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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Football Restructures Staff to Add Outstanding Coach
3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 5, 2004
BOCA RATON, FL - With less than 20 days remaining before Spring Practice begins, Florida Atlantic University head coach Howard Schnellenberger announced the hiring of longtime colleague Gary Nord as an assistant coach, who's primary function will be working with the quarterbacks. Current assistant Christ Vagotis will move from the offensive line to the defensive line and quarterbacks coach Fred O'Connor will become Special Assistant to the Head Coach.
"I'm happy to be able to have Gary Nord back on the staff," said Schnellenberger. "Gary along with Kurt VanValkenburgh, Christ Vagotis and Kirk Hoza were the behind the scenes strength that brought the University of Louisville program to championship level as was demonstrated by UofL's 1990 10-1-1 record with a no. 17 national finish and a victory over the most victorious bowl team in history, Alabama 34-7." I expect no less as we start our drive towards the championship her at FAU."
With the addition of Nord, the FAU coaching staff is comprised of a group of men who have won seven National Championship rings, six Super Bowl Rings, two have played in the NFL, six have coached with Schnellenberger prior to FAU, two have served as NFL Head Coaches, two have played for Paul "Bear" Bryant and three have played or coached for Don Shula. In all the staff has amassed more than 200 years of coaching experience.
Nord
Nord, a familiar figure on the Schnellenberger coaching staff, will reunite with the head coach after working on Schnellenberger's staffs at Louisville and at Oklahoma, in fact he served as the Cardinals Offensive Coordinator during the rise to top-10 status and as Oklahoma's Offensive Coordinator during Schnellenberger's tenure.
The Louisville, KY native just completed his fourth season (2000-2003) at the helm of the University of Texas El Paso football program where he tallied a 14-34 record. His first season as the Miner's head coach the squad posted an 8-4 record, which tied the Western Athletic Conference Championship, for the first time in 44 years. The 8-4 record was the highest win total in 12 years. The four losses came at the hands of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, TCU and Boise State -- all on the road. Those teams had a combined record of 40-9 at the end of the season. The Miner's not only earned a spot in the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl, they also received votes for both top-25 polls, also for the first time in 12 seasons. Nord was named the WAC Coach of the Year and was one of 10 semi-finalist for Football News' national Coach of the Year Award and one of four runners-up for national Coach of the Year by American Football Monthly.
Despite being decimated by injuries, in 2002, UTEP knocked off state rival Rice in El Paso before a regional television audience. He will come to FAU with the understanding of not only Coach Schnellenberger, but the process of building from the ground up after he finished the 2001 campaign with 25 freshmen and sophomores listed on the two-deep. During his head coaching stint at UTEP, five Miners were selected in the draft, and a handful of others have signed free agent contracts.
With Nord as offensive coordinator, UTEP improved from 97th nationally in total offense in 1997 to 51st in 1998 and 43rd in 1999. In 2000, the Miners ranked 22nd nationally in scoring offense, 27th in passing offense and 36th in total offense. UTEP rated 19th in the country in passing efficiency defense.
Nord has 23 years of collegiate coaching experience. He came to UTEP in 1997 after previous coaching stops at Louisville (1981-94), Oklahoma (1995) and Pittsburgh (1996).
Nord was on staff at Louisville, his alma mater, when the Cardinals posted an 11-1 record in 1990, and won the Fiesta Bowl. Louisville also won the Liberty Bowl in 1993.
In all, Nord recruited and/or worked with five future NFL players at Louisville - Browning Nagle (formerly with the Atlanta Falcons), quarterback Jeff Brohm (formerly with the Denver Broncos), offensive lineman Bruce Armstrong (formerly with the New England Patriots), and wide receivers Ernest Givens (formerly with the Tennessee Oilers) and Mark Clayton (formerly with the Miami Dolphins).
Nord was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 1995 under Schnellenberger and the wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh in 1996 under Johnny Majors.
Nord was a tight end at Louisville, where he earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts in 1979.
Nord and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Colleen (20) and Nicole (17), and a son, Nathan (14).
Among others on the FAU coaching staff, Nord will reunite with current FAU Assistant Coach Christ Vagotis, who was also at both Louisville and Oklahoma. Vagotis will move to the defensive line where he will fill a position left by former FAU assistant coach Mel Mills. Mills left the program in February for the opportunity to work with NFL Europe.
Vagotis
Vagotis will make the move and will draw upon more than 30 years of coaching, many of those with Coach Schnellenberger and many of which on the defensive side of the ball. He has been with the FAU program since 1999, has served as a high school head coach, and was with Schnellenberger at Oklahoma, Louisville and Miami. He also coached one year for Paul "Bear" Bryant a man he played for from 1964-68 and was a member of the storied Alabama teams that won two National Championships (1964, 65) and the Sugar Bowl (1966). He as been a player and/or coach in seven bowl games has been crowned National Champion three times.
Since coming to FAU, Vagotis has been instrumental in the development of a young and undersized offensive line that came of age in 2003 and provided protection for an offense that ended the season ranked no. 2 nationally in passing efficiency, at 159.46. Two players, George Guffey and Dave Richards earned a spot on the All-South team while Guffey, Richards and Ken Campos earned mention on the I-AA Independent All-Star Team.
O'Connor
While the protection was coming from the offensive line, the signals were being called by quarterback Jared Allen, who ended 2003 by guiding the Owls to a no. 4 national ranking, a semi-final berth in the NCAA Tournament and a no. 4. nationally in passing efficiency. Working with Allen and the quarterback core was Fred O'Connor, who will make a move off the field and into the position of Special Assistant to the Head Coach. O'Connor, a former college and NFL head coach has proven invaluable to the young football program.
O'Connor came to FAU with more than 30 years of coaching experience. Since coming to FAU in 2000, he has worked with the receivers, the running backs and most recently the QBs. He has served as a collegiate athletic director, a collegiate head coach, as well as assistants. He has worked in the NFL and with the CFL.
About Nord
Personal Information:
Birth date: June 12, 1957
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Education: 1979 - BA Liberal Arts, Louisville
Marital Status: Wife, Kathy
Children: Colleen (20), Nathan (14), Nicole (17)
Coaching Experience
Has 20+ years of coaching experience
Head Coach UTEP
1997-2000 UTEP Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
1996 Pittsburgh (Wide Receivers)
1995 Oklahoma (Offensive Coordinator)
1989-94 Louisville (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks)
1987-88 Louisville Wide Receives
1985-86 Louisville Running Backs
1981-84 Louisville Tight Ends
Coaching Accomplishments:
Three Miners were named to The Sporting News' WAC All-Freshman Team in 2002 (RB Matt Austin, LB Thomas Howard, DL Chris Mineo)...UTEP had two Sporting News freshman All-Americans in 2001 (DB Jahmal Fenner, LB Robert Rodriguez)...DB D.J. Walker was named All-WAC for the third consecutive season in 2002...led UTEP to its first-ever WAC title in 2000, and first conference championship in 44 years, earning WAC Coach of the Year honors...one of 10 semifinalists for Football News' national Coach of the Year Award...also directed the Miners to their first bowl bid in 12 years...the Miners ranked 22nd nationally in scoring offense, 27th in passing offense and 36th in total offense...UTEP received votes in both polls for the first time in 12 years...QB Rocky Perez was eighth in the nation in passing efficiency, WR Lee Mays was eighth in the country in receiving and TE Brian Natkin
Bowl Games as a Coach: 1991 Fiesta, 1993 Liberty, 2000 Crucial.com Humanitarian
All-Americans Coached Brian Natkin (unanimous, 2000)
All-WAC Players Coached
Glen Beard, Ricky Bishop, Jimmy Carpenter, Carey Clayton, Crance Clemons, Alan Gray, Menson Holloway, Lee Mays, Trey Merkens, Brian Natkin, Rocky Perez, Jeff Seeton, Paul Smith, D.J. Walker, Anwar White
Past or Present NFL Players Coached
Bruce Armstrong, Jeff Brohm, Carey Clayton, Mark Clayton, Crance Clemons, Jon Dorenbos, Ernest Givens, Menson Holloway, Joey Knapp, Lee Mays, Trey Merkens, Browning Nagle, Brian Natkin, Paul Smith
About Chris Vagotis
30+ Years Coaching experience
1999- Florida Atlantic University
1996-99 Miami Sunset Senior High School
1995 University of Oklahoma (Offensive Line)
1985-94 University of Louisville (Offensive Line)
1979-84 University of Miami (Assistant Coach)
1973-78 Miami Killian Senior High School
1971-73 Miami Killian senior High School (Assistant Coach)
1968 University of Alabama
Bowl Games as a Coach/Player
1991 Fiesta Bowl (Coach)
1984 Fiesta Bowl (Coach)
1983 Orange Bowl National Champion (Coach)
1980 Peach Bowl
1966 Sugar Bowl Champions (Playing for Alabama)
1965 National Champions (Playing for Alabama)
1964 National Champions (Playing for Alabama)
Coaching Accomplishments
Was part of the bitter rivalries that developed between Miami and Florida...credited with three points after Schnellenberger ordered Danny Miller to kick a 25-yard field goal on the game's final play to give Miami the 31-7 victory, the largest victory margin in the 42-year history of UF's stadium...Schnellenberger called for the kick because Vagotis was hit in the head by an orange thrown from Florida fans who were heaving oranges, ice and other debris at the Miami bench throughout the game. Has been with Coach Schnellenberger ever since.
Playing Career
Won three national titles playing for the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Prominent Players Coached Miami, Bernie Kosar, quarterback who led UM to its first National Championship and who was drafted in the supplemental draft by Cleveland Browns Miami, Reggie Sutton, drafted in the second round by the New Orleans Saints Miami, Michael Irvin, drafted in the first round by the Dallas Cowboys, future Hall of Famer Miami, Rod Carter, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys Miami, Greg Cox Miami, Bill Hawkins, drafted by the Los Angles Rams Miami, Daryl Boykin, drafted by the NY Giants Miami, Al Campos, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys Miami, John Frost, drafted by the NY Giants Miami, Tyrus McLeod, drafted in the fifth round by the Baltimore Ravens Louisville, John Bock (Current FAU Assistant Coach) played six NFL Seasons (Buffalo Bills, NY Jets, Miami Dolphins)
Personal
Birthdate: April 27, 1944
Hometown: Canton, OH
Education: 1970 B.S., M.A., S.P.E., University of Alabama
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
About O'Conor
Coaching Accomplishments
-Called offensive plays and led the Chicago Bears to a third ranked offense in the NFL
-Called all plays as Walter Payton set single-game rushing record of 275 yards versus
Minnesota -Position coach for three NFL Hall of Fame running backs (Walter Payton, John Riggins and O.J. Simpson)
-Records at Villanova University: no. 1 offense in ECAC; no. 9 nationally pass offense; NCAA record for most offensive plays in a season (932)
-Records at University of Maryland: no. 1 pass offense in ACC; no. 2 in ACC total offense
-Led Catholic University to best record in school's history
Prominent Players Coached
Walter Payton (Bears), John Riggins (Redskins), O.J. Simpson (49ers), Joe Thiesman(Redskins), Art Monk (Redskins), Virgil Carter (Bears), Steve DeBerg (49ers), Freddie Solomon (49ers), Ray Guy (Southern Mississippi), Mike Siani (Villanova), Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson (Montreal), David Overstreet (Montreal), Vince Ferragamo (Montreal)
Personal Information
Birth date: September 1, 1939
Hometown: Oceanside, NY
Education: B.S. in Health and Physical Education, East Stroudsburgh University '62. Honored with the University's Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award
Marital Status: Married 40+ years to wife Marge.
Children: Fred, Jr. and Jill Anne
Grandchildren: Fred, III (11), Caitlin (10), Colleen (9), Shannon (8) and Meaghan (6)
Players Mentioned
WR
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