Larry Beightol

Larry Beightol
Biographical details
Born(1942-11-21)November 21, 1942
Morrisdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 4, 2024(2024-04-04) (aged 81)
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
1961–1963Catawba
Position(s)Guard, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1968–1971William & Mary (OL)
1972–1975NC State (OL)
1976Auburn (OC/OL)
1977–1978Arkansas (OL)
1979Louisiana Tech
1981Arkansas (OC)
1983–1984Missouri (OC)
1985–1986Atlanta Falcons (OL)
1987–1988Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OL)
1989San Diego Chargers (OL)
1990–1994New York Jets (OL)
1995Houston Oilers (OL)
1996–1998Miami Dolphins (OL)
1999–2005Green Bay Packers (OL)
2006Detroit Lions (OL)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1979Louisiana Tech
Head coaching record
Overall2–8
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
Catawba College Sports Hall of Fame

Larry Beightol (November 21, 1942 – April 4, 2024) was an American football coach. He has been inducted into both the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (Western Division)[1] and the Catawba College Hall of Fame.[2]

Early years

Beightol played high school football at West Branch High School and college football at Catawba College. He obtained his master's degree at The College of William & Mary.[2]

Career

Beightol's coaching career began in 1968 at the College of William and Mary, where he served as offensive line coach until 1971. From there, Beightol moved on to coach at North Carolina State, Auburn, the University of Arkansas, the University of Missouri, and Louisiana Tech University, where he spent the 1979 season as head football coach. In 1985, Beightol began his National Football League (NFL) coaching career, where he led the offensive lines for the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Houston Oilers, and Miami Dolphins before joining the Green Bay Packers as offensive line coach in 1999 under Head Coach Ray Rhodes. When Mike Sherman became the Packers coach in 2000, Beightol was one of the few assistant coaches he retained from the previous coaching regime.

In early 2006, Sherman was fired by the Packers after a disappointing 4–12 season. The new head coach, Mike McCarthy, released much of the coaching staff after he was hired, including Beightol.[3] He was hired in late January 2006 by the Detroit Lions and new head coach Rod Marinelli to coach the Lions' offensive line. In January 2007 he was fired from the Detroit Lions.[4]

After his NFL career, Beightol served as an offensive line coach preparing college stars for the NFL combine, at Competitive Edge Sports (CES) of Atlanta. Beightol also ran a national football camps for high school stars in training.

Death

Beightol died of complications from heart failure, dementia, and diabetes, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on April 4, 2024. He was 81.[5]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (Southland Conference) (1979)
1979 Louisiana Tech 2–8[A] 1–4 5th
Louisiana Tech: 2–8 1–4
Total: 2–8
  1. ^ Beightol was fired with one game remaining; Pat Patterson coached the finale.[6]

References

  1. ^ "About the Chargers". Pittsburgh Press. November 19, 1989. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Eskenazi, Gerald (December 2, 1994). "Up Front, the Pressure Is on the Jets' Linemen. Just Listen to Their Coach". The New York Times. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  3. ^ "McCarthy gets settled in with Packers". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. January 14, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Lions fire Henderson, O-line coach Beightol, too". ESPN. January 3, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  5. ^ "Larry Beightol". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Patterson new coach; Beightol fired". The Times. November 13, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved November 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon

Further reading