Former NFL coach Arnsparger joins football staff as part-time assistant

Arnsparger

Bill Arnsparger, the architect of the Miami Dolphins' "No-Name Defense" in the early 1970s and a former National Football League head coach, has joined the Cornell football staff as a part-time assistant coach, first-year head coach Pete Mangurian announced May 7.

Arnsparger, who retired from the NFL following the 1994 season, will coach the Big Red's special teams in 1998.

"We are very excited to have a coach of the caliber of Bill Arnsparger join our staff," said Mangurian. "He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the position. As one of the top defensive minds in the country, Bill will be an invaluable member of our staff as we build our program here at Cornell."

A 23-year veteran of the NFL, Arnsparger was the defensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers from 1992 to 1994, retiring after the Chargers played in Super Bowl XXIX. In his first year with San Diego, Arnsparger's defense held its opponents to 241 points, 101 fewer than in 1991. The Chargers' defense was ranked second in its conference and fourth in the NFL in 1992.

Arnsparger began his NFL career in 1964 with the Baltimore Colts, where he coached until 1970, when he followed Don Shula to Miami. He left the Dolphins in 1974 to become head coach of the New York Giants, a post he held until midway through the 1976 season, when he rejoined Shula's staff in Miami.

Arnsparger built the Dolphins' defense into one of the most feared in NFL history in the 1970s and later developed the "Killer Bs" defense in the early 1980s. He coached in five Super Bowls, including Super Bowl VIII in which he received the game ball.

In 1984, Arnsparger left the Dolphins to become head coach at Louisiana State, where he guided the Tigers to one Southeastern Conference championship, two Sugar Bowl appearances and a Liberty Bowl berth from 1984 to 1986.

Arnsparger obtained a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in school administration from the University of Miami at Ohio.

Arnsparger and his wife, Betty Jane (B.J.), have a son, David, and a daughter, Mary Susan. David joined the Cornell coaching staff in March as defensive secondary coach.