Sport(s) | Football |
---|---|
Current position | |
Title | Associate head coach, linebackers coach |
Team | Virginia |
Conference | ACC |
Biographical details | |
Born |
State College, Pennsylvania |
July 26, 1953
Playing career | |
1973–1975 | Miami (FL) |
Position(s) | Defensive back, punter |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1976–1977 | Miami (FL) (GA) |
1978 | Miami (FL) (assistant) |
1979–1983 | Miami (FL) (DB) |
1984 | LSU (DB) |
1985–1986 | LSU (DC/DB) |
1987–1990 | LSU |
1991–1992 | Virginia (LB) |
1993–1994 | Kentucky (DC/LB) |
1995 | Kentucky (AHC/DC/LB) |
1996–2002 | Pittsburgh Steelers (LB) |
2003–2006 | Kentucky (DC) |
2007–2012 | NC State (DC) |
2014 | Virginia (S) |
2015 | Virginia (Assoc. HC/LB) |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 27–18–1 |
Bowls | 1–1 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 SEC (1988) |
Mike Archer (born July 26, 1953) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the assistant head coach and linebackers at the University of Virginia. From 1987 to 1990, Archer was the head football coach at Louisiana State University, where he compiled a record of 27–18–1. Archer has also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, University of Miami, the University of Virginia, and the University of Kentucky, and with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL).
Archer came to LSU as an assistant coach in 1984 after being both a player and an assistant coach at Miami. He replaced Bill Arnsparger as the LSU Tigers football head coach in 1987 when Arnsparger left to become the athletic director at the University of Florida. Archer was Arnsparger's defensive coordinator in 1985 and 1986, and was Arnsparger's hand-picked successor. When Archer took the LSU head coaching job, he was 34 years old, the youngest head coach in Division I-A football. Archer was chosen over a number of interviewed candidates, which reportedly included Steve Spurrier, Mike Shanahan, and Mack Brown. Arnsparger later hired Spurrier at head football coach at Florida.
In 1987, LSU finished the season ranked #5 in both major polls with a 10–1–1 record, blemished only by a tie against Ohio State and a loss to Alabama. The latter was all that kept the Tigers out of the 1988 Sugar Bowl; Auburn went instead. It was LSU's first 10-win season in more than 25 years. Archer's Tigers followed up with an 8–4 record and a share of the Southeastern Conference title in 1988. The 1988 season was famous for the "Earthquake Game," a 7–6 victory over Auburn. While LSU and Auburn shared the conference title as a result, Auburn got the SEC's berth in the Sugar Bowl due to a higher poll ranking, and LSU lost in the Hall of Fame Bowl.