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George Koonce
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George Earl Koonce Jr. (born October 15, 1968) is an American athlete, athletic director and collegiate fundraiser. A former linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), he served as the athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee between 2009 and 2010 before continuing his career in higher education.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Koonce has said he faced poverty as a child, born in North Carolina. His mother made less than $10,000 per year while supporting four kids. When Koonce found this out, he recalled his mother telling him "We may be broke, but we're not broken." While still encouraging her kids to participate in sports, Koonce said his mother also ensured he fulfilled his school requirements.[1] He has since become an advocate for education, calling education "the great equalizer."[2] During his time in the NFL, he would take college classes during the offseason.[3]
"One thing about football, it is day-to-day, play-by-play. You could be having the greatest season in the world, you never know when that might be the play that you get hurt," Koonce once said. "You have got to plan for those days that you are not playing - my mom and grandma always stressed that I save my money."[4]
Playing career
[edit]Atlanta Falcons
[edit]Koonce was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Falcons out of the East Carolina University, but was waived during the preseason.
WLAF Ohio Glory
[edit]Koonce started at linebacker for the World League's Ohio Glory in 1992.
Green Bay Packers
[edit]He was then signed by the Green Bay Packers before the 1992 season. He played for the Packers from 1992–1999. He was an eight-year starter as the Packers returned to dominance, starting 102 of 112 games. He played all three linebacker positions with the Packers, but injured his knee in the playoffs and – although he traveled with the team when they won Super Bowl XXXI – did not play in the big game.[5] He was suited up for all three games in the playoffs the following season, including the Packers' loss in Super Bowl XXXII, after missing the first 12 games of the preceding regular season.[6]
Seattle Seahawks
[edit]He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent before the 2000 season, and started all 16 games. After the 2000 season he retired with 720 tackles, 9 sacks, and 5 interceptions in 128 games (118 starts).
He said that, upon finding out his career was over, "it felt like part of me died ... I was completely lost."[7]
NFL statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | POS | G | GS | SK | INT | YDS | TD | LNG | FMB | FR | Yards | TKL | AST | AV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | GNB | LOLB | 16 | 10 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | GNB | LILB | 15 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 108 | 0 | 8 |
| 1994 | GNB | RLB | 16 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 27 | 9 |
| 1995 | GNB | RLB | 16 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 25 | 7 |
| 1996 | GNB | MLB | 16 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 84 | 1 | 75 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 69 | 28 | 12 |
| 1997 | GNB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1998 | GNB | LLB | 14 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 42 | 16 | 7 |
| 1999 | GNB | LLB | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000 | SEA | MLB | 16 | 16 | 1.5 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 74 | 23 | 6 |
| Total | 128 | 118 | 9 | 5 | 123 | 2 | 75 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 507 | 145 | 60 |
Post-playing career
[edit]He was inducted into the National Junior College Hall of Fame in 2000 and also the hall of fame at East Carolina University. In 1999, he founded the George Koonce Sr. Foundation to provide underprivileged children with educational, athletic, artistic and social opportunities to support their development. Koonce's post-career ambitions have been centered around the world of academics. Earning his Master's in Sports Management from East Carolina University and Ph.D. from Marquette University (one of only two players in Packers 100-year history to earn a PhD), Koonce has affectionately become known as “The Doctor of Defense.” He is a member of the NFL Player Engagement Advisory Board and has co-authored a book entitled Is There Life After Football? – Surviving the NFL. As of April 2025, he was Senior Vice President of the Office of University Relations at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.[9] Koonce serves as an on-air personality at Green Bay's CBS affiliate for Backstage with George Koonce, and Locker Room. In 2023, he was named to the board of directors for Horicon Bank.[10]
East Carolina University
[edit]He spent of two years as an Assistant Athletic Director for Development, assisting with fundraising and marketing of the department. He also earned his master's degree in Sport Management in 2006 from ECU.
Green Bay Packers
[edit]He served in the Packers front office as the Director of Player Development for the Green Bay Packers for the 2006 season. Koonce was still on the Packers Board of Directors as of July 2025.[11]
Marquette University
[edit]He served as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was responsible for fundraising, major gifts, community relations, and student welfare. He joined the Golden Eagles in 2007. He also pursued his Ph.D. in Sport Administration while at Marquette.
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
[edit]He was introduced as the new University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Director of Athletics on March 17, 2009, and began his duties on April 1. He was placed on administrative leave in April 2010, and his resignation was announced on June 2, 2010. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, "Koonce's resignation was related to the death of Koonce's wife, Tunisia, who died of cancer last October" and that "the death of Koonce's wife put (him) in the position of being the principal caretaker for his two children, ages 3 and 12."[12]
Marian University
[edit]In 2014, Koonce was hired as the Vice-President of Advancement at Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.[13] The university described his job duties as "growing awareness and increasing philanthropic support" within the region.
As of 2023, Koonce had been promoted to Vice President for University Relations. He also led the Dr. George E. Koonce Scholars Program, which helps fund higher education for youth from Milwaukee.[14]
Personal life
[edit]Koonce was inducted as an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma on July 19, 2025.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "George Koonce's Success Story at Marian University". YouTube. Marian University WI. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "From Poverty to Glory: George Koonce teaches life lesson". YouTube. NBC26. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "George Koonce's Success Story at Marian University". YouTube. Marian University WI. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "George Koonce Feature". Green Bay Packers. February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "Packers Lose Leading Tackler". The New York Times. January 6, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "George Koonce". www.pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "Former NFL Linebacker Finds Life After Football". Associated Press. June 5, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ "George Koonce". www.pro-football-reference.com.
- ^ "Koonce Scholars Raises $250,000 to Match Packers’ Gift"
- ^ "Marian University: George Koonce a natural fit with Horicon Bank Board". Wisconsin Business. July 28, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Packers Executive Committee & Board of Directors". Packers.com. Green Bay Packers. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- ^ "Koonce resigns as UWM athletic director". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. June 2, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- ^ "Former Packers linebacker is executive at Marian University". Star Tribune. March 22, 2014. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
- ^ Wegner, Mara (December 2, 2023). "Marian University's Dr. George Koonce selected for Black Excellence Award, and more news in weekly dose". The Fond du Lac Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ NFL Veteran and Academic Leader Dr. George Koonce Inducted as Honorary Member of Phi Beta Sigma
George Koonce
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background and childhood
George Koonce was born on October 15, 1968, in New Bern, North Carolina.[1] Raised in poverty by his single mother, Lina Koonce, in Craven County, he experienced the hardships of economic disadvantage firsthand, including limited resources and daily struggles for basic needs.[8][9] His mother supported her children on a modest income of less than $10,000 annually, emphasizing resilience and hard work amid these challenges.[9][10] From childhood, Koonce's family placed a strong emphasis on education as a pathway out of poverty and a key to perseverance, a perspective deeply influenced by his mother's advocacy for learning as an essential survival strategy.[5] He has personally reflected on this, calling education "the great equalizer" that levels opportunities regardless of background.[5] Lina Koonce further shaped her son's path by enrolling him in Pop Warner football at age nine, igniting his early involvement in the sport and providing a constructive outlet amid their circumstances.[11] Koonce attended West Craven High School, where he continued developing his athletic interests in football.[1]High school and college career
Koonce attended West Craven High School in Vanceboro, North Carolina, where he distinguished himself as a linebacker on the football team, paving the way for his junior college recruitment.[1] From 1987 to 1989, Koonce played linebacker at Chowan University, a junior college, emerging as one of the program's most notable athletes. In the 1988 season, he led the team with 131 tackles while helping the Braves achieve a 7-4 record, culminating in a 50-7 victory over Dean Junior College in the East Bowl championship game. That year, he earned Coastal Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and All-American recognition, securing a scholarship to a four-year university upon graduation.[12][13] Koonce transferred to East Carolina University (ECU) for the 1989 and 1990 seasons, starting all 22 games as a linebacker under coach Bill Lewis. Over those two years, he amassed 107 tackles—including 59 solo stops—along with eight sacks totaling 62 yards in losses and 18 tackles for loss, establishing himself as a defensive anchor. In 1990, he led the Pirates in tackles with 84 while earning Second-Team All-South Independent honors, showcasing his leadership on a unit that contributed to ECU's competitive performance in the independent conference.[3][14] Koonce's collegiate impact at ECU was later honored with his 2002 induction into the East Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing his standout contributions as a transfer player and team leader during his brief but productive tenure.[15]Professional playing career
Early professional teams
Following his college career at East Carolina University, George Koonce went undrafted in the 1991 NFL Draft and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons.[5][16] He participated in the Falcons' preseason games that year but was waived before the regular season began.[17][18] In 1992, Koonce joined the Ohio Glory of the World League of American Football (WLAF), a developmental league established by the NFL to expand the sport internationally and provide opportunities for emerging talent.[14] He earned a starting role as an outside linebacker for the Glory, who played their home games in Columbus, Ohio, and finished the season with a 1-9 record.[19] Koonce recorded 2.5 sacks, demonstrating his speed and tackling prowess in run defense and pass coverage.[20][21] These early professional stints, though limited to preseason action with the Falcons (no regular-season games) and a single season in the WLAF (10 games total), were crucial in refining Koonce's skills against professional competition and building his resume for NFL scouts.[5][22] The exposure in the WLAF directly paved the way for his signing with an NFL team later that year.[14][20]Green Bay Packers
George Koonce signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on June 2, 1992, following his stint with the Ohio Glory of the World League of American Football, an experience that honed his resilience for NFL competition.[2][5] Over his eight seasons with the team through 1999, he evolved from a backup linebacker into a reliable starter, appearing in 112 games and starting 102 of them.[1] As a versatile linebacker who played all three positions during his Packers tenure, Koonce primarily anchored the middle under defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur and head coach Mike Holmgren, contributing to a defense that emphasized run-stopping and coverage in the team's West Coast offense era.[1] His notable statistics with Green Bay included 554 combined tackles (434 solo), 7.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions returned for 113 yards and one touchdown, with a standout 1996 season where he recorded 3 interceptions.[1] These efforts helped solidify the Packers' linebacker corps during their resurgence as perennial contenders. Koonce's Packers career peaked with back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. For Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the divisional playoff win over the San Francisco 49ers, sidelining him for the championship game against the New England Patriots, though he traveled with the team and earned a ring as they won 35-21.[23][24] In Super Bowl XXXII following the injury-plagued 1997 season—where he appeared in only four regular-season games—he returned as an active contributor on special teams and in passing situations during the 31-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.[25] Koonce emerged as a defensive leader known for his blue-collar work ethic and quiet intensity, earning recognition as an unsung pillar in the locker room and a fan favorite for his consistent play that embodied the Packers' gritty identity.[26][17]Seattle Seahawks
In 2000, George Koonce signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent, joining the team after eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers where he had established himself as a veteran leader.[5][27] During the season, Koonce started all 16 games at outside linebacker, recording 97 tackles (74 solo), 1.5 sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown, five passes defended, and one fumble recovery.[1] His contributions bolstered the Seahawks' defense, which ranked 20th in the NFL in points allowed (24.1 per game), as the team finished 6-10 under head coach Mike Holmgren in his second year with the franchise.[28] At age 32, Koonce retired following the 2000 season, concluding a 10-year NFL career without a formal announcement but effectively ending his playing days as he was not re-signed.[5][27] In later reflections, he described the abrupt nature of such transitions, noting that many players like himself simply "fade away" without realizing their careers have concluded until opportunities cease.Career statistics and achievements
George Koonce appeared in 128 regular-season games during his nine-year NFL career, starting 118 of them while playing for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1999 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2000. He recorded 651 combined tackles (508 solo, 143 assisted), 9.0 sacks, 5 interceptions for 140 yards, and 2 defensive touchdowns, all from interception returns. These statistics underscore his role as a reliable inside linebacker who contributed to run defense and occasional big plays in coverage.[1] The following table summarizes Koonce's year-by-year regular-season statistics by team:| Season | Team | Games | Starts | Tackles (Comb/Solo/Ast) | Sacks | Interceptions (Yds) | Int TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | GB | 16 | 10 | 55/55/0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | GB | 15 | 15 | 108/108/0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 | GB | 16 | 16 | 103/76/27 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | GB | 16 | 16 | 74/49/25 | 1.0 | 1 (38) | 0 |
| 1996 | GB | 16 | 16 | 97/69/28 | 0.0 | 3 (75) | 1 |
| 1997 | GB | 4 | 0 | 10/5/5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | GB | 14 | 14 | 58/42/16 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | GB | 15 | 15 | 49/30/19 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | SEA | 16 | 16 | 97/74/23 | 1.5 | 1 (27) | 1 |
| Career | 128 | 118 | 651/508/143 | 9.0 | 5 (140) | 2 |
