George Perles facts for kids
Perles visiting Harrison High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, 1985
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 16, 1934 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2020 (aged 85) East Lansing, Michigan, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1954–1956 | Michigan State |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1959–1970 | Michigan State (DL) |
| 1972–1977 | Pittsburgh Steelers (DL) |
| 1978 | Pittsburgh Steelers (DC) |
| 1979–1982 | Pittsburgh Steelers (AHC) |
| 1982 | Philadelphia Stars |
| 1983–1994 | Michigan State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 68–67–4 |
| Bowls | 3–4 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
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George Julius Perles (born July 16, 1934 – died January 7, 2020) was a famous American football player and coach. He was known for his time with the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers. There, he worked as a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach from 1972 to 1982. Later, he became the head football coach at Michigan State University from 1983 to 1994.
In 2006, Perles was chosen to be on the MSU Board of Trustees. This group helps make important decisions for the university. He stepped down from this role in 2018 due to health reasons. George Perles passed away in 2020 at the age of 85.
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Growing Up and Early Life
George Perles was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 16, 1934. He was the only child of Julius and Nellie Perles. His family had roots in Lithuania.
George grew up in Detroit and went to Western High School. After finishing high school, he and 17 of his friends joined the U.S. Army together.
Playing and Coaching at Michigan State
After serving in the Army, Perles came back to Michigan. He enrolled at Michigan State University and played football. He played under the well-known coach Duffy Daugherty.
His playing career ended early in 1958 because of a knee injury. But this led him to start coaching. He began as a graduate assistant at Michigan State. This means he helped the coaches while also studying.
Later, he coached high school football in Chicago and Detroit. His St. Ambrose High School team won a championship in 1961. Perles then returned to Michigan State. He became the defensive line coach for his old mentor, Coach Daugherty.
Success with the Pittsburgh Steelers
In 1972, Chuck Noll, the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, hired Perles. He became the defensive line coach for the NFL team. In Perles' first year, the Steelers made the NFL playoffs. This was a big deal, as it was only their second time in franchise history.
The Steelers won their first Super Bowl in 1974. They went on to win six division championships in a row. Perles became the defensive coordinator for the Steelers in 1978. A year later, he was promoted to assistant head coach.
During his ten years with Pittsburgh (1972–1982), the Steelers won a record four Super Bowls. They were known as the "team of the decade" for the 1970s. This was largely thanks to their strong defense, which Perles helped design.
Coaching in the USFL
In 1982, George Perles was hired as the head coach for the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars. This was a new team in a new league called the United States Football League (USFL). Perles worked with the Stars for a year to help build the team and the league.
However, he broke his contract with the Stars before the first season began. This happened because he was offered the head football coaching job at Michigan State. The Stars later sued Michigan State, but the case was settled out of court.
Returning to Michigan State as Head Coach
George Perles came back to Michigan State University on December 3, 1982. As head coach, he led the Spartans for 12 years. During his time, they won two Big Ten Conference titles. They also played in seven important bowl games.
His best team was in 1987. That year, they won the Big Ten title. They also defeated USC in the famous 1988 Rose Bowl game.
Serving as Athletic Director
In January 1990, Perles took on another big role at Michigan State. He became the athletic director while still being the head football coach. The athletic director oversees all sports programs at the university.
Having one person do both jobs was a bit controversial. So, in 1992, Perles resigned as athletic director. However, he continued to be the head football coach.
NCAA Review
In 1994–1995, there was an investigation into some minor issues within the athletic department. The university president decided to let Perles go before the 1994 season ended. However, he was allowed to finish coaching that season. The university also had to give up five wins from that season.
Later, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) looked into the matter. They officially cleared George Perles of any wrongdoing. This meant he was not found responsible for the issues. If not for the forfeited games, Perles would be one of Michigan State's top coaches in terms of wins.
Life After Coaching
Starting the Motor City Bowl
After his coaching career, Perles stayed involved in football. In 1995, he and Ken Hoffman started the Motor City Bowl. This was a college football bowl game played in Detroit.
Perles served as the chief executive officer for the Motor City Bowl. In 2007, the game had a record crowd of over 63,000 people.
Serving on the MSU Board of Trustees
In November 2006, George Perles was elected to the Board of Trustees at Michigan State University. He was elected as a Democrat. He started his eight-year term in January 2007.
In May 2007, the Board of Trustees honored George and his wife, Sally. They named the plaza next to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building the George J. Perles and Sally A. Perles Plaza.
Perles was re-elected to the board in November 2014. His second term began in 2015. However, he announced his resignation on November 29, 2018. He stepped down immediately due to health concerns.
