Joe Tiller facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 7, 1942 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 30, 2017 (aged 74) Buffalo, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1961–1963 | Montana State |
| 1964 | Calgary Stampeders |
| Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1965–1970 | Montana State (OL/DL) |
| 1971 | Washington State (DL) |
| 1972–1973 | Washington State (OC/OL) |
| 1974–1982 | Calgary Stampeders (assistant) |
| 1976 | Calgary Stampeders (interim HC) |
| 1983–1986 | Purdue (AHC/DC/DL) |
| 1987–1988 | Wyoming (OC/OL) |
| 1989–1990 | Washington State (AHC/OC/OL) |
| 1991–1996 | Wyoming |
| 1997–2008 | Purdue |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 126–92–1 (college) 2–3–1 (CFL) |
| Bowls | 4–7 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 WAC (1993) 1 Big Ten (2000) 1 WAC Pacific Division (1996) |
|
| Awards | |
| Big Ten Coach of the Year (1997) | |
Joseph Henry Tiller (born December 7, 1942 – died September 30, 2017) was a famous American football player and coach. He led the football teams at the University of Wyoming (from 1991 to 1996) and Purdue University (from 1997 to 2008). Coach Tiller was known for his exciting style of play called the spread offense, which changed how many teams played football.
Contents
Early Life and Playing Football
Joe Tiller was born and grew up in Toledo, Ohio. He went to Rogers High School. After high school, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman. There, he played football for the Bobcats. He was coached by Herb Agocs and Jim Sweeney.
In his final year, 1963, Tiller was named an Honorable Mention All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best players. He was also invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game.
In 1964, the Boston Patriots picked Tiller in the AFL draft. However, he decided to play for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League (CFL) instead. After one season in the CFL, he went back to Montana State. This time, he started his coaching career under Coach Sweeney.
Coaching Career Highlights
Starting as a Coach
Joe Tiller's first coaching job was in 1964 at Montana State. He started as a student assistant. The next year, he became a full-time assistant coach. He worked with players on both the offensive and defensive lines. He also taught physical education.
In 1971, Tiller joined Coach Sweeney again at Washington State. He coached the defensive line there. In 1972, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. This meant he was in charge of the team's offense. He also coached the offensive line. During the 1973 season, he helped player Andrew Jones run for over 1,000 yards.
In 1974, Tiller returned to the Calgary Stampeders as an assistant coach. He stayed with the team for eight seasons. In 1976, he became the interim head coach for the last six weeks. He then worked in the team's front office until 1982.
Purdue and Wyoming Assistant Roles
In 1983, Tiller became the defensive coordinator at Purdue. He worked under head coach Leon Burtnett. In 1984, the Purdue team made history. They beat Notre Dame, Michigan, and Ohio State in the same season. They finished the regular season with 7 wins and 4 losses. They played in the Peach Bowl but lost a close game. Tiller left Purdue in 1986 when Coach Burtnett resigned.
Tiller then became the offensive coordinator at Wyoming in 1987. He helped their quarterback, Craig Burnett, throw for over 3,000 yards. Running back Gerald Abraham also ran for over 1,300 yards. In 1988, quarterback Randy Welniak had a great season, throwing for nearly 2,800 yards and running for over 400 yards.
In 1989, Tiller returned to Washington State as offensive coordinator. He worked under head coach Mike Price. He helped running back Steve Broussard gain over 1,200 yards. The quarterbacks also threw for nearly 3,000 yards combined. In 1990, quarterbacks Brad Gossen and Drew Bledsoe combined for over 2,500 passing yards.
Head Coach at Wyoming (1991–1996)
Joe Tiller became a head coach for the first time at Wyoming in 1991. He took over from Paul Roach. During his six years at Wyoming, Tiller led the Cowboys to 39 wins, 30 losses, and 1 tie. They also played in one bowl game.
His best season was in 1996. The team had a great record of 10 wins and 2 losses. They won their division in the WAC conference. However, they lost the WAC Championship game to BYU. This meant they were not invited to a bowl game, even though they were ranked nationally. This was unusual for a team that finished so well.
Tiller's teams at Wyoming were known for their strong quarterback and running back play.
- In 1991, QB Tom Corontzos threw for 2,868 yards.
- In 1992, RB Dwight Driver ran for 1,027 yards.
- In 1993, QB Joe Hughes threw for 3,135 yards, and RB Ryan Christopherson ran for 1,014 yards.
- In 1994, QB John Gustin threw for 2,757 yards, and RB Ryan Christopherson ran for 1,455 yards.
- In 1995, QB Josh Wallwork threw for 2,363 yards, and WR Marcus Harris had 1,423 receiving yards.
- In 1996, QB Josh Wallwork threw for an amazing 4,090 yards. WR Marcus Harris caught 109 passes for 1,650 yards.
Head Coach at Purdue (1997–2008)
After his successful time at Wyoming, Tiller was hired by Purdue University in 1997. Purdue's football program had not been very strong before he arrived. They had only five winning seasons in the previous 18 years.
However, Tiller's team made a big impact right away. In his second game, they upset Notre Dame on national television. Tiller led Purdue to ten bowl games in twelve years. This was a huge improvement for the program.
One of their most notable achievements was playing in the 2001 Rose Bowl. This was their first major bowl game since 1967. It was only the second major bowl appearance in the school's history. In 2000, Tiller's team also won Purdue's first Big Ten Conference title in 33 years.
Before Tiller became head coach, Purdue had only played in five bowl games ever. In 2008, Tiller won his 85th game at Purdue. This made him the winningest coach in the school's history. He passed the record set by Jack Mollenkopf.
Tiller's offensive style was called "basketball on grass". It was known for scoring a lot of points very effectively. This style often confused opposing defenses. It was especially successful when quarterback Drew Brees led the team from 1997 to 2000. Under Tiller, Purdue teams were only shut out (scored zero points) once.
Tiller retired after the 2008 season. His final game was a big win against Purdue's rival, the Indiana Hoosiers. They won the Old Oaken Bucket Game by a score of 62 to 10.
Joe Tiller was the first coach to use the spread offense in the Big Ten Conference. Many other coaches later adopted their own versions of this offense. This included coaches like Jim Tressel at Ohio State and Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. Under Tiller, Purdue always had one of the top offenses in the Big Ten.
Death
Joe Tiller passed away at his home in Buffalo, Wyoming, on September 30, 2017. He was 74 years old and had been dealing with health issues. Many former players, fellow coaches, and the teams he led shared their memories and tributes to him after his death.
