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Ted Tollner
Ted Tollner
Ted Tollner
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Alfred Theodore Tollner (born May 29, 1940) is an American former football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1983 to 1986 and San Diego State University (SDSU) from 1994 to 2001,[1] compiling an overall college football record of 69–68–1. Tollner also was an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, including stints as offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

Key Information

Playing career

[edit]

Tollner attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he played quarterback. Tollner was on the 1960 Mustangs team that suffered a plane crash in Toledo, Ohio. He survived the plane crash; however, 22 people of the 45 people on board were killed, including 16 of his teammates.[2]

With the Mustangs from 1959 through 1961, Tollner compiled 2,244 passing yards.[3]

He was later a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. baseball team at the 1963 Pan American Games.[4]

Coaching career

[edit]

High school

[edit]

Tollner's first coaching job was at Morro Bay High School. He served for a year there before moving on to Woodside High School where he worked one year as offensive coordinator before coming head coach.[5]

College

[edit]

Tollner then coached at College of San Mateo from 1968 to 1972. He served as the offensive coordinator for San Diego State under Claude Gilbert from 1973 to 1980. He also served as the quarterbacks coach at Brigham Young (BYU) in 1981.

He became offensive coordinator of the USC Trojans football program under head coach John Robinson in 1982, and succeeded to the head coaching position a year later when Robinson stepped down to take an administrative post at the university.[6] During his four-year tenure Tollner compiled a 26–20–1 record. He led the Trojans to the Pacific-10 conference championship in 1984. That team defeated Ohio State in the 1985 Rose Bowl game. He was replaced as the USC head coach by Larry Smith after the 1986 season after going 1–3 in the UCLA–USC rivalry and 0–4 vs. Notre Dame in the Notre Dame–USC rivalry.

In 1994, he returned to San Diego State, this time as the head coach. He coached there for eight years. Tollner was known for scheduling a tough non-conference schedule including schools like Washington, Wisconsin, USC, Arizona, Arizona State and Oklahoma. His Aztec teams posted eight-win seasons in 1995 and 1996, the first time it reached that level in consecutive years since 1977. In 1998, his Aztecs posted a 7–1 conference record (7–5 overall), grabbed a share of the conference championship, and earned a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl. Overall, he led the Aztecs to a 43–48 record until his firing in 2001.

NFL

[edit]

Tollner served as the wide receivers coach for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1988. He served as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers from 1989 to 1991. He served as the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams from 1992 to 1993. In 2002, he then became the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers. After two successful seasons, he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2004. When Dennis Erickson was fired as head coach, he was not retained. In 2005, he became the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. When Steve Mariucci and several of his assistants were fired 11 weeks into the season, Tollner was demoted to tight ends coach for the remainder of the season.[7]

In late 2006, he was listed[8] as a potential candidate for the head coaching opening for the University of San Diego that later went to Ron Caragher.[9]

In late 2007 it was announced that he would serve as offensive assistant for the San Francisco 49ers in a late season attempt to revive the lacking offense. In early 2008 Tollner was named quarterbacks coach/assistant to the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers to get a permanent role in the organization again. On December 30, 2008, Tollner was dismissed from the 49ers along with running backs coach Tony Nathan and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

On February 4, 2009, Tollner was introduced as a part of the Oakland Raiders' coaching staff as he was named the passing game coordinator of the team. When Hue Jackson was hired as the Raiders head coach he dismissed Tollner and several others from their positions.

In 2011, Tollner announced his retirement from coaching.[10]

Head coaching record

[edit]

College

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
USC Trojans (Pacific-10 Conference) (1983–1986)
1983 USC 4–6–1 4–3 4th
1984 USC 9–3 7–1 1st W Rose 9 10
1985 USC 6–6 5–3 T–4th L Aloha
1986 USC 7–5 5–3 T–4th L Florida Citrus
USC: 26–20–1 21–10
San Diego State Aztecs (Western Athletic Conference) (1994–1998)
1994 San Diego State 4–7 2–6 8th
1995 San Diego State 8–4 5–3 5th
1996 San Diego State 8–3 6–2 T–2nd (Pacific)
1997 San Diego State 5–7 4–4 T–4th (Pacific)
1998 San Diego State 7–5 7–1 T–1st (Pacific) L Las Vegas
San Diego State Aztecs (Mountain West Conference) (1999–2001)
1999 San Diego State 5–6 3–4 T–5th
2000 San Diego State 3–8 3–4 T–5th
2001 San Diego State 3–8 2–5 7th
San Diego State: 43–48 32–29
Total: 69–68–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Junior college

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
San Mateo Bulldogs (Golden Gate Conference) (1971–1972)
1971 San Mateo 9–2 6–1 T–1st L California state large division quarterfinal
1972 San Mateo 6–4 3–4 T–5th
San Mateo: 15–6 9–5
Total: 15–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ted Tollner

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from Grokipedia
Alfred Theodore "Ted" Tollner (born May 29, 1940) is a retired coach known for his tenures as of the from 1983 to 1986 and the from 1994 to 2001, as well as his extensive career as an assistant coach in the spanning 15 seasons. Tollner began his football career as a standout player at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he served as the starting quarterback for two seasons and a pitcher for four, earning All-Conference honors in both football and baseball; he was also a survivor of the tragic 1960 Cal Poly plane crash. After graduating, he entered coaching in 1962 as a teacher and football coach at Morro Bay High School, then moved to Woodside High School in 1963, later becoming offensive coordinator and head coach there through 1967. From 1968 to 1972, he coached at the College of San Mateo, initially as an assistant before taking over as head coach. In 1973, Tollner joined as under Claude Gibbs, a position he held until 1980, helping the achieve a 10–1 record in 1976. He then moved to as quarterbacks coach from 1981 to 1982 before returning to USC in 1982 as under John Robinson. Promoted to at USC in 1983, Tollner led the Trojans to a 26–20–1 record over four seasons, including a Pacific-10 Conference title in 1984 and a victory in the 1985 Rose Bowl against Ohio State. Despite three bowl appearances, his tenure ended after the 1986 season due to inconsistent results against rivals. Tollner's NFL career began in 1987 as wide receivers coach for the , followed by stints as offensive coordinator for the from 1989 to 1991—where he was fired after one game in 1991—and quarterbacks coach for the [Los Angeles Rams](/page/Los Angeles_Rams) in 1992–1993. He later returned to the NFL after his SDSU tenure, serving in various roles including quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the (2002–2005), offensive coordinator for the (2005), quarterbacks coach for the 49ers (2008), and passing game coordinator for the (2009–2010). Returning to , Tollner compiled a 43–48 record as at San Diego State from 1994 to 2001, with notable 8–4 seasons in 1995 and 1996, though his teams were not invited to bowls despite strong Western Athletic Conference finishes. Over his college head coaching career, Tollner achieved an overall record of 69–68–1. He retired after the , concluding a coaching career that spanned nearly 50 years across high school, college, and professional levels.

Early life

Birth and family background

Alfred Theodore Tollner was born on May 29, 1940, in San Francisco, California. Tollner was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California.

Education

Tollner attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), where he pursued studies in physical education. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from the institution in 1962. Later, he obtained a master's degree in education from Cal Poly in 1965.

Playing career

College football

Ted Tollner served as the for the team from 1959 to 1961, starting for two seasons during his time as a student-athlete at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Over his college career, he accumulated 2,244 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, contributing to a program that had enjoyed consistent success in the late with a combined 59-18 record from 1952 to 1959. In 1959, the Mustangs finished 6-3, with Tollner seeing action as a in a backfield led by coach LeRoy Hughes. The 1960 season, however, was profoundly altered by a tragic plane crash that decimated the team. On October 29, 1960, shortly after takeoff from in —following a 50-6 loss to —the chartered C-46 aircraft carrying the team stalled and crashed, killing 22 of the 48 people on board. The victims included 16 football players, the student manager, a team booster, and both pilots, leaving the program in shock and forcing it to rely on transfers and walk-ons to continue. Tollner, then a 20-year-old junior seated toward the rear of the plane, was ejected from the wreckage during the impact; strapped to his seat with his foot caught in a footrest, he suffered injuries including fractures but was one of 26 survivors, many of whom required hospitalization. His survival, amid the chaos of fire and debris, allowed him to return to the field, though the emotional toll lingered, as he later recalled sensing tension from prolonged just before the crash. Despite the devastation, Tollner threw for 965 yards and six touchdowns in the six that season, providing leadership for a Mustangs squad that managed a 1-5 overall record. The following year, with 10 crash survivors including Tollner back on the roster, the team rebounded to a 5-3 mark in 1961; Tollner passed for 899 yards, helping stabilize the offense and honor the lost teammates through continued play. His resilience in the wake of the tragedy underscored his contributions to the program's perseverance during a pivotal era.

Baseball achievements

During his time at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), Ted Tollner competed as a on the team for four seasons from 1959 to 1962, earning All-Conference honors in the (CCAA). As a dual-sport athlete, Tollner balanced his baseball commitments with his role as starting on the football team. Tollner's most notable international achievement came in 1963 when he represented the as a on the national baseball team at the in , . The U.S. team secured a , finishing as runners-up to in the tournament's debut as an official medal event.

Coaching career

High school and junior college

After graduating from California Polytechnic State University in 1962, Tollner transitioned from his playing career to coaching as an assistant at Morro Bay High School in Morro Bay, California. Tollner moved to Woodside High School in Woodside, California, the following year, initially serving as an assistant coach in 1963 before taking over as head coach from 1964 to 1967. During his four seasons as head coach, he compiled an impressive record of 30–4–1, establishing a strong foundation in program development and player preparation. In 1968, Tollner advanced to the junior college level as an assistant coach at the , where he remained in that role through 1970. Promoted to for the 1971 and 1972 seasons, he led the Bulldogs to a 15–6 overall record, highlighted by the 1971 Conference championship—the program's first under his leadership—which underscored his emphasis on disciplined execution and offensive innovation in early coaching roles.

College

Tollner served as offensive coordinator at San Diego State University from 1973 to 1980 under head coach Claude Gibbs, contributing to the Aztecs' 1976 national championship in NCAA Division II. He then coached quarterbacks at Brigham Young University from 1981 to 1982, before joining the University of Southern California as offensive coordinator in 1982 under John Robinson. Ted Tollner compiled a 26–20–1 overall record during his four seasons as head coach at the from 1983 to 1986, including a 21–10 conference mark in the Pacific-10 and three bowl appearances with a 1–2 outcome. His teams won the Pac-10 championship in 1984 and finished no lower than fourth in conference standings during his tenure.
YearOverall RecordConference RecordConference FinishBowl Game
19834–6–14–3 (Pac-10)4thNone
19849–3–07–1 (Pac-10)1stRose Bowl (W, 20–17 vs. Ohio State)
19856–6–05–3 (Pac-10)T–3rd (L, 24–30 vs. )
19867–5–05–3 (Pac-10)4thFlorida Citrus Bowl (L, 7–27 vs. )
Total26–20–121–10–1–2
Tollner's eight-year stint at from 1994 to 2001 resulted in a 43–48 overall record, with a 30–31 mark in conference play across the (1994–1998) and (1999–2001), including one bowl appearance. His achieved back-to-back winning seasons in 1995 and 1996 but struggled in later years, with no conference titles.
YearOverall RecordConference RecordConference FinishBowl Game
19944–7–02–6 (WAC)8thNone
19958–4–05–3 (WAC)5thNone
19968–3–06–2 (WAC)T–2nd (Pacific Division)None
19975–7–04–4 (WAC)T–6thNone
19987–5–07–1 (WAC)T–1st (Pacific Division) (L, 3–28 vs. )
19995–6–03–4 (Mountain West)6thNone
20003–8–01–6 (Mountain West)8thNone
20013–8–02–5 (Mountain West)7thNone
Total43–48–030–31–0–1
Across both programs, Tollner's head coaching record stands at 69–68–1, with a .503 and a 1–3 bowl record in four appearances.

NFL

Ted Tollner's coaching career began in 1987 when he joined the as wide receivers coach, a role he held through the 1988 season under head coach . His experience developing passing attacks at the college level prepared him for this transition to professional football. In 1989, Tollner moved to the San Diego Chargers as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, serving in that capacity for the 1989 and 1990 seasons before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1991. However, he was relieved of his duties after the Chargers' Week 1 loss that year, marking a brief but intense stint focused on quarterback development with players like John Friesz. Following this, Tollner joined the Los Angeles Rams in 1992 as quarterbacks coach, where he worked with Jim Everett and the team's passing game through the 1993 season under head coaches John Robinson and Chuck Knox. After a period away from the , Tollner returned in 2002 with the as quarterbacks coach, mentoring during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was elevated to in 2004 under head coach , overseeing an offense that featured Garcia and featured backs like . Tollner briefly served as for the in 2005, working with and the team's struggling aerial attack before the season concluded. Tollner rejoined the 49ers in 2007 and 2008 as an assistant coach, including responsibilities as quarterbacks coach and assistant to the in his final year there, supporting Mike Nolan's staff. He concluded his NFL tenure with the from 2009 to 2010 as passing game coordinator under , focusing on scheme development for quarterbacks like and . Following his release by the Raiders after the 2010 season, Tollner announced his retirement from coaching in at age 70, ending a 48-year career that spanned high school, college, and professional levels. In retirement, he resided in Pacific Beach, , with his wife Barbara, and occasionally participated in speaking engagements, such as at local athletic club events.

Head coaching record

College

Ted Tollner compiled a 26–20–1 overall record during his four seasons as head coach at the from 1983 to 1986, including a 21–10 conference mark in the Pacific-10 and three appearances with a 1–2 outcome. His teams won the Pac-10 championship in and finished no lower than fourth in conference standings during his tenure.
YearOverall RecordConference RecordConference FinishBowl Game
19834–6–14–3 (Pac-10)4thNone
19849–3–07–1 (Pac-10)1stRose Bowl (W, 20–17 vs. Ohio State)
19856–6–05–3 (Pac-10)T–3rd (L, 3–24 vs. )
19867–5–05–3 (Pac-10)4th (L, 7–16 vs. Auburn)
Total26–20–121–10–1–2
Tollner's eight-year stint at from 1994 to 2001 resulted in a 43–48 overall record, with a 30–31 mark in conference play across the (1994–1998) and (1999–2001), including one bowl appearance. His achieved back-to-back winning seasons in 1995 and 1996 but struggled in later years, with no conference titles.
YearOverall RecordConference RecordConference FinishBowl Game
19944–7–02–6 (WAC)8thNone
19958–4–05–3 (WAC)5thNone
19968–3–06–2 (WAC)3rdNone
19975–7–04–4 (WAC)T–6thNone
19987–5–07–1 (WAC)1st (Pacific Division)Las Vegas Bowl (L, 13–20 vs. North Carolina)
19995–6–03–4 (Mountain West)6thNone
20003–8–01–6 (Mountain West)8thNone
20013–8–02–5 (Mountain West)7thNone
Total43–48–030–31–0–1
Across both programs, Tollner's head stands at 69–68–1, with a .503 and a 1–3 bowl record in four appearances.

Ted Tollner served as head coach of the Bulldogs football team from 1971 to 1972, following his earlier role as an assistant coach there starting in 1968. In 1971, Tollner led the Bulldogs to a Conference with a 6–1 conference record and an overall mark of 9–2, qualifying for the California playoffs where they finished 0–1. The 1972 season resulted in a 6–4 overall record.
YearTeamOverallConf.StandingNotes
1971San Mateo9–26–11st (Golden Gate)California JC playoffs (0–1)
1972San Mateo6–4——
Total15–6—(1 )Playoffs: 0–1

Awards and honors

Coaching awards

During his tenure as head coach at the (USC), Ted Tollner was named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 1984 after leading the Trojans to a 9-3 record and the conference championship, culminating in a 20-17 victory over Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. At (SDSU), Tollner earned the (WAC) Coach of the Year honors in 1998 for guiding the to an 8-4 record and a share of the conference title, marking one of the program's stronger seasons during his eight-year stint. Earlier in his career, Tollner received championship recognition as head coach of the Bulldogs, leading the team to a co-championship in the Golden Gate Conference in 1971 with a 9-2 overall record and 6-1 conference mark.

Hall of Fame inductions

Ted Tollner was inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, recognizing his contributions as an outstanding football and player at the university, where he served as starting for two seasons and for four seasons. Tollner was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association (CCCFCA) Hall of Fame in 1993 for his contributions as head coach at the . In 2011, Tollner was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame, honoring his tenure as a coach at the institution and his broader impact on the college's storied football tradition alongside figures such as and Bill Walsh. Tollner received further recognition in 2013 with his induction into the Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame, acknowledging his distinguished coaching career that included head coaching positions at USC and , as well as assistant roles with the and , and his roots as a graduate. In June 2024, Tollner was awarded an honorary by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, recognizing his accomplishments as an , coach, and volunteer.

References

  1. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/02/10/former-sdsu-chargers-coach-tollner-likely-hanging-up-his-headset/
  2. https://gopoly.com/honors/cal-poly-athletics-hall-of-fame/ted-tollner/126
  3. https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/alumni/Honorary-Degrees/Pages/ted-tollner.aspx
  4. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/ted-tollner-likely-will-call-it-a-career-after-47-years
  5. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2011/11/06/shooting-the-breeze-a-qa-with-retired-football-coach-ted-tollner/
  6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-09-sp-1657-story.html
  7. https://www.profootballarchives.com/coaches/toll01400.html
  8. https://fartheroffthewall.com/2024/10/29/no-14-ted-tollner/
  9. https://historysmc.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Tollner%252C%2520Ted
  10. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Ted_Tollner
  11. https://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/article39463149.html
  12. https://gopoly.com/news/2020/10/29/football-cal-poly-plane-crash-sixty-years-ago-a-look-back.aspx
  13. https://mustangnews.net/remember-the-mustangs-the-story-of-the-1960-football-team/
  14. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-oct-29-la-sp-cal-poly-crash-20101029-story.html
  15. https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-cal-poly-1960
  16. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/51931612/
  17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/1963_Pan_American_Games_%28Rosters%29
  18. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/ted-tollner-1.html
  19. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1984-schedule.html
  20. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/TollTe0.htm
  21. https://pro-football-history.com/coach/1740/ted-tollner-bio
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/04/sports/football-chargers-drop-coach-of-offense.html
  23. https://3c2asports.org/San_Mateo_Hall_of_Fame
  24. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39023640/
  25. https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2016/03/10/ex-sdsu-football-coach-to-guide-holiday-poinsettia-bowl-group/
  26. https://goaztecs.com/news/2001/11/12/tollner-to-assume-new-duties-with-sdsu-athletics
  27. https://www.scfafootball.com/cccfca/halloffame
  28. https://www.csmbulldogs.com/halloffame/ceremonies/2011
  29. https://abc7news.com/archive/8366504/
  30. https://news.collegeofsanmateo.edu/2011/09/csm-unveils-athletic-hall-of-fame/
  31. https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/02/18/former-49ers-raiders-assistant-ted-tollner-among-peninsula-hall-of-fame-inductees/
  32. https://www.calpoly.edu/news/cal-poly-report/2024/06/12-cal-poly-report-june-12-2024
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