Sammy Weir

Sammy Weir
Biographical details
Born (1941-03-18) March 18, 1941 (age 83)
Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, U.S.
Alma materArkansas State College (1964)
Playing career
Football
1960–1964Arkansas State
1965Houston Oilers
1966New York Jets
1967–1968Orlando Panthers
1974Houston Texans
Track and field
1960–1964Arkansas State
Position(s)Quarterback, wide receiver (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1967Evans HS (FL) (JV)
1968Orlando Panthers (assistant)
1969–1970Batesville HS (AR)
1971–1972Arkansas State (WR)
1973–1974Lakeview HS (FL)
1975Lake Brantley HS (FL)
1976–1977Evans HS (FL)
1979–1980Lake Howell HS (FL)
1981UCF (assoc. HC)
1982UCF (interim HC)
1983West Orange HS (FL)
1984–1988Edgewater HS (FL)
1992Edgewater HS (FL) (OB)
1995–1996Walnut Ridge HS (AR)
2008–2011Salem HS (AR)
Head coaching record
Overall0–10 (college)
97–112–2 (high school)

Samuel Orville Weir (born March 18, 1941) is an American former college football coach and player. He was the interim head football coach for the University of Central Florida in 1982. He played college football for Arkansas State and professionally for the Houston Oilers and New York Jets of the American Football League (AFL), the Orlando Panthers of the Continental Football League (COFL), and the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL).

Early life and playing career

Weir was born on March 18, 1941, in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. He attended Walnut Ridge High School.[1] He played college football for Arkansas State as a quarterback and wide receiver from 1960 to 1964.[2] He was also a member of the track and field team where he was named MVP.[3]

After going undrafted in the 1965 NFL draft, Weir was signed by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL).[4] He was officially listed as a flanker and played in nine games where he recorded a single reception. He also was used as a kick returner.[1] In 1966, he was traded to the New York Jets, also of the AFL.[5] With the Jets, he played in eleven games before suffering a broken hand late in the season.[6] He was placed on injured reserve and was not retained following the season.[6]

In 1967, Weir signed with the Orlando Panthers of the Continental Football League (COFL).[7] In two seasons, he helped lead the team to an overall record of 21–5 and two COFL championships. He retired following the 1968 season.

In 1974, Weir briefly came out of retirement for the Houston Texans of the World Football League (WFL).[8]

Coaching career

In 1967, while playing for the Orlando Predators, Weir served as the junior varsity coach for Evans High School.[9] In 1968, he served as a player-coach for the Predators.[3]

In 1969, Weir earned his first head coaching position as the head football coach for Batesville High School.[10] He held the position for two years before joining his alma mater, Arkansas State, as the team's wide receivers coach. In 1973, he moved to Florida and served as the head football coach for Lakeview High School.[11] He led Lakeview to a 6–4 record in his last season.[12] In 1975, Weir served a one-year stint as head coach for Lake Brantley High School.[12] He rejoined Evans High School in 1976.[9] In two seasons he led the Trojans to an overall record of 17–5 and two conference championships before resigning after the 1977 season.[13][14] After not coaching in 1978, he was hired for his fifth head coaching position as he was hired by Lake Howell High School.[15] After leading the school to its first conference championship and an 8–2 record, he resigned.[16]

In 1981, Weir earned his second college football coaching position as he was hired as the associate head coach for UCF under head coach Don Jonas.[3][17] After one season as an assistant and following Jonas' retirement, Weir was promoted to interim head coach for the Knight's 1982 season during their first year as an NCAA Division II program.[18] He led the team to a 0–10 record before opting not to apply for the full-time position.[19][20]

In 1983, Weir returned to the high school ranks as the head coach for West Orange High School.[21] He resigned after one season to work for a business in Little Rock, Arkansas.[22] Not long after, in 1984, he began a five-year stint as head coach for Edgewater High School.[23] He finished his inaugural season going 0–10.[24] He resigned after the 1988 season. In 1992, he returned to Edgewater as the offensive backfield coach.[25] In 1995, after not coaching for the previous two years he was hired as the head coach for his high school alma mater, Walnut Ridge High School.[26] After one season he retired. In 2008, Weir was hired as the head coach for Salem High School.[26] He retired after four seasons with the school.[citation needed]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
UCF Knights (NCAA Division II independent) (1982)
1982 UCF 0–10
UCF: 0–10
Total: 0–10

High school

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Batesville Pioneers () (1969–1970)
1969 Batesville 5–5 2–2
1970 Batesville 6–4 3–1
Batesville: 11–9 5–3
Lakeview Red Devils () (1973–1974)
1973 Lakeview 4–4–2
1974 Lakeview 6–4 2nd
Lakeview: 10–8–2
Lake Brantley Patriots () (1975)
1975 Lake Brantley 3–7
Lake Brantley: 3–7
Evans Trojans () (1976–1977)
1976 Evans 8–3 1st
1977 Evans 9–2 1st
Evans: 17–5
Lake Howell Silver Hawks () (1979–1980)
1979 Lake Howell 4–6
1980 Lake Howell 8–2 1st
Lake Howell: 12–8
West Orange Vikings () (1983)
1983 West Orange 8–2
West Orange: 8–2
Edgewater Eagles () (1984–1988)
1984 Edgewater 0–10 0–7
1985 Edgewater 4–6
1986 Edgewater 1–9
1987 Edgewater 5–5
1988 Edgewater 0–9
Edgewater: 10–39
Walnut Ridge Bobcats () (1995–1996)
1995 Walnut Ridge 4–5 3–4
1996 Walnut Ridge 5–5 4–4
Walnut Ridge: 9–10 7–8
Salem Greyhounds () (2008–2011)
2008 Salem 1–9 1–7 8th
2009 Salem 6–4 5–3 5th
2010 Salem 1–8 0–7 8th
2011 Salem 9–3 5–2 3rd
Salem: 17–24 11–19
Total: 97–112–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ a b "Sammy Weir Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Sam Weir (1988)". Arkansas State University. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Carfield, Jim (February 14, 1981). "Committee lists problems; UCF names Weir assistant". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 36. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  4. ^ Rathet, Mike (August 22, 1965). "Taylor Cracks Whip as New Oiler Coach". The San Bernardino County Sun. p. 26. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "Pro Football Roundup". Pensacola News Journal. July 27, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Steelers Doing Turnabout, Lead NFL in Average Defense". Richmond Times-Dispatch. September 22, 1966. p. 41. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Hayes, Ed (October 23, 1967). "Weir Orbits Rockets". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 23. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Crossett, Richard (August 4, 1974). "Stalled Sports Clinic Will Begin Monday". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 73. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hamilton, Vivian (February 12, 1976). "Weir Hopeful Evans Football To Improve". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 46. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Buchalter, Bill (April 30, 1969). "Panthers' Sam Weir Heading Upfield To Arkansas Home". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 23. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Boeck, Greg (May 7, 1973). "Bits and Pieces". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 33. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Weir Move Surprise To Many Area Fans". The Orlando Sentinel. January 19, 1975. p. 64. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Hamel, Larry (January 5, 1978). "Weir resigns at Evans". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 155. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  14. ^ Jaffe, Rick (February 2, 1978). "Preisser returns to Evans". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 90. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Cush, Herky (January 31, 1979). "Howell hopes Weir can fix grid woes". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 144. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  16. ^ Loiacono, Jeannine (March 11, 1981). "Lake Howell High School". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 276. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  17. ^ Fisher, Marty (August 12, 1981). "Weir gets his wish — he can coach 24 hours a day". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 226. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  18. ^ Marx, Bill (July 13, 1982). "UCF coaching speculation ends". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 55. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  19. ^ Murschel, Matt (July 17, 2023). "A chronology of UCF football coaches through the years". Aol. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  20. ^ "The Knights Move Up to D-II". UCF Athletics. June 29, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  21. ^ Fisher, Marty (June 5, 1983). "Love of sports inspires coaches". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 40. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  22. ^ "Weir Departing". The Orlando Sentinel. January 20, 1984. p. 26. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  23. ^ Buchalter, Bill (September 19, 1984). "Weir pacing sideline again — this time at Edgewater". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 228. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Hipps, Tim (September 6, 1985). "Weir's new challenge — find Eagles a winning way". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 186. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  25. ^ Buchalter, Bill (May 7, 1992). "This reunion game has its Weir and tear". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 115. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Gartman, Jamie (August 24, 2008). "Former NFL player takes reins". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved June 24, 2024.