 Bill Curry is an articulate and dynamic public speaker with a
commanding presence. Having played under three of the best coaches in football
history, Bobby Dodd, Vince Lombardi, and Don Shula, Bill Curry applies the
principles of motivation he learned from his prominent mentors. "I grew up in
very modest circumstances," he says. "I was always the last one chosen. I was
too short, I was too fat, I was laughed at by the other children. I was told by
people I wasn't good enough, that I would never make it at anything I tried. In
spite of these circumstances; however, I made an internal commitment to become a
person who succeeded through persistence. I had very little ability but a lot of
persistence. Just keep trying to find a way to succeed and you can do it."
A review of his achievements reveals that Bill Curry's
commitment to persistence has indeed paid off. Bill Curry was an integral part
of the team that won the 1965 NFL Championship and the very first Super Bowl in
1966. He was traded to Baltimore Colts in 1967 where he played for another
legendary coach, Don Shula. With the Colts, Bill Curry played in Super Bowls III
and V and was named to the All- Pro Team in 1971 and 1972. His ten-year NFL
career ended in 1975, following brief stints with the Houston Oilers and Los
Angeles Rams, when a knee injury forced him to retire.
Though retired from playing, Bill Curry did not retire from
football. Instead, Bill Curry began his coaching career at his alma mater,
Georgia Tech, serving as an assistant coach. After a three-year stint as
Offensive Line Coach under his old friend Bart Starr with the Green Bay Packers,
he returned to Georgia Tech in 1980 as its head football coach. During his
tenure at Georgia Tech, Bill Curry led his team to a 9-2-1 record in 1985 and a
win in the All-American Bowl. For his efforts, Bill Curry was named the ACC
Coach of the Year in 1985 by the Associated Press and the ACC Sports Writers.
From Georgia Tech, Bill Curry went on to serve as head coach at the University
of Alabama where he posted a record of 26-10, including one SEC Championship and
three bowl appearances during his three-year tenure. After posting a 10-1
regular season record, his 1989 Crimson Tide squad shared the Southeastern
Conference title and earned a berth in the 1990 USF&G Sugar Bowl. As a result,
Bill Curry was honored as the 1990 SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated
Press. He was also recipient of the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year award.
|
