Dennis Fitzgerald
Dennis Fitzgerald, 1960
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| Sport(s) | Football, Freestyle wrestling |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
March 13, 1936 Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Died | January 14, 2001 (aged 64) Allison Park, Pennsylvania |
| Playing career | |
| 1959–1960 | Michigan |
| Position(s) | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1963–1968 | Michigan (assistant) |
| 1969–1970 | Kentucky (DC) |
| 1971–1974 | Kent State (DC) |
| 1975–1977 | Kent State |
| 1978–1980 | Syracuse (DC) |
| 1981 | Tulane (DC) |
| 1982–1986 | Pittsburgh Steelers (LB) |
| 1987–1988 | Pittsburgh Steelers (ST) |
| 1992 | Las Vegas Aces (DC) |
| 1994–1996 | Grand Valley State (assistant) |
| 1995–1996 | Albany Firebirds (DC) |
| 1997 | James Madison (assistant) |
| 1998–1999 | Albany Firebirds (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 18–16 |
Joseph Dennis Fitzgerald (March 13, 1936 – January 14, 2001) was an American freestyle wrestler and football player and coach. Fitzgerald played college football as a halfback at the University of Michigan and was selected as named the most valuable player on the 1960 Michigan Wolverines football team. He holds the University of Michigan record for the longest kickoff return at 99 yards. Fitgerald also competed as a wrestler, winning Big Ten Conference championships in 1960 and 1961 and winning a gold medal representing the United States as the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo.
Fitzgerald spent more than 35 years working as a football coach for several university and professional football teams. He held assistant coaching positions at, among others, the University of Michigan, University of Kentucky, Syracuse University, Tulane University and Grand Valley State University. He was the head football coach at Kent State University from 1975 to 1977 and spent seven years (1982–1988) as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Chuck Noll. His final coaching position was as the defensive coordinator for the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League.
A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Fitzgerald graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1954. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1957. He was a member of the Camp LeJeune wrestling team in 1956 and 1957.
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