Syracuse, N.Y. — Tom Coughlin was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame on Monday after a lifetime within the recreation of soccer.
The Waterloo native was ready to reside his childhood dream of taking part in and training in Syracuse earlier than changing into a two-time Super Bowl champion as head coach of the New York Giants. He was ready to return house to Syracuse for Monday’s ceremony to be honored within the place the place every part began.
“As a kid, the only thing I wanted to do is go to Syracuse University and play for Ben Schwartzwalder,” Coughlin mentioned earlier than Monday’s ceremony on the OnMiddle.
“I used to watch the ‘Ben Schwartzwalder Show’ every Thursday night on black and white TV at the time. And so even more and more excited just being here. What an honor it is to be part of this community and be recognized as such.”
Coughlin, 79, was a three-year letter-winner from 1965-67, taking part in on groups that featured Orange legends Floyd Little and Larry Csonka. He later went on to function a graduate assistant, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for Syracuse earlier than embarking on his NFL profession.
On prime of the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame, Coughlin is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his third 12 months on the poll. Along along with his two Super Bowl wins, Coughlin led the Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars to seven extra playoff appearances and completed his profession with 5 division titles.
Despite all of his NFL success, although, Coughlin credited his first head teaching gig at Rochester Institute of Technology for the profession he carved out for himself.
“I was 23 coaching guys that were 18,” Coughlin mentioned. “They weren’t receiving any money. They just wanted to play. So, the passion that they came to the game with, we were very mediocre, to be honest, but the players loved to play.”
The RIT program began off as a membership program when Coughlin arrived. By the time he left, it was a Division III varsity program.
“They took tough coaching,” Coughlin mentioned. “They tell me that that helped them in their careers in the professional world.”
Coughlin had three tables price of former RIT gamers in attendance Monday, together with former Syracuse teammates and different household and mates.
Since stepping away from the NFL, Coughlin has had the chance to be across the Syracuse soccer program. He not too long ago purchased a lake home in Lodi on the banks of Seneca Lake, simply 50 miles southwest of Syracuse.
Coughlin was on campus for Fran Brown’s spring teaching clinic, during which he was the keynote speaker. He was ready to get an intimate take a look at the Orange and preferred what he noticed as a complete.
“He’s the right guy for the right job,” Coughlin mentioned of Brown. “I love watching him coach. He’s firm, but he loves his guys.”
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