Categories
  • Players of Canadian football from Tampa, Florida
  • Sportspeople from Polk County, Florida
  • Toronto Argonauts coaches
  • Toronto Argonauts players
    •   Encyclosphere.org ENCYCLOREADER
      supported by EncyclosphereKSF

    Wally Highsmith

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 7 min

    Wally Highsmith
    Born: (1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 (age 81)
    Tampa, Florida, U.S.
    Career information
    Position(s)Offensive line
    Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
    Weight238 lb (108 kg)
    CollegeFlorida A&M
    High schoolRoosevelt School (Lake Wales, Florida)
    Career history
    As coach
    1980–1985Miami Edison Senior HS (FL) (Head coach)
    1986–1988Florida A&M (Defensive coordinator)
    1989–1993Texas Southern (Head coach)
    1994–1997Florida A&M (Offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator)
    2000Toronto Argonauts (Defensive line)
    2000Toronto Argonauts (Interim head coach)
    2006Selma HS (AL) (Defensive coordinator)
    As player
    1968–1969Denver Broncos
    1970–1971Montreal Alouettes
    1972Houston Oilers
    1973Montreal Alouettes
    1974–1975Memphis Southmen
    1976–1977Toronto Argonauts
    Career highlights and awards
    • Grey Cup Champion (1970)
    • 1974 All-WFL Team

    Walter "Buzz" Highsmith (August 27, 1943) is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World Football League (WFL), and National Football League (NFL) as an offensive lineman. Highsmith served as the head football coach at Texas Southern University from 1989 to 1993, compiling a record of 19–34–2.

    Playing

    [edit]

    Highsmith started his career with the Denver Broncos of the AFL, playing 23 games in two seasons. He next played with the Montreal Alouettes for two years and 22 games, winning the Grey Cup championship in 1970. He then headed to the Houston Oilers of the NFL, playing nine games in one season. Highsmith returned to the Montreal Alouettes in 1973, playing only one game. The Memphis Southmen of the new WFL called, and he played two seasons with them. He finished his career back in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, playing 21 games over two years.[1]

    Coaching

    [edit]

    After retiring, Highsmith remained in the Montreal area and worked as a physical education teacher in the West Island. In 1980, he moved to Florida to become a teacher and football coach at Miami Edison Senior High School.[2] He then served as the defensive coordinator at Florida A&M until 1989, when he became the head football coach at Texas Southern.[3] Over five seasons, he complied a 19–34–2 record and coached 22 players who signed NFL contracts, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.[4][5] He was fired after a 2–9 1993 campaign that included six consecutive losses to end the season.[6] He returned to Florida A&M as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He was fired in 1998 after the Tallahassee Democrat reported that Highsmith has possible violated NCAA rules.[7] He was the Toronto Argonauts defensive line coach in 2000 and served as interim head coach for two games following the resignation of John Huard.[8] In 2006, he was the defensive coordinator at Selma High School in Selma, Alabama.[9]

    Personal life

    [edit]

    Highsmith is the father of former NFL player Alonzo Highsmith and uncle of former NFL player Ali Highsmith.[10]

    Head coaching record

    [edit]
    Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
    Texas Southern Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1989–1993)
    1989 Texas Southern 3–7–1 3–3–1 5th
    1990 Texas Southern 4–7 2–4 T–5th
    1991 Texas Southern 5–5–1 3–3–1 T–4th
    1992 Texas Southern 5–6 3–4 T–4th
    1993 Texas Southern 2–9 1–6 7th
    Texas Southern: 19–34–2 12–20–2
    Total: 19–34–2

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ Swanson, Ben (February 19, 2021). "Mile High Morning: Looking back on Walter Highsmith's pioneering stint with the Broncos as the first Black starting center". denverbroncos.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
    2. ^ "Ex-West Islander Hurricane star". The Montreal Gazette. January 4, 1984. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
    3. ^ "Highsmith Named Southern Coach". The Victoria Advocate. January 25, 1989. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
    4. ^ "TSU fired football coach". The Victoria Advocate. December 21, 1993. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
    5. ^ Justice, Richard (November 18, 2010). "Cole's vision materializes for TSU". Houston Chronicle.
    6. ^ "Dean says he'll return to Florida". The Volusian. December 22, 1993. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
    7. ^ "GAMU assistant football coach fired". Ocala Star-Banner. March 28, 1998. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
    8. ^ "Mike (Pinball) Clemons named new head coach of the Toronto Argonauts". Canadian Press NewsWire. August 29, 2000.
    9. ^ Lyle, Wesley (August 24, 2006). "Opelika looking for QB". Montgomery Advertiser.
    10. ^ "Wally Highsmith Pro Football Stats, Position, College, Transactions". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
    [edit]
    This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally Highsmith
    Status: article is cached
    Encyclosphere.org EncycloReader is supported by the EncyclosphereKSF