Head Coach: Bill Cowher
Pro Career: Begins his sixth season as the fifteenth head coach in Steelers' history, replacing Chuck Noll on January 21, 1992. Cowher led the Steelers, to an 11-5 regular-season record in 1995 and, at age 38, became the youngest coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.
Cowher is only the third coach in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs during his first five seasons as head coach. During Cowher's 12-year coaching career, teams he has been associated with have made the postseason 11 times.
Began his NFL career as a free-agent linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979, and then signed with the Cleveland Browns the following year. Cowher played three seasons (1980-82) in Cleveland before being traded back to the Eagles, where he played two more years (1983-84).
Cowher began his coaching career in 1985 at age 28 under Marty Schottenheimer with the Cleveland Browns. He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985-86 and secondary coach in 1987-88 before following Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 as defensive coordinator.
Career record: 58-33
Background: Excelled in football, basketball, and track for Carlynton High in Carnegie, Pa. Was a
three-year starter at linebacker for North Carolina State, serving as captain and earning team MVP
honors as senior. Graduated in 1979 with education degree.
Personal: Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 8, 1957. His wife Kaye, also a North Carolina State graduate, played professional basketball for the New York Stars of the Women’s Professional Basketball League with twin sister Faye. Bill and Kaye live in Pittsburgh and have three daughters—Meagan Lyn, Lauren Marie, and Lindsay Morgan.
Mike Archer, linebackers; born July 26, 1953, State College, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Safety/punter Miami 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Miami 1978-83, Louisiana State 1984-90, Virginia 1991-92, Kentucky 1993-95. Pro coach: Joined the Steelers in 1996.
Dave Culley, receivers; born September 17, 1955, Sparta, Tenn., lives in Pittsburgh. Quarterback Vanderbilt 1973-77. No pro playing experience. College coach: Austin Peay 1978, Vanderbilt 1979-81, Middle Tennessee State 1982, Tennessee-Chattanooga 1983, Western Kentucky 1984, Southwestern Louisiana 1985-88, Texas-El Paso 1989-90, Texas A&M 1991-93. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1994-95, joined Steelers in 1996.
Offensive coordinator; VACANT
Jim Haslett, defensive coordinator; born Decenber 9, 1955, Pittsburgh, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive end Indiana University (Pa.) 1975-78. Linebacker Buffalo Bills 1979-86, New York Jets 1987. College coach: Buffalo 1988-90. Pro coach: Sacramento Surge (World League) 1991-92, Los Angeles Raiders 1993-94, New Orleans Saints 1995-96, joined Steelers in 1997.
Dick Hoak, running backs; born December 8, 1939, Jeannette, Pa., lives in Greensburg, Pa. Halfback-quarterback Penn State 1958-60. Pro running back Pittsburgh Steelers 1961-70. Pro coach: Joined Steelers in 1972.
Jim Lewis, defensive backs; born December 18, 1961, Quakertown, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive back Pittsburgh 1979-82. Pro cornerback Green Bay Packers 1983-86. College coach: Texas A&M 1987-88, Southern Methodist 1989-92, Pittsburgh 1993-94. Pro coach: Joined Steelers in 1995.
Mike Mularkey, tight ends; born November 19, 1961, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., lives in Pittsburgh. Tight end Florida 1979-82. Pro tight end Minnesota Vikings 1983-88, Pittsburgh Steelers 1989-91. College coach: Concordia 1993. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1994-95, joined Steelers in 1996.
John Mitchell, defensive line; born October 14, 1951, Mobile, Ala., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive end Eastern Arizona J.C. 1969-70, Alabama 1971-72. No pro playing experience. College coach: Alabama 1973-76, Arkansas 1977-82, Temple 1986, Louisiana State 1987-90. Pro coach: Birmingham Stallions (USFL) 1983-85, Cleveland Browns 1991-93, joined Steelers in 1994.
Kent Stephenson, offensive line; born February 4, 1942, Anita, Iowa, lives in Pittsburgh. Guard-nose tackle Northern Iowa 1962-64. No pro playing experience. College coach: Wayne State 1965-68, North Dakota 1969-71, Southern Methodist 1972-73, Iowa 1974-76, Oklahoma State 1977-78, Kansas 1979-82. Pro coach: Michigan Panthers (USFL) 1983-84, Seattle Seahawks 1985-91, joined Steelers in 1992.
Ron Zook, special teams; born April 28, 1954, Ashland, Ohio, lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive back Miami (Ohio) 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Murray State 1978-80, Cincinnati 1981-82, Kansas 1983, Tennessee 1984-86, Virginia Tech 1987, Ohio State 1988-90, Florida 1991-95. Pro coach: Joined the Steelers in 1996.
