John Idzik John J . Idzik ( born June 25 , 1928 ) is an American former football coach . He was the head coach of the University of Detroit football team until the school discontinued its program in 1964 . He held assistant coaching positions at the University of Tennessee , University of Maryland , Tulane University , in the National Football League ( NFL ) with the Miami Dolphins , Baltimore Colts , Philadelphia Eagles , New York Jets , and in the Canadian Football League ( CFL ) with the Ottawa Rough Riders . Idzik played college football at the University of Maryland . Early life and college . Idzik , a native of Bridesburg in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , attended Northeast Catholic High School , where the " Philadelphia Daily News " described him as " one of this city ' s top high school football players " . In After the 1945 season he was selected as a 1st team All - Scholastic back by the Philadelphia Bulletin which honored the best high school players in the 5 county area in and around Philadelphia . He was also voted to the Coaches All - Catholic League team in 1944 ( 2nd team ) and 1945 ( 1st team ) . Idzik was also the catcher for North Catholic ' s City Championship baseball team of 1945 . After graduating high school in 1946 he enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1947 . Idzik played on the football team and was a 4 year letterman as a back from 1947 to 1950 . Idzik was also invited to play for the South squad in the third annual Mahi Shrine North - South College All - Star Football Classic , a charity game held on Christmas night at Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami . The 1951 yearbook , " The Terrapin " , described Idzik as a " backfield bulwark who was demon on defense — Could have starred on offense but was defensive necessity . Saved more touchdowns than most backs scored " He also played varsity baseball for the University of Maryland . He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity . Idzik graduated from Maryland in 1951 . Coaching career . In 1954 , the University of Tennessee hired Idzik as an assistant football coach for its freshman team . Having played college football under Jim Tatum , Idzik was the split - T expert on the Tennessee staff . He resigned in February 1955 to take a job with the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League . At Ottawa , he served as the backfield and top assistant coach under head coach Chan Caldwell . The two personalities clashed however , which resulted in Idzik ' s dismissal midseason in October . The disagreements , over play - calling and which players to dress , began after the first preseason game in early August and resulted in three meetings between the parties and the club management , the last of which was called at the request of the team ' s players . Idzik accepted payment of a year ' s salary of $ 7 , 000 upon his termination . In January 1956 , Idzik was hired as the line coach at his alma mater , to work under Tommy Mont , who had been promoted to head coach after Jim Tatum ' s departure . He served in that capacity for three seasons . Detroit . After Maryland , Idzik moved on to take an assistant coaching position at the University of Detroit . He worked as backfield coach under Jim Miller for three seasons , until promoted to head coach in 1962 . He replaced Miller who had resigned to take over at Boston College . As head coach , Detroit failed to achieve a winning season and Idzik amassed a record of 6 – 21 – 1 . At the time of his hiring , Detroit indicated that it might discontinue its football program if its gate receipts did not improve . After the 1964 season , the university terminated its sponsorship of the sport . Idzik sued the school for $ 15 , 000 in a breach of contract suit . Half of the requested amount consisted was for " services rendered " and the other half for damages . In July 1965 , Idzik and the University of Detroit came to an agreement under which he was awarded $ 1 , 400 . He was then hired as the chief offensive coach at Tulane University . Idzik was considered a candidate for the Tulane head coach post after Tommy O ' Boyle resigned , but the job ultimately went to Jim Pittman . NFL assistant coach . Idzik then moved on to the National Football League , where he joined the staff of the Miami Dolphins as its backfield coach . He convinced the staff to select halfback Jim Kiick in the 1969 NFL Draft . In contrast to some of the other staff members earlier assessments , Idzik said , " He ' s not slow . He has got good speed and power and balance and a good head on his shoulders . " In 1967 , Idzik was a frontrunner for the vacant head coaching job at his alma mater , which went instead to fellow alumnus Bob Ward . In 1970 , he was hired by the Baltimore Colts as its offensive backfield coach . He was on the staff that guided Baltimore to win Super Bowl V after the 1970 season . On December 20 , 1972 , Colts general manager Joe Thomas , who wanted " a new approach , a new look , " dismissed the entire coaching staff including Idzik and interim head coach John Sandusky . Idzik and Sandusky were subsequently hired as assistants by the Philadelphia Eagles in January 1973 . After the Eagles posted a 4 – 10 record in 1976 , Idzik resigned as offensive coordinator , as did defensive coordinator John Mazur . The New York Jets hired both Idzik and Mazur in February 1977 . With the Jets , he was responsible for the development of quarterbacks Richard Todd and Matt Robinson . As part of the New York staff , Idzik coached as the offensive coordinator in the 1978 Senior Bowl . In 1978 , Idzik expressed an interest in the vacant head coaching position with the New York Giants , but he did not receive the job . Idzik resigned from the Jets after the 1979 season . The Associated Press reported that he did not get along with head coach Walt Michaels , and that he favored embattled quarterback Richard Todd over back - up Matt Robinson . He returned to the Baltimore Colts for the 1980 season . In 1982 , Frank Kush took over as head coach and dismissed the entire staff . After his coaching career , he and his wife lived in Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania . In 1990 , he intended to return from retirement to become head coach of the Rome franchise of the new International League of American Football , but the league folded before its first season . Personal life . His son , John Idzik , Jr . , has held front office positions in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks , and currently is the general manager of the New York Jets .