Mike Sherman

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Mike Sherman

Title Head coach
College Texas A&M
Sport Football
Conference Big 12
Team record 0–0
Born December 19, 1954 (1954-12-19) (age 53)
Place of birth Norwood, MA
Annual salary $1,800,000
Career highlights
Overall 0–0 (NCAA)
59–43 (NFL)
Championships
NFC North Division Championship (2002, 2003, 2004)
Playing career
1974–1977 Central Connecticut State
Position DE / OT
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1978
1979–1980
1981–1982
1983–1984
1985–1987
1988
1989–1993
1994
1995–1996
1997–1998
1999
2000–2005
2006
2007
2008–present
Stamford HS
Worcester Academy
Pittsburgh (GA)
Tulane (OL)
Holy Cross (OL)
Holy Cross (OC)
Texas A&M (OL)
UCLA (OL)
Texas A&M (OL)
Green Bay Packers (TE)
Seattle Seahawks (OC)
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans (Asst. HC)
Houston Texans (OC)
Texas A&M

Michael Francis Sherman (born December 19, 1954 in Norwood, Massachusetts) is the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team. Prior to coaching the Aggies, he served as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from the 2000–05 seasons. Sherman led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04 and three divisional titles in 2002, 2003, and 2004.[1] Before he started an NFL coaching career, Sherman served as an assistant coach at five different colleges, including Texas A&M, where he coached the offensive line for seven seasons.

Contents

[edit] Early life and family

Sherman was born in 1954 in Norwood, Massachusetts. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, Sherman spent his life in Hyde Park, Massachusetts, the southernmost neighborhood in Boston. His extended family members, who lived nearby, were devout Green Bay Packers fans. Sherman was also raised in Northborough, Massachusetts, where he attended Algonquin Regional High School, playing for the football team. Though he was considered a solid player in high school, he was never a standout. Sherman earned a scholarship to play at Central Connecticut State University, where he played defensive end and offensive tackle and majored in English. Though he was considered to be an average player with limited abilities in college, he was noted for his strong commitment. Right after college, Sherman became an English teacher and an assistant football coach, serving at Stamford High School in Connecticut in 1978 and at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts from 1979–80.[2][3]

Sherman's father worked for a pipe company in New England and retired in 1990. Both his parents live in Cape Cod, where his father still does consulting work.[2] Sherman has been married to his wife Karen since 1982, and the two have five children, including an adoptee.[4]

At Marquette University in 2003, Sherman's daughter Sarah was embroiled in a plagiarism scandal after enterprising undergraduates discovered that she lifted ideas, phrases, and full lines from a Len Pasquarelli column on the NFL for a story of her own. Sarah was disciplined for her error in judgment, though was allowed to graduate from Marquette. She did lose her position as the Associate Sports Editor at the school's Tribune.[5][6][7]

[edit] Coaching career

[edit] Early career

Sherman started out his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was part of Jackie Sherrill's staff from 1981–82.[8] While at Pittsburgh, Sherman wasn't able to afford an apartment; instead, he slept on a cot in Pitt Stadium.[2] After his stay at Pittsburgh, Sherman then coached the offensive line at Tulane from 1983–84, and later moved to Holy Cross, where he coached the offensive line from 1985–87 before becoming the offensive coordinator for the 1988 season.

From 1989–93, Sherman coached the Texas A&M offensive line. During the 1992–93 season, he met current Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who had coached the A&M running backs. In 1994, Sherman left Texas A&M to coach the UCLA offensive line, which included current Baltimore Ravens pro bowler Jonathan Ogden. Sherman later returned to Texas A&M to coach the offensive line again for the 1995–96 seasons. Under Sherman, the Aggie offense averaged over 400 yards of total offense four times of his seven seasons at A&M. The 1990 Aggie team set a school record of 471.1 yards per game. Sherman also helped the Aggies to win three Southwest Conference championships consecutively from 1991–93. Additionally, he recruited Leeland McElroy, who would become one of the Aggies' top 10 all-time leading running backs.[9]

On December 20, 1996, A&M head coach R. C. Slocum promoted Sherman to offensive coordinator to replace dismissed Steve Ensminger.[10] Months later, Sherman resigned to start his professional coaching career as the assistant offensive line and tight ends coach for the Green Bay Packers. When asked by a reporter why he chose to accept the Green Bay job, Sherman responded: "There is absolutely no other college job I would have left Texas A&M for and only one professional job that I've ever had any interest in and that being the Green Bay Packers. I've enjoyed the small-town atmosphere of College Station for my family, and Green Bay offers that same atmosphere. If the truth be told, there is not a whole lot of difference between an `Aggie' and a `Cheesehead."[11] He served the position for the 1997–98 seasons. After Packers head coach Mike Holmgren resigned to accept the Seattle Seahawks head coach position, Holmgren hired Sherman to become the offensive coordinator for the 1999 season.

[edit] Green Bay Packers

In his six-year head coaching career with the Packers from 2000–05, Sherman compiled a 57-39 regular season record and a 2-4 postseason record. Sherman had used the West Coast Offense offensive strategy at Green Bay.[12]

In 2000, Sherman became the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He led the Packers to five consecutive winning seasons from 2000–04. From 2002–2004, he led the Packers to three consecutive NFC North Division titles. From 2000–04, he compiled a 53–27 record, and a .663 winning percentage, which is the second highest in Packers history, trailing that of Vince Lombardi's, who is one of the most successful coaches in the history of football. Additionally, Green Bay and the Philadelphia Eagles were the only two teams to make the playoffs for four consecutive seasons from 2001–04.

An offensive-minded coach, Sherman led the Packers to break franchise records for rushing in 2003 and passing in 2004. In 2003, Packers quarterback Brett Favre led the NFL in touchdown passes, in addition to setting a franchise record for rushing yardage. The 2003 team also gained a total of 442 points, which is second only to the franchise's record of 456 set in the 1996 season, when the team won the Super Bowl.

Despite receiving a contract extension earlier in the 2005 season, Sherman was fired by the Packers on January 2, 2006, after compiling a 4–12 record — Green Bay's first losing record since the 1991 season. The Packers had lost pro bowlers Javon Walker, Bubba Franks and Ahman Green to Injured Reserve early in the season.[13]

[edit] General Manager

Sherman succeeded Ron Wolf as General Manager of the Packers in 2001, taking on the dual role as Head Coach and General Manager. Although the decision was made prior to the 2001 NFL Draft, Wolf was at the controls for the draft that year. Sherman was responsible for the following three drafts (2002–04). Sherman drafted many of the core players that are amongst the Packers in the 2007 season. He drafted Nick Barnett, Aaron Kampman, Corey Williams, and Scott Wells. He also traded for cornerback Al Harris. Sherman's 1st draft pick was Javon Walker who made the Pro Bowl in 2004, was traded to the Denver Broncos by Ted Thompson in 2006. In 2005 the Packers hired Ted Thompson from the Seattle Seahawks to take over Sherman's General Manager duties, although Sherman remained the Packers' head coach.

[edit] Houston Texans

The Houston Texans hired Sherman as the assistant head coach/offense coach on February 15, 2006. On January 17, 2007, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, but still remained as assistant head coach. In the 2006 season, the Texans' regular season offense ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams.[14] In the 2007 season, Sherman's first year as the offensive coordinator, the Texans' regular season offense improved to a ranking of 14.[15]

The Texans finished the 2006 season with a 6–10 record, and the 2007 with an 8–8. The latter is the winningest record for the Texans since their inception in 2002.

[edit] Texas A&M Aggies

See also: Texas A&M Aggies football under Mike Sherman

Sherman became the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies football team in November 2007.

[edit] Head coaching record

[edit] NFL

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
GB 2000 9 7 0 .563 3rd in NFC Central
GB 2001 12 4 0 .750 2nd in NFC Central 1 1 .500 Defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Wild Card Round.
Lost to St. Louis Rams in Divisional Round
GB 2002 12 4 0 .750 1st in NFC North 0 1 .000 Lost to Atlanta Falcons in Wild Card Round
GB 2003 10 6 0 .625 1st in NFC North 1 1 .500 Defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Wild Card Round.
Lost to Philadelphia Eagles in Divisional Round
GB 2004 10 6 0 .625 1st in NFC North 0 1 .000 Lost to Minnesota Vikings in Wild Card Round
GB 2005 4 12 0 .250 4th in NFC North
Total 57 39 0 .594 2 4 .333
Overall Total 59 43 0 .578

[edit] College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl Coaches# AP°
Texas A&M Aggies (Big 12 Conference) (2008 — present)
2008 Texas A&M 0–0 0–0
Texas A&M: 0–0 0–0
Total: 0–0
      National Championship         Conference Title         Conference Division Title
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll of the season.
°Rankings from final AP Poll of the season.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Davis, Brian. "Sources: Texas A&M expected to name Sherman as football coach", Dallas Morning News, 2007-11-25. Retrieved on 2007-11-25. 
  2. ^ a b c Townsend, Brad. "New A&M coach Sherman has heart of a champion", Dallas Morning News, 2007-12-02. Retrieved on 2007-12-02. 
  3. ^ Christl, Cliff. "Mentor's suicide gave Sherman perspective on career", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2000-01-18. Retrieved on 2007-12-02. 
  4. ^ Nickel, Lori. "Who is Mike Sherman?", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved on 2007-11-26. 
  5. ^ Poynter Online - Romenesko
  6. ^ Madson, Adam. "Student chastises", Marquette Tribune, 2003-10-30. Retrieved on 2008-03-03. 
  7. ^ Robertson, Peter. "MIXED MESSAGES", Milwaukee Magazine, 2004-04-01. Retrieved on 2008-03-03. 
  8. ^ Davis, Brian. "Football coach with ties suited Texas A&M", Dallas Morning News, 2007-11-26. Retrieved on 2007-11-26. 
  9. ^ Sherrington, Kevin. "Sherman musters up positivity at Texas A&M", Dallas Morning News, 2007-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-11-27. 
  10. ^ "Slocum picks offensive coordinator; A&M coach promotes Sherman, hires Dorr to instruct QBs", The Houston Chronicle, 1996-12-21. Retrieved on 2008-04-12. 
  11. ^ "PACKERS HIRE SHERMAN AS NEW TIGHT ENDS COACH", The Capital Times, 1997-02-18. Retrieved on 2008-04-12. 
  12. ^ Williams, Charean. "Sherman made his mark in Green Bay", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2007-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-11-27. 
  13. ^ "Packers lose Green for year with thigh tear", Associated Press, ESPN, 2005-10-24. Retrieved on 2008-01-25. 
  14. ^ 2006 NFL Regular Season Offense Statistics. National Football League. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.
  15. ^ 2007 NFL Regular Season Offense Statistics. National Football League. Retrieved on 2008-01-02.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Bob Bratkowski
Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator
1999
Succeeded by
Gil Haskell
Preceded by
Ray Rhodes
Green Bay Packers Head Coach
2000–2005
Succeeded by
Mike McCarthy
Preceded by
Troy Calhoun
Houston Texans Offensive Coordinator
2006–2007
Succeeded by
Kyle Shanahan
Preceded by
Dennis Franchione
Texas A&M University Head Football Coach
2008–present
Succeeded by
incumbent
Persondata
NAME Sherman, Mike
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sherman, Michael Francis
SHORT DESCRIPTION American Football player and coach
DATE OF BIRTH 1954-12-19
PLACE OF BIRTH Norwood, Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH