Sport(s) | Football, baseball |
---|---|
Biographical details | |
Born |
Queens, New York |
July 29, 1941
Playing career | |
Football | |
1960–1962 | Penn State |
Baseball | |
1962–1963 | Penn State |
Position(s) | Tight end, defensive end (football) |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
Football | |
1965–1969 | Lafayette (assistant) |
1970–1972 | Penn (OL) |
1973–1983 | Penn State (OL) |
1984–1989 | Rutgers |
1990–1992 | Penn State (OL) |
1993–1998 | Penn State (QB) |
1999–2011 | Penn State (OG/C) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 28–33–4 (incl. 1 win by forfeit) |
Richard E. "Dick" Anderson (born July 29, 1941) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Rutgers University from 1984 to 1989, compiling a record of 28–33–4. His highlight victory during that span was 21–16 win over Penn State in 1988—Rutgers' first win over the Nittany Lions in 70 years. He played college football at Penn State, and served there as an assistant football coach for many years under Joe Paterno.
Anderson, a native of Queens, New York, played tight end and defensive end at Penn State for coach Rip Engle from 1960 to 1962. He played in the 1961 and 1962 Gator Bowls and also captained the Nittany Lions baseball team. Anderson earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Penn State in 1963. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 29th round of the 1963 American Football League Draft and by the Cleveland Browns in the 17th round of the NFL Draft, but Anderson opted to remain at Penn State as a graduate assistant while earning his master's degree and playing for the semi-pro Newark Bears on the weekends.
Anderson's first full-time coaching job was as an assistant at Lafayette College under future Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Harry Gamble, whom he then followed to the University of Pennsylvania in 1970. He returned to Penn State in 1973 at the invitation of head coach Joe Paterno. In his next 11 seasons as the Nittany Lions' offensive line coach, Anderson established himself as one of college football's best. Five of his players were named All-Americans: John Nessel, Tom Rafferty, Keith Dorney, Bill Dugan, and Sean Farrell; and a steady stream of Nittany Lion linemen went on to the NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Munchak.