Sammy Weir

Last updated

Sammy Weir
Biographical details
Born (1941-03-18) March 18, 1941 (age 83)
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, U.S.
Alma mater Arkansas State College (1964)
Playing career
Football
1960–1964 Arkansas State
1965 Houston Oilers
1966 New York Jets
1967–1968 Orlando Panthers
1974 Houston Texans
Track and field
1960–1964 Arkansas State
Position(s) Quarterback, wide receiver (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1967 Evans HS (FL) (JV)
1968 Orlando Panthers (assistant)
1969–1970 Batesville HS (AR)
1971–1972 Arkansas State (WR)
1973–1974 Lakeview HS (FL)
1975 Lake Brantley HS (FL)
1976–1977Evans HS (FL)
1979–1980 Lake Howell HS (FL)
1981 UCF (assoc. HC)
1982UCF (interim HC)
1983 West Orange HS (FL)
1984–1988 Edgewater HS (FL)
1992Edgewater HS (FL) (OB)
1996 Walnut Ridge HS (AR)
2008 Salem HS (AR)
Head coaching record
Overall0–10 (college)
76–92–2 (high school)

Samuel Orville Weir (born March 18, 1941) is an American former college football coach and player. He was the interim head football coach for the University of Central Florida in 1982. He played college football for Arkansas State and professionally for the Houston Oilers and New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL), the Orlando Panthers of the Continental Football League (COFL), and the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL).

Contents

Early life and playing career

Weir was born on March 18, 1941, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. He attended Walnut Ridge High School. [1] He played college football for Arkansas State as a quarterback and wide receiver from 1960 to 1964. [2] He was also a member of the track and field team where he was named MVP. [3]

After going undrafted in the 1965 NFL draft, Weir was signed by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). [4] He was officially listed as a flanker and played in nine games where he recorded a single reception. He also was used as a kick returner. [1] In 1966, he was traded to the New York Jets, also of the AFL. [5] With the Jets, he played in eleven games before suffering a broken hand late in the season. [6] He was placed on injured reserve and was not retained following the season. [6]

In 1967, Weir signed with the Orlando Panthers of the Continental Football League (COFL). [7] In two seasons, he helped lead the team to an overall record of 21–5 and two COFL championships. He retired following the 1968 season.

In 1974, Weir briefly came out of retirement for the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL). [8]

Coaching career

In 1967, while playing for the Orlando Predators, Weir served as the junior varsity coach for Evans High School. [9] In 1968, he served as a player-coach for the Predators. [3]

In 1969, Weir earned his first head coaching position as the head football coach for Batesville High School. [10] He held the position for two years before joining his alma mater, Arkansas State, as the team's wide receivers coach. In 1973, he moved to Florida and served as the head football coach for Lakeview High School. [11] He led Lakeview to a 6–4 record in his last season. [12] In 1975, Weir served a one-year stint as head coach for Lake Brantley High School. [12] He rejoined Evans High School in 1976. [9] In two seasons he led the Trojans to an overall record of 17–5 and two conference championships before resigning after the 1977 season. [13] [14] After not coaching in 1978, he was hired for his fifth head coaching position as he was hired by Lake Howell High School. [15] After leading the school to its first conference championship and an 8–2 record, he resigned. [16]

In 1981, Weir earned his second college football coaching position as he was hired as the associate head coach for UCF under head coach Don Jonas. [3] [17] After one season as an assistant and following Jonas' retirement, Weir was promoted to interim head coach for the Knight's 1982 season during their first year as an NCAA Division II program. [18] He led the team to a 0–10 record before opting not to apply for the full-time position. [19] [20]

In 1983, Weir returned to the high school ranks as the head coach for West Orange High School. [21] He resigned after one season to work for a business in Little Rock, Arkansas. [22] Not long after, in 1984, he began a five-year stint as head coach for Edgewater High School. [23] He finished his inaugural season going 0–10. [24] He resigned after the 1988 season. In 1992, he returned to Edgewater as the offensive backfield coach. [25] In 1996, after not coaching for the previous three years he was hired as the head coach for his high school alma mater, Walnut Ridge High School. [26] After one season he retired. In 2008, Weir was hired as the head coach for Salem High School. [26] He retired following his lone year with the school.

Head coaching record

College

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
UCF Knights (NCAA Division II independent)(1982)
1982 UCF 0–10
UCF:0–10
Total:0–10

High school

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Batesville Pioneers ()(1969–1970)
1969Batesville5–5
1970Batesville6–4
Batesville:11–9
Lakeview Red Devils ()(1973–1974)
1973Lakeview4–4–2
1974Lakeview6–42nd
Lakeview:10–8–2
Lake Brantley Patriots ()(1975)
1975Lake Brantley3–7
Lake Brantley:3–7
Evans Trojans ()(1976–1977)
1976Evans8–31st
1977Evans9–21st
Evans:17–5
Lake Howell Silver Hawks ()(1979–1980)
1979Lake Howell4–6
1980Lake Howell8–21st
Lake Howell:12–8
West Orange Vikings ()(1983)
1983West Orange8–2
West Orange:8–2
Edgewater Eagles ()(1984–1988)
1984Edgewater0–100–7
1985Edgewater4–6
1986Edgewater1–9
1987Edgewater5–5
1988Edgewater0–9
Edgewater:10–39
Walnut Ridge Bobcats ()(1996)
1996Walnut Ridge4–53–4
Walnut Ridge:4–53–4
Salem Greyhounds ()(2008)
2008Salem1–91–78th
Salem:1–91–7
Total:76–92–2
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Heupel</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Joshua Kenneth Heupel is an American college football coach and former player who is the head football coach at the University of Tennessee. Previously he was head coach at the University of Central Florida, where he compiled a 28–8 record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights football</span> Football team representing the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights football team represents the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the sport of American football. The Knights compete in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of the Big 12 Conference. Their head coach is Gus Malzahn. The Knights play their home games at the 45,301-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium, which is located on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gus Malzahn</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Arthur Gustavo Malzahn III is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Central Florida (UCF). He was the head football coach at Auburn University from 2013 to 2020. He helped lead the 2010 Auburn Tigers to a National Championship as the team's offensive coordinator. As head coach at Auburn, he led the team to a SEC Championship win and an appearance in the 2014 National Championship. Malzahn has coached Heisman winner Cam Newton and two Heisman finalists: Nick Marshall and Tre Mason, including coaching 14 All-Americans. During Malzahn's tenure at Auburn, he qualified as the second-longest tenured head coach at one school in the SEC, behind Nick Saban. Out of active head coaches, Malzahn also holds the best record against coach Saban.

Charlie Taaffe was an American gridiron football coach who was the head football coach at The Citadel from 1987 to 1996. He is the winningest head coach in the school's history. He was also the head coach of the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights men's basketball</span> Basketball team which represents The University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights men's basketball team represents The University of Central Florida, located in unincorporated Orange County, Florida near Orlando, United States. UCF competes in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and as of the next college basketball season in 2023–24, the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games in the Addition Financial Arena located on the university's main campus. They are coached by Johnny Dawkins who was hired in 2016.

Alan Gooch is an American sports executive and former college football coach. He is the executive director of the Orlando Sports Foundation (OSF), which raises funds and awareness for cancer research and sponsors the Cure Bowl, a bowl game played each December in Orlando, Florida. Gooch spent most of this coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Central Florida (UCF). In 1997, he was the inaugural recipient of the AFCA NCAA Division I-A Assistant Football Coach of the Year. Gooch served as the interim head coach for the final two games of UCF's 2003 season following the dismissal of Mike Kruczek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights baseball</span> American college baseball team

The UCF Knights baseball team represents The University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at John Euliano Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George O'Leary</span> American football coach and college athletics administrator

George Joseph O'Leary is a former American football coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1994 to 2001 and the UCF Knights from 2004 to 2015. He was famously hired in 2001 to be the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish but resigned after five days for lying on his resume. O'Leary was an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) from 2002 to 2004, and an assistant coach for the Syracuse Orange and San Diego Chargers.

The 1979 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division III football season. This was first varsity football team fielded by UCF. The Knights were led by head coach Don Jonas and played their home games at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, now known as Camping World Stadium in downtown Orlando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 1999 UCF Golden Knights football season was Mike Kruczek's second year as the head coach of the Golden Knights. Looking to build on the success of a nine-win season the year before, the Knights visited five high-profile opponents. Kruczek led UCF to an overall record of 4–7. With the departure of Daunte Culpepper to the NFL Draft, the quarterback duties were taken over by college journeyman Vic Penn. On two occasions, the Golden Knights nearly upset a major SEC opponent on the road.

The 1982 UCF Knights football season was the fourth season for the team. It was the first and only season for Sam Weir as the head coach of the Knights. The season marked the Knights first in Division II. Weir's 1982 team posted 0–10 overall record.

The 1984 UCF Knights football season was the sixth season for the team. It was Lou Saban's second and final season as the head coach of the Knights. After a disappointing 1–6 start to the season, Saban stepped away from the program, and was replaced by assistant coach Jerry "Red" Anderson. The Knights finished the year with a 2–9 overall record, facing a schedule entirely made up of Division I-AA opponents. The program had actually petitioned the NCAA to move the football program up to I-AA for 1984, but the move was delayed, in part due to costs and incurred debt. The move would not happen until 1990.

Quincy McDuffie is an American former professional Canadian football wide receiver and return specialist. He was most recently a member of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the UCF Knights of the University of Central Florida. He was named to the All-Conference USA first-team in 2010 and 2012. McDuffie has also been a member of the Denver Broncos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Dallas Cowboys.

Daniel J. White is an American university sports administrator. He is the athletic director for the Tennessee Volunteers. White held the same position at the University at Buffalo from 2012 to 2015 and the University of Central Florida from 2015 to 2021. Prior to his tenure at Buffalo, he was the senior associate athletic director for Ole Miss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Norvell</span> American football coach (born 1981)

Michael Kelly Norvell is an American college football coach who is currently the head coach at Florida State. He has coached at Memphis, Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Tulsa, and Central Arkansas. He played wide receiver at the University of Central Arkansas from 2001 to 2005 and is the school's all-time receptions leader.

At the end of each regular season, the Atlantic Sun Conference, branded since the 2016–17 school year as the ASUN Conference, names major award winners in baseball. Currently, it names a Coach, Pitcher, Player, Freshman, and Defensive Player of the Year. The Coach of the Year award, which dates to 1979, is the oldest. The others—Player (1982), Freshman (2001), Pitcher (2004), and Defensive Player (2014)—were added later. Through the 2001 season, the then-existing awards were known as the major awards of the Trans America Athletic Conference, the ASUN's former name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Key</span> American football player and coach (born 1978)

Donald Brent Key is an American college football coach and former player. Key is the head football coach at his alma mater, Georgia Tech as of November 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Cozart</span> American college baseball coach

Craig Cozart is an American baseball coach and former player. He played college baseball at UCF from 1993 to 1996. He then served as the head coach of the UCF Knights (2008) and High Point Panthers (2009–2021).

John Thomas O'Leary was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas from 1960 to 1962, compiling a record of 8–18. O'Leary was also the athletic director at Colorado State University from 1974 to 1976 and the University of Central Florida (UCF) from 1976 to 1981.

Rob Calabrese is an American football coach who is an offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the quarterbacks coach for the New York Jets.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sammy Weir Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Sam Weir (1988)". Arkansas State University. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Carfield, Jim (February 14, 1981). "Committee lists problems; UCF names Weir assistant". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 36. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ Rathet, Mike (August 22, 1965). "Taylor Cracks Whip as New Oiler Coach". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. 26. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Pro Football Roundup". Pensacola News Journal. July 27, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Steelers Doing Turnabout, Lead NFL in Average Defense". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 22, 1966. p. 41. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ Hayes, Ed (October 23, 1967). "Weir Orbits Rockets". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 23. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ Crossett, Richard (August 4, 1974). "Stalled Sports Clinic Will Begin Monday". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 73. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Hamilton, Vivian (February 12, 1976). "Weir Hopeful Evans Football To Improve". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 46. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ Buchalter, Bill (April 30, 1969). "Panthers' Sam Weir Heading Upfield To Arkansas Home". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 23. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ Boeck, Greg (May 7, 1973). "Bits and Pieces". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 33. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  12. 1 2 "Weir Move Surprise To Many Area Fans". The Orlando Sentinel. January 19, 1975. p. 64. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ Hamel, Larry (January 5, 1978). "Weir resigns at Evans". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 155. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ Jaffe, Rick (February 2, 1978). "Preisser returns to Evans". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 90. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  15. ↑ Cush, Herky (January 31, 1979). "Howell hopes Weir can fix grid woes". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 144. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  16. ↑ Loiacono, Jeannine (March 11, 1981). "Lake Howell High School". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 276. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  17. ↑ Fisher, Marty (August 12, 1981). "Weir gets his wish — he can coach 24 hours a day". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 226. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  18. ↑ Marx, Bill (July 13, 1982). "UCF coaching speculation ends". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 55. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ Murschel, Matt (July 17, 2023). "A chronology of UCF football coaches through the years". Aol. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ "The Knights Move Up to D-II". UCF Athletics. June 29, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ Fisher, Marty (June 5, 1983). "Love of sports inspires coaches". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 40. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Weir Departing". The Orlando Sentinel. January 20, 1984. p. 26. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  23. ↑ Buchalter, Bill (September 19, 1984). "Weir pacing sideline again — this time at Edgewater". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 228. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  24. ↑ Hipps, Tim (September 6, 1985). "Weir's new challenge — find Eagles a winning way". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 186. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  25. ↑ Buchalter, Bill (May 7, 1992). "This reunion game has its Weir and tear". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 115. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  26. 1 2 Gartman, Jamie (August 24, 2008). "Former NFL player takes reins". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.