Jim Stanley (American football) facts for kids
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Stanley in 1976
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1934 Dunham, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | January 12, 2012 (aged 76) Chandler, Arizona, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1955–1957 | Texas A&M |
| Position(s) | Guard, defensive tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1958–1960 | Amarillo HS (TX) (line) |
| 1961 | SMU (assistant) |
| 1962 | Texas Western (assistant) |
| 1963–1965 | Oklahoma State (assistant) |
| 1966–1968 | Oklahoma State (DC) |
| 1969–1970 | Navy (DC) |
| 1971 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (DC) |
| 1972 | Oklahoma State (DC) |
| 1973–1978 | Oklahoma State |
| 1979 | New York Giants (DL) |
| 1980–1982 | Atlanta Falcons (DL) |
| 1983–1984 | Michigan Panthers |
| 1985 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DL) |
| 1986 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (DC) |
| 1990–1994 | Houston Oilers (DL) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1995–2007 | Arizona Cardinals (dir. pro personnel) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 35–31–2 (college) 24–15 (USFL) |
| Bowls | 2–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Big Eight (1976) 1 USFL (1983) |
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Jim Stanley (born June 22, 1934 – died January 12, 2012) was an important figure in American football. He was a player and a coach for many years. He led the Oklahoma State Cowboys as their head football coach from 1973 to 1978. He also coached the USFL team, the Michigan Panthers, in 1983 and 1984. His Panthers team even won the USFL Championship in 1983!
Contents
Jim Stanley's Football Journey
Playing Days
Jim Stanley was a talented football player. He played for the Texas A&M Aggies in the 1950s. He was a starter for three years under famous coach Bear Bryant. In 1956, his A&M team had a perfect season and didn't lose any games.
Coaching College Teams
Stanley started his coaching career in Amarillo, Texas, coaching high school football. Later, he became a college coach. He was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State from 1963 to 1968. A defensive coordinator is a coach who plans how the team will stop the other team from scoring.
He also coached at the United States Naval Academy from 1969 to 1970. Then, he moved to the Canadian Football League (CFL) to coach the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1971 to 1972.
In 1973, Jim Stanley returned to Oklahoma State University to become the head coach of the Cowboys. He coached there until 1978. During his time, his team won 35 games, lost 31, and tied 2.
His Cowboys team won the Fiesta Bowl in 1974. In 1976, his team had a great season, finishing 9–3. They were co-champions of the Big Eight Conference and won the Tangerine Bowl. Because of his success, Jim Stanley was asked to coach in three special college all-star games. These were the 1973 East–West Shrine Game, the 1977 Hula Bowl, and the 1977 Japan Bowl.
Fair Play and Rules
In 1978, the Big Eight Conference looked into the Oklahoma State football program. They wanted to make sure all rules were followed. Jim Stanley worked to ensure that the process was fair and correct. He wanted to make sure everyone involved had a chance to share their side.
Pro Football Career
After coaching in college, Jim Stanley moved to professional football. He coached the defensive line for the New York Giants in 1979. Then, he coached for the Atlanta Falcons from 1980 to 1982.
Coaching the Michigan Panthers
Stanley then became the head coach for the Michigan Panthers in the United States Football League (USFL). He coached them in 1983 and 1984. In 1983, his team started with a tough record of 1–4. But Jim Stanley saw that his team needed stronger offensive linemen. These players protect the quarterback. He asked the team to sign experienced players from the National Football League (NFL).
The team brought in skilled offensive linemen like Tyrone McGriff, Thom Dornbrook, and Ray Pinney. This helped the team a lot! They finished the regular season with an 11–2 record. Then, they won the league championship, beating the Philadelphia Stars.
In 1984, the Panthers started strong again, winning their first six games. However, their star wide receiver, Anthony Carter, got injured. The team's performance slowed down, and they finished the rest of the season with a 4–8 record. They lost in the first round of the playoffs in a very long, exciting game. It was the longest professional football game ever at the time. Jim Stanley's record in the USFL was 24 wins and 15 losses.
After the 1984 season, the USFL decided to change its schedule. This led to the Michigan Panthers merging with another team, the Oakland Invaders. A new coach was chosen for the merged team.
NFL Coaching and Management
Jim Stanley returned to the NFL. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive line coach. In 1986, he became their defensive coordinator. He also coached defense for the Houston Oilers for six years.
Later, Stanley joined the Arizona Cardinals in their player personnel department. This means he helped decide which players the team should sign. He worked there for 12 years and retired as the Director of Player Personnel. He played a part in the Cardinals getting quarterback Kurt Warner. Warner helped lead the Cardinals to their first NFL Championship game in many years.
Jim Stanley also coached as an assistant at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
Personal Life
Jim Stanley was married to Sylvia, and they had four children. He passed away on January 12, 2012, in Chandler, Arizona.
Head Coaching Record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma State Cowboys (Big Eight Conference) (1973–1978) | |||||||||
| 1973 | Oklahoma State | 5–4–2 | 2–3–2 | 5th | |||||
| 1974 | Oklahoma State | 7–5 | 4–3 | 4th | W Fiesta | ||||
| 1975 | Oklahoma State | 7–4 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1976 | Oklahoma State | 9–3 | 5–2 | T–1st | W Tangerine | 14 | 14 | ||
| 1977 | Oklahoma State | 4–7 | 2–5 | 7th | |||||
| 1978 | Oklahoma State | 3–8 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
| Oklahoma State: | 35–31–2 | 19–21–2 | |||||||
| Total: | 35–31–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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