Joseph Lawrence Kuharich (April 14, 1917 – January 25, 1981) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of San Francisco from 1948 to 1951, and at Notre Dame from 1959 to 1962, compiling a career college football record of 42–37. Kuharich was also the head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, the Washington Redskins from 1954 to 1958, and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964 to 1968, achieving a career coaching record of 58–81–3 in the National Football League (NFL).
Kuharich played football as a guard at Notre Dame from 1935 to 1937 and with the Chicago Cardinals in 1940, 1941, and 1945. Kuharich died on the day the Eagles lost their first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders.
Early life and education
Kuharich was born April 14, 1917, in South Bend, Indiana. He played college football at the Notre Dame under coach Elmer Layden, who praised Kuharich as one of the best and smartest players he ever had. In his college career. Kuharich is noted for his participation in Notre Dame's comeback over Ohio State in 1935.
Career
National Football League
Kuharich was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (NFL) in the 12th round of the 1938 NFL Draft.
Kuharich began his coaching career as an assistant freshman coach at Notre Dame in 1938. In 1939, he coached at the Vincentian Institute in Albany, New York. He then moved to the professional ranks as a player, playing guard for the Chicago Cardinals in 1940 and 1941. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he returned to the Cardinals in 1945, his last season as a player.
Coaching career
Pittsburgh Steelers, University of San Francisco, and Washington Redskins
In 1946, Kuharich served as line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and moved on to the University of San Francisco as head coach in 1948. His overall record for the University of San Francisco was 25–14, including an undefeated 9–0 season in 1951. Among his most notable pupils was Ollie Matson, who became a Pro Football Hall of Fame running back with the Chicago Cardinals. Other USF teammates under Kuharich included future Pro Football Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti, and Bob St. Clair, and Burl Toler, a defensive standout who later became the NFL's first African-American official. The team's student publicity director, Pete Rozelle, served as National Football League Commissioner.
The team is among the most decorated in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Financial concerns led the school to disband football the following year. Following that season, he moved to the National Football League, serving as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals in 1952, succeeding Curly Lambeau. In 1953, he served as a scout for several pro teams, then in 1954 became coach of the Washington Redskins, then owned by the controversial George Preston Marshall, once again, following Lambeau. The Redskins claim to fame was Eddie LeBaron, the smallest quarterback in the league, A successful campaign in 1955 landed Kuharich "Coach of the Year" honors, followed by a losing streak. After five seasons in Washington, Kuharich resigned when he received an offer from Notre Dame.
Notre Dame
Kuharich became head coach of Notre Dame in 1959. He had earlier been contacted with offers by Notre Dame after the 1956 season after the Irish finished 2–8, but before he had a chance to accept an offer, Terry Brennan was retained in his position. Kuharich compiled a 17–23 record over four non-winning seasons, becoming the only coach to have an overall losing record at Notre Dame. This was followed by a school-record eight-game losing streak in 1960, a year in which the Irish finished 2–8. It is remembered as one of the worst stretches in Notre Dame football history.
It was widely speculated that Kuharich never made the adjustment from pro football to college football, attempting to use complicated pro coaching techniques with collegiate players. He never seemed to adapt to the limited substitution rules in effect at the time either, preferring clumsy linemen playing in positions where smaller and quicker players were favored. Despite his controversial and confusing tactics, Kuharich seemed perfectly content finishing with a losing record every year. which did not sit well with Notre Dame fans. Kuharich resigned in the spring of 1963 and assumed the post of supervisor of NFL official. Following Kuharich's departure, Hugh Devore was named interim head coach while the search for a permanent replacement was sought. Despite his unsuccessful Notre Dame tenure, Kuharich remains the only Notre Dame head coach to post back-to-back shutouts over USC, Notre Dame's major rival, in both 1960 (17-0) and 1961 (30-0).