game. Glanville also was known to place $100 bets (with Favre and others) on whether or not Favre could throw a football into the third deck of stadiums before games. Glanville claimed the trade in the off-season of 1992 was a wake-up call for Favre who was known for even being late to the team picture during his rookie season with the Falcons. Favre only threw four passes during his one season with Atlanta then was traded to the Green Bay Packers for a first round pick. Favre went on to play 19 seasons, starting every game from September 20, 1992 to December 5, 2010 and becoming the first NFL player to win three AP MVP awards. He would also appear in two Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl XXXI.

United Football League

On March 21, 2011, the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League announced that Glanville would serve as the team's head coach and general manager. The Colonials suspended operations in August of that year; Glanville would remain with the league as a consultant, color commentator for the league's television broadcasts, and liaison for potential expansion markets. Glanville left the league after one season.

College football

Glanville was formerly the defensive coordinator for the University of Hawaii's football team, working under his former offensive coordinator (and eventual successor) at Atlanta, June Jones, for two seasons. Prior to his tenure at the University of Hawaii, Glanville's earlier involvement with college football was the defensive ends/outside linebackers coach at Georgia Tech from 1968–1973 and the defensive coordinator at Western Kentucky University in 1967, shortly after his own career as a player had ended.

On February 28, 2007, Glanville accepted the head coaching position at Portland State University (PSU), his first college head coaching job. Glanville, who replaced Tim Walsh, was PSU's 12th head coach in the history of the program. He resigned this position with the support of the university on November 17, 2009, with an overall record of 9–24 during his tenure.

Racing career

Glanville began racing by learning from seven-time Winston Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, who would mentor Glanville in tests at Richmond International Raceway. Glanville officially started his racing career in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series in 1992 for Lewis Cooper with sponsorship from the Falcons. After failing to qualify in his first career attempt at Lanier Speedway, he made his series debut at Orange County Speedway, finishing 22nd. He ran six races during his three-year timespan in the series, with a best finish of 20th at Volusia County Speedway in 1992. Glanville returned to the series in 1999, but failed to qualify for all five races he attempted.

He later ran in the ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series, running ten races in 1994 as an owner/driver of the No. 81, and recorded a best finish of ninth at I-70 Speedway. Glanville returned to ARCA in 2000, running a part-time schedule until 2004 for his and Norm Benning's teams, his best finishing being fourth at Nashville Superspeedway in 2002.

In 1995, he participated in the Skoal Bandit Copper World Classic, the inaugural SuperTruck Series race, and finished 27th. He continued racing in the Truck Series from 1995–1999, with a best finish of 14th three times.

In addition to the Busch and Truck Series, Glanville competed in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series in 1996, finishing 23rd at Gresham Motorsports Park. He later raced in the Winston West Series, his debut coming in 1997 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, where he finished seventh. From 1997–1999, he ran eight races in the Hooters Pro Cup, with a best finish of 12th at Southampton Speedway.

In media

The Sega Genesis system offered Jerry Glanville's PigSkin Footbrawl, a medieval-themed arcade-style football game. The game was a port of the 1990 classic arcade game Pigskin 621 A.D., released by Bally Midway.

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)