Ron Erhardt
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
February 27, 1931 Mandan, North Dakota |
| Died | March 21, 2012 (aged 81) Boca Raton, Florida |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1956 | Williston HS (ND) (assistant) |
| 1957–1959 | St. Mary's of New England (ND) |
| 1960–1962 | Bishop Ryan HS (ND) |
| 1963–1965 | North Dakota State (assistant) |
| 1966–1972 | North Dakota State |
| 1973–1976 | New England Patriots (RB) |
| 1977–1978 | New England Patriots (OC) |
| 1978 | New England Patriots (interim co-HC) |
| 1979–1981 | New England Patriots |
| 1982–1990 | New York Giants (OC) |
| 1991 | New York Giants (assistant) |
| 1992–1995 | Pittsburgh Steelers (OC) |
| 1996–1997 | New York Jets (OC) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| ? | North Dakota State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 61–7–1 (college) 21–28 (NFL) 45–9–2 (high school) |
| Bowls | 3–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 NCAA College Division National (1968–1969) 6 NCC (1966–1970, 1972) |
|
Ronald Peter Erhardt (February 27, 1931 – March 21, 2012) was an American football coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. From 1979 to 1981 he served as head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots.
A native of Mandan, North Dakota, Erhardt graduated from Jamestown College in 1953, then spent the next two years serving in the military. After leaving the service, he was hired in 1956 as an assistant coach at Williston High School in Williston, North Dakota. The following year, he began a six-year run as a head coach at two North Dakota Catholic high schools: from 1957 to 1959, his teams at St. Mary's of New England compiled a mark of 25–3–1, followed by another three-year run at Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, where he was 20–6–1 from 1960 to 1962.
Erhardt's successes elevated him to the collegiate level, where he served as an assistant at North Dakota State University for three years beginning in 1963. On February 10, 1966, he became head coach at the school, setting the stage for another strong tenure, in which he put together a record of 61–7–1 in his seven years. Erhardt also served as the Bison athletic director, winning a pair of college national championships.
On March 14, 1973, Erhardt moved on to become backfield coach of the New England Patriots, a post he served in for four years before being promoted to offensive coordinator on February 1, 1977, following the departure of Red Miller. After missing the playoffs that year, the Patriots seemed ready to challenge for a Super Bowl berth in 1978. However, prior to the last regular season game on December 18, head coach Chuck Fairbanks announced he was leaving the team to accept a contract offer from the University of Colorado. In response, the team suspended Fairbanks and made Erhardt and fellow assistant Hank Bullough co-coaches for the final game. The Patriots dropped that contest, then lost their opening round matchup to the Houston Oilers.
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