Perry Moss facts for kids
Moss on a 1948 Bowman football card
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 4, 1926 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | August 7, 2014 (aged 88) Deltona, Florida, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1944 | Tulsa |
| 1946–1947 | Illinois |
| 1948 | Green Bay Packers |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1949 | Illinois (freshmen) |
| 1950–1951 | Washington (assistant) |
| 1952 | LSU (backfield) |
| 1955–1957 | Miami (FL) (backfield) |
| 1958 | Wisconsin (backfield) |
| 1959 | Florida State |
| 1960–1962 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1964–1965 | Charleston Rockets |
| 1966–1967 | Orlando Panthers |
| 1968 | Marshall |
| 1970–1973 | Chicago Bears (OC) |
| 1974 | Green Bay Packers (QB) |
| 1975 | San Antonio Wings |
| 1976–1978 | Kentucky (QB) |
| 1979 | Charlotte Chargers |
| 1980–1981 | Kentucky (QB) |
| 1982 | Montreal Concordes (assistant) |
| 1983–1984 | Buffalo Bills (TE) |
| 1988 | Chicago Bruisers |
| 1990 | Detroit Drive |
| 1991–1997 | Orlando Predators |
| Baseball | |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 4–15–1 (college football) 86–35–1 (AFL) 15–7 (college baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| ArenaBowl IV | |
| Awards | |
| 3× AFL Coach of the Year (1988, 1992, 1994) | |
Perry Lee Moss (born August 4, 1926 – died August 7, 2014) was a well-known American football player, coach, and team executive. He had a long and exciting career in football. Moss played as a tailback for the University of Tulsa and as a quarterback for Illinois in the 1940s.
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Playing College Football
Perry Moss was a talented player in college. While at Tulsa, his team won the Orange Bowl in 1945. They beat Georgia Tech with a score of 26–12. After serving two years in the United States Air Force, he played for Illinois. There, he led his team to a big win in the Rose Bowl in 1947. They defeated UCLA 45–14.
Awards and Professional Play
During his time at Illinois, Perry Moss was recognized for his skills. He was named to the All-Big Ten Conference and All-American teams. In 1948, the Green Bay Packers picked him in the NFL draft. He played professionally for one year as a quarterback for the Packers before returning to Illinois as an assistant coach.
Coaching Career Highlights
Perry Moss had a very long and varied coaching career. He coached both college and professional teams.
Early Coaching Roles
In 1955, Moss coached both baseball and football at the University of Miami. He was the head baseball coach and a backfield coach for football. In 1958, he was a backfield coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Leading College Teams
In 1959, Perry Moss became the head football coach and athletic director at Florida State. His team had a record of 4 wins and 6 losses that season. Later, in 1968, he coached at Marshall University. He stepped down from his role there after the season.
A Close Call at Marshall
The next coach at Marshall, Rick Tolley, along with 37 players and 37 other people, sadly died in a plane crash in 1970. This happened after a game against East Carolina. Many people believe that Perry Moss's decision to leave Marshall saved his life.
Coaching in Professional Leagues
Moss also coached in several professional football leagues.
- From 1960 to 1962, he was the head coach for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.
- In the 1960s and early 1980s, he coached the Charleston Rockets in the semi-pro American Football Association.
- In the 1970s and early 1980s, he worked as an offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears. He also coached quarterbacks for the Green Bay Packers.
- He had two different coaching jobs for the University of Kentucky under head coach Fran Curci.
Arena Football Success
In 1987, Moss became the head coach of the Chicago Bruisers in the Arena Football League. He found great success in this league. In 1991, he became the first coach of the Orlando Predators. He led the Predators to a strong record of 59 wins and 25 losses before leaving the team in 1997. He also won ArenaBowl IV as a coach. Perry Moss was named the AFL Coach of the Year three times (1988, 1992, 1994).
University of Central Florida
Before his Arena Football success, Moss was the Defensive Coordinator for the University of Central Florida from 1986 to 1987. He helped the team have its first winning season ever. The next year, his defense helped UCF reach the Division I-AA play-offs for the first time.
Family and Legacy
Perry Moss's son, Les, also became an American football coach. Perry Moss is remembered for his contributions to football. He is a member of both the Florida Sports Hall of Fame and the Arena Football Hall of Fame. Perry Moss passed away at his home in Deltona, Florida, on August 7, 2014, at the age of 88.
Images for kids
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Moss on a 1948 Bowman football card
