Larry Pasquale Larry Pasquale ( born April 21 , 1941 in Brooklyn , New York ) is a former American and Canadian football coach , and sports broadcaster . His 39 year football coaching career included jobs with multiple teams in the NFL , CFL , and several college and high school football teams . During his career he was regarded as one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL , earning Special Teams Coach of the Year Honors . After retiring from coaching , Pasquale enjoyed an eight - year career as a television and radio sports broadcaster . Early life . Larry Joseph Pasquale was born on April 21 , 1941 , in Brooklyn , New York ' s Methodist Hospital . As a child he grew up in Brooklyn with his parents , Mary Teresa and Joseph Pasquale . Mary immigrated to Brooklyn as a child from Sicily , Italy . As a youth in Brooklyn , Pasquale attended PS 97 , Seth Low Junior High School , and Lafayette High School . He played football in middle school and high school , where he earned First - Team All - City High School Quarterback honors . After graduating from Lafayette in 1958 , he attended Georgia Military College Prep School , and then attended the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut . Pasquale majored in Physical Education . At Bridgeport , he earned both Bachelor and Master of Science Degrees . He also completed graduate courses at Columbia University and Fairfield University . Career . Early Coaching Career . Pasquale began his coaching career at age 22 as a multi - sport high school coach in Chappaqua , NY , Greenwich , CT and Danbury , CT . He then advanced to a college football coaching career , with positions at Slippery Rock University , Boston University , the U . S . Naval Academy , University of Massachusetts Amherst and Idaho State University . Professional Football . Pasquale ' s first professional coaching job was for the Montreal Alouettes ( 1977 – 1978 ) under head coach Marv Levy ; the Alouettes won the CFL ' s top prize , the Grey Cup , in 1977 . In 1979 he then began a 22 - year NFL coaching career , with jobs at the Detroit Lions ( 1979 ) , New York Jets ( 1980 – 1989 ) , San Diego Chargers ( 1990 – 1991 ) , Philadelphia Eagles ( 1992 – 1994 ) , Jacksonville Jaguars ( 1995 – 1999 ) , and the St . Louis Rams ( 2000 ) . Career Highlights . Pasquale was named NFL special teams Coach of the Year in 1990 , and was nominated for the award again in 1995 and 1997 . He coached in the AFC Championship Game in 1983 , 1997 , and 2000 . In five seasons with the Jaguars his special teams unit scored ten touchdown s while only giving up only one in the regular season , and his special teams blocked 11 punts in his five years . While Pasquale coached the St . Louis Rams ' special teams in 2000 , Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins was perfect on field goals and extra points , and the Rams led the league in kickoff touchbacks . Also that season , punt returner Az - Zahir Hakim ' s punt return average led the NFC . While coaching the Jets , Pasquale had the NFL ' s number one ranked punt - coverage teams in 1981 , 1986 , 1987 and 1988 , and were ranked second in 1989 . In 1984 , the Jets also ranked # 1 in kick - off return team . Pasquale led the Jets to an 80 percent success rate on fake field goals and fake punts , while never allowing an opponent to convert a faked kick . Pasquale coached San Diego Chargers ' special teams to the top of the NFL in kickoff return average and punt coverage in his first season . During that season , Pasquale turned around a 27th ranked unit to first in the top four special teams categories ( kick - off , kick - off return , punt and punt - return ) . Pasquale ' s special teams scored more than 40 touchdowns in his career , while allowing only 4 blocked punts . Pasquale was a favorite of filmmaker NFL Films for his motivational speeches , which frequently made appearances in NFL Films ' highlight videos . Pasquale was co - founder of the NFL Coaches ' Association that helped bring better pension and health benefits for NFL assistant coaches , and instituted an interim pension plan ( Rule of 75 ) which provided coverage for coaches from ages 58 – 65 based on years of service to the league . Broadcasting career . After retiring from coaching , Pasquale began a broadcasting career as an analyst for the New York Jets on MSG Radio ( 2001 – 2002 ) , and then served as an analyst for " This Week in Football " on the YES network for seven seasons . Pasquale ' s " Coach ' s Class " video segment and weekly Jets and Giants game plan columns also appeared on YESNetwork . com .