Mike Zimmer
Zimmer at practice in 2014.
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| Minnesota Vikings | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | June 5, 1956 |
| Place of birth: | Peoria, Illinois |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Lockport (IL) Township |
| College: | Illinois State |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 26–21 (.553) |
| Postseason: | 0–1 (.000) |
| Career: | 26–22 (.542) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Michael "Mike" Zimmer (born June 5, 1956) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He has been a defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys.
In high school, Zimmer was a successful multi-sport athlete who earned all-conference honors in football (1972–73), baseball, and wrestling at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Illinois. He enrolled at Illinois State University, majoring in physical education. He played quarterback in 1974, but he redshirted the following year and moved to linebacker in 1976 after breaking his thumb. A neck injury prematurely ended his playing career that same year. His college teammates were positively influenced by his constantly "up" attitude, especially during those hot August pre-season double workouts. He backed up quarterback Bob Lopez in 1974, who later went on to set many of Illinois State's passing records.
Zimmer's first coaching job was as a part-time defensive assistant at the University of Missouri from 1979–1980. He then coached at Weber State College from 1981-1988, serving as the inside linebackers coach from 1981–84, the defensive backs coach from 1985–88, and the defensive coordinator from 1983–88. From 1989-1993, Zimmer served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Washington State Cougars. In 1993, the Cougars defense ranked eighth in the nation in total defense and second in rushing defense.
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