Pro Career: Named the fifth head coach in Vikings history on January 10, 1992, Green is one of only seven people in the history of the league to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons as an NFL head coach. He also won two NFC Central titles in his first three seasons in Minnesota.

In 1994, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue appointed Green to the league’s Competition Committee.

His best coaching job may have come in 1993, when the Vikings qualified as a wild-card entrant with a 9-7 mark and won their final three regular-season games for the first time since 1974. In ’92, Green led the Vikings to their best record (11-5) and first division title under a first-year head coach.

He earned NFL coach of the year honors from the Washington Touchdown Club and NFC coach of the year honors from United Press International and College & Pro Football Newsweekly.

As receivers coach at San Francisco from 1986-89, Green developed Pro Bowl players Jerry Rice and John Taylor. Green’s first pro coaching opportunity came as special teams coach for the 49ers in 1979.

Green briefly played defensive back with British Columbia (CFL)in 1971.

Career record: 47-37

Background: A running back at Iowa from 1968-70, Green began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Iowa in 1972. He coached running backs and receivers at Dayton in 1973 then running backs and receivers at Iowa from 1974-76. Green worked with running backs at Stanford in 1977-78. He returned to Stanford as offensive coordinator in 1980 then was head coach at Northwestern from 1981-85. Green was named Big Ten coach of the year in 1982. As head coach at Stanford from 1989-91, he led the school to the 1991 Aloha Bowl, its first bowl game since 1986.

Personal: Born February 17, 1949 in Harrisburg, Pa., Green earned his degree in recreation from Iowa. He and his wife, Marie, live in Wayzata, Minn. Green has two children, Patti and Jeremy.

Assistant Coaches:

Brian Billick, offensive coordinator; born February 28, 1954, Redlands, Calif., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Tight end Brigham Young 1974 76. Pro tight end Dallas Cowboys 1977. College coach: Brigham Young 1978, Redlands 1979, San Diego State 1981 85, Utah State 1986-88, Stanford 1989-91. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 1992.

Foge Fazio, defensive coordinator; born February 28, 1939, Dawmont, W.Va., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Linebacker-center Pittsburgh 1957-60. No pro playing experience. College coach:Boston University 1967, Harvard 1968, Pittsburgh 1969-72, 1977-81, 1982-85 (head coach), Cincinnati 1973-76, Notre Dame 1986-87. Pro coach:Atlanta Falcons 1988-89, New York Jets 1990-94, joined Vikings in 1995.

Jeff Friday, assistant strength and conditioning; born October 11, 1966, Milwaukee, Wis., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Illinois State 1991-92, Northwestern 1992-95. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 1996.

Carl Hargrave, running backs; born November 8, 1954, Frankfurt, Germany, lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Defensive back Upper Iowa 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Upper Iowa 1977-80, Northwestern 1981-85, Pittsburgh 1986, Houston 1987-91, Iowa 1992-93. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 1994.

John Levra, defensive line; born October 2, 1937, Arma, Kan., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Guard-linebacker Pittsburg (Kan.)State 1963-65. No pro playing experience. College coach:New Mexico Highlands 1966-70, Stephen F. Austin 1971-74, Kansas 1975-78, North Texas State 1979. Pro coach: British Columbia Lions (CFL) 1980, New Orleans Saints 1981-85, Chicago Bears 1986-92, Denver Broncos 1993-94, joined Vikings in 1995.

Chip Myers, wide receivers; born July 9, 1945, Panama City, Fla., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Receiver Northwestern Oklahoma 1964-66. Pro receiver San Francisco 49ers 1967, Cincinnati Bengals 1969-76. College coach:Illinois 1980-82. Pro coach:Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1983-84, Indianapolis Colts 1985-88, New York Jets 1990-93, New Orleans Saints 1994, joined Vikings in 1995.

Tom Olivadotti, inside linebackers; born September 22, 1945, Long Branch, N.J., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Defensive back-wide receiver Upsala 1963-66. No pro playing experience. College coach: Princeton 1975-77, Boston College 1978-79, Miami 1980-83. Pro coach: Cleveland Browns 1985-86, Miami Dolphins 1987-95, joined Vikings in 1996.

Keith Rowen, offensive line; born September 2, 1952, New York, N.Y., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Offensive tackle Stanford 1972-74. No pro playing experience. College coach: Stanford 1975-76, Long Beach State 1977-78, Arizona 1979-82. Pro coach: Boston/New Orleans Breakers (USFL) 1983-84, Cleveland Browns 1984, Indianapolis Colts 1985-88, New England Patriots 1989, Atlanta Falcons 1990 93, joined Vikings in 1994.

Ray Sherman, quarterbacks; born November 27, 1951, Berkeley, Calif., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Wide receiver Laney (Calif.) J.C. 1969-70, Fresno State 1971-72. Pro defensive back Green Bay Packers 1973. College coach:San Jose State 1974, California 1975, 1981, Michigan State 1976-77, Wake Forest 1978-80, Purdue 1982-85, Georgia 1986-87. Pro coach:Houston Oilers 1988-89, San Francisco 49ers 1991-93, New York Jets 1994, joined Vikings in 1995.

Richard Solomon, defensive backs; born December 8, 1949, New Orleans, La., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Running back-defensive back Iowa 1970-73. No pro playing experience. College coach: Dubuque 1973-75, Southern Illinois 1976, Iowa 1977-78, Syracuse 1979, Illinois 1980-86. Pro coach: New York Giants 1987-91 (scout), joined Vikings in 1992.

Mike Tice, tight ends; born February 2, 1959, Bayshore, N.Y., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Quarterback Maryland 1977-80. Pro tight end Seattle Seahawks 1981-88, 1990-91, Washington Redskins 1989, Minnesota Vikings 1992-93, 1995. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 1996.

Trent Walters, outside linebackers; born November 20, 1943, Knoxville, Tenn., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Defensive back Indiana 1963-65. Pro defensive back Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) 1966-67. College coach: Indiana 1968-71, Louisville 1972, Indiana 1973-80, Washington 1981-83, Pittsburgh 1985, Louisville 1986-90, Texas A&M 1991-93. Pro coach: Cincinnati Bengals 1984, joined Vikings in 1994.

Steve Wetzel, strength and conditioning; born May 11, 1963, Washington D.C., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. No college or pro playing experience. College coach: Maryland 1985-89, George Mason 1990. Pro coach: Washington Redskins 1990-91, joined Vikings in 1992.

Gary Zauner, special teams; born November 2, 1950, Milwaukee, Wis., lives in Eden Prairie, Minn. Kicker Wisconsin-LaCrosse 1968-72. No pro playing experience. College coach: Brigham Young 1979 80, San Diego State 1981-86, New Mexico 1987-88, Long Beach State 1990-91. Pro coach: Joined Vikings in 1994.

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