Don Shula
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 354-169-7 | 67.45% | 19-17 | 52.78% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Children:
Bill Arnsparger, Monte Clark, Dan Henning, Don McCafferty, Howard Schnellenberger, David Shula, Charley Winner
Biography
Career Summary
Don Shula was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1995, finishing his career as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Over his thirty-six years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 354-169-7. During his career he was a head coach for thirty-three seasons, first with the Baltimore Colts. He led the Colts for seven seasons, compiling a record of 71-23-4. His next head coaching stint was with the Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1995, as he led the team to a 257-133-2 record. During his time leading the Dolphins the team won the Super Bowl in 1972 and 1973. He retired from the Dolphins on Friday, January 5, 1996. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 328-156-6 across thirty-three seasons including going 19-17-0 in the playoffs.
Shula was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 after his coaching career.
Career Awards
Shula won the NFL's Coach of the Year award four times throughout his career, most recently in 1972 after guiding the Dolphins to a 14-0-0 record and a victory in Super Bowl VII. As the head coach of the Baltimore Colts he coached two players to award-winning seasons: Johnny Unitas, Most Valuable Player in 1964; Johnny Unitas, Most Valuable Player in 1967; Earl Morrall, Most Valuable Player in 1968. As the head coach of the Miami Dolphins he coached eight players to award-winning seasons: Earl Morrall, Comeback Player of the Year in 1972; Dick Anderson, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1973; A.J. Duhe, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1977; Larry Csonka, Comeback Player of the Year in 1979; Doug Betters, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1983; Dan Marino, AP Offensive Player of the Year in 1984; Dan Marino, Most Valuable Player in 1984; Troy Stradford, AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1987; Tim Bowens, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1994; Dan Marino, Comeback Player of the Year in 1994.
Don Shula Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, Shula served as an assistant coach for George Wilson. He spent three years as an assistant coach to George Wilson, finishing as the defensive coordinator in 1962. During his time as head coach, seven assistant coaches, (Don McCafferty, Charley Winner, Bill Arnsparger, Monte Clark, Howard Schnellenberger, Dan Henning, and David Shula) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 198-312-9 in the regular season and 4-3 in the playoffs during their thirty-six seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs. The coaching tree has won a single championship, in 1970 by the Baltimore Colts, led by Don McCafferty.
Personal Information
Shula was born on Saturday, January 4, 1930 in Grand River, Ohio. He died on Monday, May 4, 2020 at the age of 90.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-1 |
| 1994 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 1993 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 9-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 1992 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 1-1 |
| 1991 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1990 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 1989 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1988 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1987 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 8-7-0 | 0-0 |
| 1986 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1985 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 1984 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 14-2-0 | 2-1 |
| 1983 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 12-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 1982 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 7-2-0 | 3-1 |
| 1981 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 11-4-1 | 0-1 |
| 1980 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1979 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-6-0 | 0-1 |
| 1978 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 1977 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-4-0 | 0-0 |
| 1976 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 6-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1975 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-4-0 | 0-0 |
| 1974 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 11-3-0 | 0-1 |
| 1973 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 12-2-0 | 3-0 |
| 1972 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 14-0-0 | 3-0 |
| 1971 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-3-1 | 2-1 |
| 1970 Miami Dolphins | Head Coach | 10-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 1969 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 8-5-1 | 0-0 |
| 1968 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 13-1-0 | 2-1 |
| 1967 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 11-1-2 | 0-0 |
| 1966 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 9-5-0 | 0-0 |
| 1965 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 10-3-1 | 0-1 |
| 1964 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 12-2-0 | 0-1 |
| 1963 Baltimore Colts | Head Coach | 8-6-0 | 0-0 |
| 1962 Detroit Lions | Defensive Coordinator | 11-3-0 | 0-0 |
| 1961 Detroit Lions | Defensive Coordinator | 8-5-1 | 0-0 |
| 1960 Detroit Lions | Defensive Coordinator | 7-5-0 | 0-0 |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 33
- Years as a coordinator: 3
- Championships won: 1968, 1972, and 1973
- Conference Championships won: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1982, and 1984
- Coach of the Year: 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972
- Led the league in wins: 1964, 1968, 1972, 1973
- First in total wins for the Miami Dolphins.
- Second in total wins for the Indianapolis Colts.
- First in winning percentage for the Miami Dolphins.
- Second in winning percentage for the Indianapolis Colts.
- First in total wins in NFL history.
- Most playoff wins in Miami Dolphins history (17)
- Past teams coached for: Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts, Detroit Lions
- College Attended: John Carroll Blue Streaks
- Family Members: Mike Shula, Father
- Date of Birth: Saturday, January 4, 1930 (90 years old), Grand River, Ohio
- Don Shula was the first coach/qb tandem (with Unitas) to utilize the QB bracelet.