Hudson Houck Hudson Houck ( born January 7 , 1943 ) is the former offensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League . A veteran of over two decades of football coaching experience , Houck was re - hired by the Cowboys after being let go by the Miami Dolphins . Houck retired on January 10 , 2012 . Playing career and coaching beginnings . Houck was a center for the Trojans of Southern California from 1962 to 1964 . He won a National Championship as a member of the 1962 team . He began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Crescenta Valley High School in California . Following two years in the United States Army , Houck resumed his role at Crescenta Valley . In 1970 Houck coached the freshmen team at Southern California , and after two years he became the offensive line coach at Stanford . There he coached the first Stanford 2 - time All Pac - 8 offensive guard , Alex Karakozoff and sent several players to the NFL including Gary Anderson , Bill Reid and tutoring eventual All - American and first round NFL draft pick Gordon King . Houck returned to his alma mater in 1976 , coaching the offensive line at Southern California . During this time , he helped send numerous Trojans to the National Football League including Marvin Powell , Pat Howell , Brad Budde , Anthony Muñoz , Keith Van Horne , Chris Foote , Roy Foster , Bruce Matthews , Don Mosebar and Tony Slaton , among others . This group helped lead the way for Heisman Trophy - winning running backs Charles White and Marcus Allen , in addition to another USC great , Ricky Bell , an NFL first - round draft choice in 1977 . Pro coaching career . Los Angeles Rams . Houck ' s first pro coaching experience came with the Los Angeles Rams , where he coached the offensive line from 1983 to 1991 . In his nine years with the team the Rams had 1 , 000 - yard rushers seven seasons , highlighted by Eric Dickerson ' s record - setting 2 , 105 yards in 1984 . During Houck ' s tenure , five Rams offensive linemen combined for 21 Pro Bowl appearances , including Jackie Slater ( 7 ) , Doug Smith ( 6 ) , Kent Hill ( 3 ) , Dennis Harrah ( 3 ) and Tom Newberry ( 2 ) . In Houck ' s final three years with the team , Rams quarterback Jim Everett threw for more yards than any passer in that span and did not miss a start . Seattle Seahawks . Houck spent one season as offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks in 1992 . Seahawks running back Chris Warren logged the first 1 , 000 - yard rushing season of his career with Houck tutoring his blockers . Dallas Cowboys . Houck spent the next nine years coaching the offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys . At times during Houck ' s tenure the Cowboys ' line was one of the most dominant in the history of the game . The 203 sacks they allowed in nine years under Houck were the fewest of any NFL team in that span . Six offensive linemen earned 22 trips to the Pro Bowl under Houck , including Larry Allen ( 7 ) , Nate Newton ( 5 ) , Erik Williams ( 4 ) , Ray Donaldson ( 2 ) , Mark Stepnoski ( 2 ) and Mark Tuinei ( 2 ) . Future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith earned a pair of rushing titles during Houck ' s tenure , and rushed for over 1 , 000 yards every season . Houck was also the assistant head coach from 1994 to 1997 . San Diego Chargers . With the San Diego Chargers from 2002 to 2004 , Houck transformed one of the league ' s worst offensive lines to one of the best . Running back LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for more than 1 , 300 yards in each of Houck ' s three seasons with the team . With five new starters on the line in 2004 , the Chargers ranked tenth in total offense and sixth in rushing . The Chargers allowed fewer than 25 sacks per season under Houck . Miami Dolphins . Houck was lured away from the Chargers by former Miami Dolphins head coach Nick Saban with a three - year contract worth $ 2 . 5 million . The contract made him the second highest paid offensive line coach in the NFL at the time , behind only Alex Gibbs with the Atlanta Falcons . During his first year with the Dolphins in 2005 , Houck ' s offensive line ranked fourth in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed , cutting their number in half from the previous year . In 2007 , Houck was reunited with then Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron . Houck and Cameron worked together in San Diego when Cameron was offensive coordinator for the Chargers . Return to Dallas . After the Dolphins ' disastrous 1 - 15 campaign in 2007 , Houck was fired along with most of the Dolphins ' coaching staff by incoming general manager Bill Parcells . Jerry Jones quickly re - hired Houck when Parcells hired Cowboys line coach Tony Sparano to serve as the Dolphins ' head coach . Personal . Houck attended Eagle Rock High School in Los Angeles , California . He has a son , Troy . His wife Elsie , has two children , Scott and Holly .