William ZZ Gutbrod
1925-01-22 2012-11-29
GUTBROD WILLIAM J. GUTBROD, age 87, beloved husband of the late Jean; dear father of Chip (Mary Jo), Lyn (Dan) Geraghty, Bob (Karen Barber), Mike (Helen), Tim, Mary Neff and Dave (Jess); grandfather of 15; great-grandfather of six; loving son of the late John and Nora Gutbrod; brother of the late Madeline Day, Marie McGuckin and John. Passed away Nov. 29, 2012. Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, Dec. 4 at St. Jerome Church at 10:00 A.M. Interment All Souls Cemetery. Family will receive friends at BRICKMAN BROS. FUNERAL HOME, 37433 EUCLID AVE. (WILLOUGHBY) MONDAY 2-4 AND 6-8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Gutbrod Scholarship Fund, c/o V.A.S.J. High School, 18491 Lake Shore Blvd., Cleveland, Ohio 44119 would be appreciated
Bill Gutbrod compiled a 268-107-17 record as St. Joseph's football coach from its founding in 1950 until 1990 while cranking out NFL players such as Brian Stenger, Richie Moore, Mike Zele, Bob and Mike Golic, Elvis Grbac and Desmond Howard.
Gutbrod, however, is best remembered for his motivational speeches and tough coaching style. He died Thursday morning in Bradenton, Fla., from a stroke after battling Alzheimer's Disease the past few years. He was 87.
His teams accounted for seven Crown Conference titles, five unbeaten seasons, a 25-game winning streak from 1962-64 and a Division II state championship in 1989. He also had a seven-year stint at Gilmour, where his career record improved to 310-135-17, and closed his career as an assistant at a handful of schools.
"'Gut' was one of the greatest motivators I've ever known," said Matt Chinchar, a two-way lineman for the Vikings and current assistant football coach at Glenville. "He'd always say 'you've got to go to college,' and was good at getting guys to further their education.”
Chinchar, who went on to play at Xavier University, referred to his former mentor as his second father since he was close friends and teammates with Chip Gutbrod, the oldest of Jean and Bill Gutbrod's seven children. Jean Gutbrod died in 1983 from cancer
"Bill was Willowick's recreation director when he gave me my first summer job," said Chinchar. "Bill was ahead of his time as far as weight training was concerned.
"I was lifting weights, over at his house, when I was in the eighth grade because he believed a stronger athlete made for a better athlete."
Highland football coach Tom Lombardo was one of Gutbrod's assistant coaches at Gilmour, and coached with him at Lake Catholic and St. Edward.
"I was a young coach, learning how to coach from a person who really knew his stuff and I tried to model myself after him," said Lombardo, who had Gutbrod on his staff his first two seasons at Highland.
Gutbrod was a fixture at St. Joe's. He taught physical education, biology, psychology and social studies, as well as serving as attendance officer and alumni and development director. A member of the school's Hall of Fame, he retired from teaching in 1990, the first year the school merged with Villa Angela Academy.
"I put Coach Gutbrod on the same level as Bo Schembechler," said Al Sincich, one of numerous Michigan players who also wore the Vikings' red and blue. "They both did a lot for me and epitomized the word class."
Gutbrod's hard-nosed and old-school style of coaching was often attributed to his World War II experience.
"He'd always say 'Where's the blood' and a lot of that was about sacrifice and dedication," said John Storey, Gutbrod's successor at VASJ after serving as one of his assistants.
Gutbrod didn't allow his players to practice with forearm pads until their arms were black and blue.
"He'd carry squeeze bottles, at practice, filled with ketchup and squirt them on your arms to stress the fact he didn't feel you were working hard enough," Chinchar said. "But I loved that man.
"We all did.”
Bill Gutbrod compiled a 268-107-17 record as St. Joseph's football coach from its founding in 1950 until 1990 while cranking out NFL players such as Brian Stenger, Richie Moore, Mike Zele, Bob and Mike Golic, Elvis Grbac and Desmond Howard.
Gutbrod, however, is best remembered for his motivational speeches and tough coaching style. He died Thursday morning in Bradenton, Fla., from a stroke after battling Alzheimer's Disease the past few years. He was 87.
His teams accounted for seven Crown Conference titles, five unbeaten seasons, a 25-game winning streak from 1962-64 and a Division II state championship in 1989. He also had a seven-year stint at Gilmour, where his career record improved to 310-135-17, and closed his career as an assistant at a handful of schools.
"'Gut' was one of the greatest motivators I've ever known," said Matt Chinchar, a two-way lineman for the Vikings and current assistant football coach at Glenville. "He'd always say 'you've got to go to college,' and was good at getting guys to further their education.”
Chinchar, who went on to play at Xavier University, referred to his former mentor as his second father since he was close friends and teammates with Chip Gutbrod, the oldest of Jean and Bill Gutbrod's seven children. Jean Gutbrod died in 1983 from cancer
"Bill was Willowick's recreation director when he gave me my first summer job," said Chinchar. "Bill was ahead of his time as far as weight training was concerned.
"I was lifting weights, over at his house, when I was in the eighth grade because he believed a stronger athlete made for a better athlete."
Highland football coach Tom Lombardo was one of Gutbrod's assistant coaches at Gilmour, and coached with him at Lake Catholic and St. Edward.
"I was a young coach, learning how to coach from a person who really knew his stuff and I tried to model myself after him," said Lombardo, who had Gutbrod on his staff his first two seasons at Highland.
Gutbrod was a fixture at St. Joe's. He taught physical education, biology, psychology and social studies, as well as serving as attendance officer and alumni and development director. A member of the school's Hall of Fame, he retired from teaching in 1990, the first year the school merged with Villa Angela Academy.
"I put Coach Gutbrod on the same level as Bo Schembechler," said Al Sincich, one of numerous Michigan players who also wore the Vikings' red and blue. "They both did a lot for me and epitomized the word class."
Gutbrod's hard-nosed and old-school style of coaching was often attributed to his World War II experience.
"He'd always say 'Where's the blood' and a lot of that was about sacrifice and dedication," said John Storey, Gutbrod's successor at VASJ after serving as one of his assistants.
Gutbrod didn't allow his players to practice with forearm pads until their arms were black and blue.
"He'd carry squeeze bottles, at practice, filled with ketchup and squirt them on your arms to stress the fact he didn't feel you were working hard enough," Chinchar said. "But I loved that man.
"We all did.”