Robert "Woody" Widenhofer was an American college football head coach and longtime assistant coach in the National Football League.
15 Facts About Woody Widenhofer
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Woody Widenhofer later served unsuccessful tenures as head coach at the University of Missouri and Vanderbilt University.
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Woody Widenhofer attended Riverview High School in Riverview, Michigan, and played linebacker at Missouri from 1961 to 1964 under coach Dan Devine.
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Woody Widenhofer went on to receive a master's degree at Michigan State University.
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Woody Widenhofer began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Michigan State where he coached the defensive line.
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Woody Widenhofer then moved to Eastern Michigan and Minnesota where he served as linebackers coach.
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Woody Widenhofer spent one year as head coach of the short-lived United States Football League team, the Oklahoma Outlaws, before landing an opportunity at his alma mater, bolstered by a much-remembered ad campaign that urged Tigers fans to "climb on Woody's Wagon".
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Woody Widenhofer returned to the NFL for six years as an assistant coach, serving as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions under head coach Wayne Fontes, followed by two years as linebackers coach with the Cleveland Browns under head coach Bill Belichick.
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Woody Widenhofer then joined friend Rod Dowhower's staff at Vanderbilt to serve as defensive coordinator.
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When Dowhower was fired after the 1996 season, Woody Widenhofer was promoted to head coach.
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Woody Widenhofer considered retiring, but ultimately joined friend Hal Mumme as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana University and later New Mexico State University.
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Woody Widenhofer announced he was retiring from coaching following the season finale game against Fresno State on November 30,2007.
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Woody Widenhofer had five children: Kim, Stacy, Ryan, Ross, Katlyn and grandchildren Addison, Ava, Mia, Jackson, and Sophie.
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Woody Widenhofer stated that he didn't have anything else to do and enjoyed meeting people.
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Woody Widenhofer did not return to the Vanderbilt campus since his departure.