Former NFL, college coach Phil Krueger dies at 90

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — Phil Krueger, who served develop a dominant protection as an assistant for 1967 countrywide winner Southern California and later on became part of the first coaching personnel in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, has died. He was 90.

Krueger died Monday at his home, his relatives mentioned.

Experienced in all phases of the video game, Krueger coached offense, protection and particular groups all through far more than three a long time in the NFL and college or university. He was the head coach at Fresno Point out and Utah Point out, heading 31-22, and an assistant at Illinois.

Krueger moved from the area to Tampa Bay’s entrance business office and invested 10 decades as an government, regarded for his talent in negotiating contracts. He was employed as the Buccaneers’ first general supervisor in 1991 — prior to that, the team’s coaches designed the participant decisions.

Krueger worked beneath famed head coach John McKay at USC and Tampa Bay. Krueger’s fellow assistant at the two areas was upcoming three-time Super Bowl winner Joe Gibbs.

Gibbs and Krueger had been resort roommates when Southern Cal performed on the road.

“I have a ton of wonderful recollections from currently being on the similar coaching personnel with Phil,” Gibbs mentioned this 7 days. “He was extremely shiny. A sharp man with a wonderful sense of humor. He was just one of these fellas that you generally enjoyed currently being close to.”

Krueger’s profession path was established early on when he switched from grammar to the gridiron. He was teaching English at a significant faculty in Arizona when he took above the football plan, and later on landed a task as an assistant coach at Extensive Beach Metropolis Higher education.

Krueger was a defensive assistant at USC from 1966 to 1970. In 1967, the Trojans went 10-1 — keeping 7 opponents to 7 details or fewer — and gained the countrywide title.

“My favorite coach of all time,” previous Southern Cal and longtime NFL linebacker Charlie Weaver mentioned Saturday from his home in Fresno, California. “He recruited me out of junior college or university and I could not wait around to get to USC to enjoy beneath the tutelage of Coach Krueger.”

In 1970, Weaver, Krueger and the Trojans had been part of just one of most considerable college or university football game titles at any time. A absolutely integrated USC squad went to Birmingham and conquer Bear Bryant’s all-white Alabama staff 42-21 in a matchup not just about as shut as the remaining score indicated.

“Coach Krueger had us organized to enjoy. It was a beatdown,” Weaver recalled.

Element of the vaunted “Wild Bunch” defensive entrance at USC, Weaver mentioned he stayed in shut touch with Krueger after their college or university days.

“We spoke at least at the time a year,” Weaver mentioned. “What a wonderful guy.”

Krueger joined McKay in 1976 with the growth Buccaneers as an offensive backfield assistant, and they endured an -14 season. Krueger was coaching linebackers the future year when the Bucs started out out -twelve in advance of ending with two wins, together with a victory above St. Louis in the remaining video game.

Gibbs was on that Cardinals personnel and was let go after the season. Krueger served pave Gibbs’ shift to Tampa Bay.

Krueger worked on particular groups when the Bucs designed their first playoff appearance, achieving the NFC title video game in the 1979 season, and became an assistant to owner Hugh Culverhouse in 1981.

Krueger left the Bucs after just one season as GM, but he didn’t give up football. Immediately after transferring to South Florida to be in close proximity to his daughter, Krueger invested three decades as a specialist to a professional staff in Tokyo, the Kajima Deers.

Born in LaSalle, Illinois, Krueger grew up in St. Louis and performed football at Southeast Missouri Point out. He was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, serving in the Korean War and earning the Bronze Star.

“Phil Krueger was difficult.. the purpose I could not get a day in significant faculty (that’s my tale),” daughter Kristi Krueger, a longtime anchor at WPLG-Tv set in Miami, posted on Facebook. “But my mates beloved ‘Big Phil’ and he beloved them. Father was a amazing writer and the purpose I like poetry.”

Krueger is survived by his spouse of 59 decades, Kathy, daughter Kristi and two grandchildren. The relatives requested that any donations be designed in Krueger’s title to the Alzheimer’s Affiliation.