Don Shula Bio (Biography)
Real name:
Donald Francis Shula
Date of birth:
January 4. 1930
Place of birth:
Grand River, Ohio, USA
Astrology Sign:
Capricorn
Tags:
Biography
Don Shula is a former NFL football coach best known for his time coaching the Miami Dolphins. Shula gained fame in the NFL world by coaching the Dolphins to two Super Bowl championships and for leading them in their undefeated season in 1972, the only recorded NFL perfect season to date. As of 2007, Shula also holds the NFL's career wins record with 328 wins.
Born on January 4, 1930, in Grand River Ohio, Shula played football through high school and college, where he earned an M.A. in physical education from Case Western Reserve University. Before coaching, Shula played football professionally, playing for the Cleveland Browns as a defensive back, for the Baltimore Colts, and for the Washington Redskins, the last team he would play for.
Shula then began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky. After four years with the university, he was hired by the Baltimore Cults to replace Weeb Ewbank as the team's head coach. Despite the owner's faith in Shula, many fans wondered if this was a smart decision because Shula was only 33 at the time.
However, Shula's time with the Colts made believers out of all the fans as he led them to a 71-23-4 record over seven years. He was named NFL Coach of the Year three times while with the Colts, although they did lose several games in which they were favored to win, including Super Bowl III.
Starting in 1970 and until his retirement, Shula would coach the Miami Dolphins, another move that began with controversy. Shula's signing was deemed tampering by the NFL because the signing was done before and after the NFL/AFL merger. However, Shula still led the Dolphins to many triumphs during his time there, even going on to a perfect season in 1972, a feat which has yet to be repeated to this day (2007).
The Dolphins would also win the Super Bowl in 1972 and again in 1973, although he wouldn't be able to win the title again. In 1995, Shula retired after 33 years as a head coach, leaving behind many records that still stand. Since retiring, he was written three books, appeared in commercials for Nutrisystem, and created the Don Shula Foundation, a foundation devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer, the disease to which Shula lost his first wife. In 2007, Shula was part of the Vince Lombardi Trophy presentation at Super Bowl XLI, during which he also appeared in a Budweiser commercial with rapper Jay-Z.
Born on January 4, 1930, in Grand River Ohio, Shula played football through high school and college, where he earned an M.A. in physical education from Case Western Reserve University. Before coaching, Shula played football professionally, playing for the Cleveland Browns as a defensive back, for the Baltimore Colts, and for the Washington Redskins, the last team he would play for.
Shula then began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky. After four years with the university, he was hired by the Baltimore Cults to replace Weeb Ewbank as the team's head coach. Despite the owner's faith in Shula, many fans wondered if this was a smart decision because Shula was only 33 at the time.
However, Shula's time with the Colts made believers out of all the fans as he led them to a 71-23-4 record over seven years. He was named NFL Coach of the Year three times while with the Colts, although they did lose several games in which they were favored to win, including Super Bowl III.
Starting in 1970 and until his retirement, Shula would coach the Miami Dolphins, another move that began with controversy. Shula's signing was deemed tampering by the NFL because the signing was done before and after the NFL/AFL merger. However, Shula still led the Dolphins to many triumphs during his time there, even going on to a perfect season in 1972, a feat which has yet to be repeated to this day (2007).
The Dolphins would also win the Super Bowl in 1972 and again in 1973, although he wouldn't be able to win the title again. In 1995, Shula retired after 33 years as a head coach, leaving behind many records that still stand. Since retiring, he was written three books, appeared in commercials for Nutrisystem, and created the Don Shula Foundation, a foundation devoted to finding a cure for breast cancer, the disease to which Shula lost his first wife. In 2007, Shula was part of the Vince Lombardi Trophy presentation at Super Bowl XLI, during which he also appeared in a Budweiser commercial with rapper Jay-Z.