From the North Shore to the NFL
18 Questions with one of the area’s greatest all-time athletes, Swampscott’s Dick Jauron
By Gary Larrabee
Before Dick Jauron, there was Harry Agganis. That says it all in describing the athletic wizardry of arguably the two greatest athletes produced on the North Shore in the second half of the 20th century.
Agganis was a three-sport star at Lynn Classical, an All-America quarterback at Boston University, a first-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns and starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox before he died tragically from a massive pulmonary embolism at the age of 25.
A generation later Jauron, who was named one of the top 10 high school athletes of the 20th century in Massachusetts by The Boston Globe, emerged as a three-sport standout at Swampscott High who could have pursued a baseball career, but football was his calling. He became a Yale University All-Ivy and All America running back, an NFL great at defensive back, and one of the NFL’s most respected coaches at the assistant, defensive coordinator and head levels.
Jauron has experienced a remarkable journey in the world of football. After starring on two Stan Bondelevitch-coached undefeated teams at Swampscott High (1967-68), he set Yale’s career rushing record with 2,947 yards and was named All-Ivy League twice. He was drafted out of college by the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, but opted for the gridiron. A fourth-round pick by the Detroit Lions in the 1973 draft, he won a starting free safety job as a rookie and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1974. He played five seasons with the Lions and four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before retiring as a player.
Jauron then went into private industry for two years with Nautilus Sports Medical Industries before launching his NFL coaching career as defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills in 1985. That was followed by stints with Green Bay (defensive backs, 1986-94) and Jacksonville (defensive coordinator, 1995-98). He gained his first head coaching job with the Chicago Bears (1999-2003) and was named Associated Press and The Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to a 13-3 record in 2001. That matched the most wins ever by a Bears teams.
Jauron, 54, is currently in his second year as the Lions’ defensive coordinator under head coach Steve Mariucci. His family and career have come first, but he finally got around to playing some golf once he reached 40. The game is now one of his favorite escapes from the daily coaching wars.
North Shore Golf caught up with Jauron in between coaches meetings at the Lions’ new training site in Allen Park, Mich.
1. What are your fondest memories of your high school sports days at Swampscott High?
It’s not so much the games, but the people I was involved with; my teammates and my coaches; the camaraderie, the love we had for each other then and the love that’s grown over time. The wins and losses fade away, but the friendships last forever. That’s what I cherish the most; guys like Andy Rose, Lloyd Benson, Randy Werner, Sandy Tennant, Carl Kester, Tom Toner, Mike Lynch, the Brand brothers, Bill Adams and many more. I also got to play one year with my older brother Bob. That was special.
2. Do you remember much about the two undefeated football teams or your game-winning tip-in at the Boston Garden that gave Swampscott the Class B Tech Tourney championship in 1968?
Those games in the old Garden were unbelievable. Back in those days you just wanted, as a kid, to have the chance to step on the parquet floor where Bill Russell and John Havlicek were winning NBA titles. To play on the very same floor in that famous building was a thrill. What I remember most of those football teams is that we worked very hard, took nothing for granted and expected to win every game.
3. What have you carried with you as a successful NFL coach from your years playing for Swampscott coaching greats like Bondelevitch, Dick Lynch and Frank DeFelice?
With Coach Bondelevitch, it was all about attitude. He was an attitude adjuster, an environment creator. He gave his young players the best chance to win. He made us all expect to win; he made you feel special. Mr. Lynch (football and basketball) was more a disciplinarian, a tough coach, demanding. A perfectionist. He instilled in you the need to always work hard on fundamentals and the little things. Coach DeFelice (football and baseball) was hard-nosed, physically imposing, a disciplinarian. He made it clear what he wanted done at practice and in games. Mr. Lynch and Mr. DeFelice were Xs and Os guys. Stan was the motivator. It was no coincidence that we succeeded. We were well coached and prepared mentally and physically. They had a great staff that included George Pleau and Ron Corcoran.
4. How much influence has your dad, Bob, a fine college and high school football coach (now 86) in his own right, had on your coaching style and success?
I’ve never been around anybody who had the coaching insight my dad has. He is a great judge of talent, adept at knowing what has to be done to give his teams the best chance for winning, both when preparing for games and adjusting during games. He appreciates effort and is a tremendous teacher.
5. How and when did golf become part of your recreational life?
My wife, Gail, and my dad got me interested in playing. They both liked to play and I liked to be with them. I fell hard for the game once I turned 40 and I’ve loved playing with them, with anyone else, and even early in the morning by myself, ever since
6. What’s the status of your game currently?
My handicap is in single digits. I play whenever I can, sometimes well, sometimes poorly, like everyone else. But I always find a way to enjoy the experience.
7. Have you had many chances to play Tedesco over the years, despite the fact you’ve been playing or coaching in a distant NFL city?
I’ve played Tedesco with my dad many times. I loved playing there and just being around him and his friends.
8. Where do you play in the Detroit area?
I’ve played the TPC Dearborn, where they play the Champions Tour Players Championship and a public course called Lakes of Taylor. Both are outstanding golf courses and very challenging.
9. What are your favorite courses?
Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Black Diamond Ranch in Florida, Yale University, Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. I’ve played Pine Valley once. TPC Sawgrass is another. They’re all great venues. I’ve never met a course I didn’t like.
10. What do you remember best about your NFL playing career?
Same as when I was at Swampscott and Yale – my teammates. The trust and commitment we shared; the effort we made. The ups and downs of team sports.
11. How difficult was it to wait 14 years as an assistant before you got your head coaching chance with the Bears?
It wasn’t difficult in the least. I was in great situations and enjoyed every one of them. I’ve always tried to focus all my effort and attention on the job at hand and it’s worked out well for me.
12. How was the transition from player, to private citizen, to NFL coach?
Not difficult. I was fortunate to play nine years and make many friends and contacts in the business. I had an interesting two years away from the NFL working with Nautilus and Stairmaster. That break gave me a chance to step back and see what I really wanted to do after my playing career. That’s when I knew I wanted to coach.
13. What was your coaching path that took you to the head coaching job with “da Bears?”
Hank Bullough (ex-Patriots assistant) was my defensive coordinator in Cincinnati and was in the same role with Buffalo in 1985. Hank offered me a job there because Dick Moseley had gotten ill. When Dick came back I became the quality control coach, helping wherever I was needed. Buffalo has a great owner in Ralph Wilson. I really enjoyed my year there. It was a great starting point for my coaching career. After that year I got the chance to work for Forrest Gregg at Green Bay and stayed there nine years (working under head coaches Lindy Infante and Mike Holmgren as well).
Green Bay is where our younger daughter, Amy, was born and our older daughter, Kacy, celebrated her first birthday. Tom Coughlin brought me to Jacksonville to be his defensive coordinator in 1995 (through 1998). Tom and I had coached together in Green Bay. Tom did a great job in Jacksonville. We were in the playoffs three years out of four. That’s what gave me my chance to be head coach in Chicago.
14. How did you turn around the Bears after they had languished for so many years before your arrival?
There are no secrets to winning. It takes constant effort and teamwork. Everyone got on the same page – players, coaches, and management. It took us three years to put it together. Unfortunately it didn’t last.
15. Now you’re back with your first NFL team as defensive coordinator for Steve Mariucci. How does the team shape up for your second season?
Steve’s a great guy, a proven head coach. We were together in Green Bay. We’ve got great ownership with the Ford family, a beautiful new practice facility, a fabulous new stadium (Ford Field).
I love our staff and players on defense. We’ve got a good mix of veterans and young players on defense. We’re looking forward to a great challenge in 2005.
16. What are your impressions of what Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the Patriots have done the last four years with three Super Bowl victories?
They’ve got everything going for them. It’s a great organization headed by the Krafts. Bill runs a great ship and has the authority to make all the decisions he wants. Everyone seems to get along so well on and off the field.
We’re all chasing the Patriots. Tom Brady appears hard to rattle. He has such fine control of himself and his game. He has that special ability to diagnose, react, make the adjustments and make the play. He’s earned the status he’s got today as one of the best players in the NFL.
17. When do you hope to become a head coach again?
I love what I’m doing right now. I’m a big believer in living in the moment.
18. What other goals in life would you like to attain?
I’d like to be the best husband and father I can be, the best son I can be to my parents, the best brother to my siblings, the best friend I can be to others. I’d like to make my small corner of the world a little bit better by my presence…and I’d like to reach more par 5s in two.
