Tom Beck (American football)

American football player and coach (born 1940) For other people named Tom Beck, see Tom Beck (disambiguation).

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Tom Beck
Biographical details
Born	(1940-12-21) December 21, 1940 (age 83) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1959–1961	Northern Illinois

Position(s)	Quarterback, halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962–1964	West Leyden HS (IL)
1965–1966	Lake Zurich HS (IL)
1970–1974	St. Procopius / Illinois Benedictine
1975	Northern Illinois (OC)
1976–1983	Elmhurst
1984	Chicago Blitz (assistant)
1985–1990	Grand Valley State
1991	Notre Dame (OC)
1992	Illinois (OC/QB)

Head coaching record
Overall	137–52–1 (college)
Tournaments	0–2 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 CCIW (1978) 1 GLIAC (1989) 1 MIFC (1990)
Awards
2× NAIA District 20 Coach of the Year (1972, 1974) 2× CCIW Coach of the Year (1978, 1980) 2× NCAA Regional Coach of the Year (1989–1990) GLIAC Coach of the Year (1990) MIFC Coach of the Year (1991)


College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2004 (profile)

Tom Beck (born December 21, 1940) is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Illinois Benedictine College—now Benedictine University—from 1970 to 1974, Elmhurst College from 1976 to 1983, and Grand Valley State University from 1985 to 1990. During his college football head coaching career, he compiled a 137–52–1 record, a .724 winning percentage. All three institutions where Beck coached had historically losing teams before he turned them into nationally ranked programs. Beck was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2004.

Beck played football at Northern Illinois University, where he started on offense, defense, and played special teams. He was the last two-way player in the history of Northern Illinois Huskies football. Beck was All-Conference on both offense and defense, an Academic All-American, and was inducted into the Northern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the athletic hall of fame at Elmhurst College, Benedictine University, and Grand Valley State University as a coach.

Beck served as the offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois University in 1975, at the University of Notre Dame in 1990, and at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1991. He coached one season in 1984 with the Chicago Blitz of the United States Football League (USFL) before the league folded. While head coach at Grand Valley State, Beck gave Brian Kelly his first coaching job as a graduate assistant. Kelly was Beck's successor at Grand Valley State in 1991 and is currently the head coach at LSU.

After his coaching career, Beck spent time as a scout for the National Football League's Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears. After scouting, he was an analyst for nine years for two different web sites, IrishEyes and Irish Today, that covered Notre Dame football.

Personal life

Beck is married to Joyce Beck, and has two daughters, Kelly and Laura, along with two grandchildren, Morgan and Thomas.

Head coaching record

College


Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
St. Procopius Eagles (Gateway Conference) (1970)
1970	St. Procopius	6–3	2–1	3rd
Illinois Benedictine Eagles (Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference) (1971–1974)
1971	Illinois Benedictine	8–2
1972	Illinois Benedictine	9–2
1973	Illinois Benedictine	7–3
1974	Illinois Benedictine	7–2–1
Illinois Benedictine:		37–12–1
Elmhurst Bluejays (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) (1976–1983)
1976	Elmhurst	2–7	1–7	8th
1977	Elmhurst	5–4	4–4	T–4th
1978	Elmhurst	8–1	7–1	T–1st
1979	Elmhurst	7–2	6–2	T–2nd
1980	Elmhurst	7–2	6–2	T–1st
1981	Elmhurst	8–1	7–1	2nd
1982	Elmhurst	6–3	5–3	4th
1983	Elmhurst	7–2	6–2	2nd
Elmhurst:		50–22	42–22
Grand Valley State Lakers (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1985–1989)
1985	Grand Valley State	6–5	4–2	T–3rd
1986	Grand Valley State	9–2	4–1	2nd
1987	Grand Valley State	7–4	4–1	2nd
1988	Grand Valley State	7–4	3–2	3rd
1989	Grand Valley State	11–1	5–0	1st	L NCAA Division II First Round
Grand Valley State Lakers (Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference) (1990)
1990	Grand Valley State	10–2	9–1	1st	L NCAA Division II First Round
Grand Valley State:		50–18	29–7
Total:		137–52–1
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth

References

Flemming, Gretchen (September 2, 2004). "Brian Kelly brings linebacker's heart & hard-working spirit to Division I". Assumption College. Retrieved June 15, 2010.

External links

Tom Beck at the College Football Hall of Fame

v t e Northern Illinois Huskies starting quarterbacks
Don Fortunato (1948) Bob Heimerdinger (1949–1951) Jim Harmes (1952) Paul Smith (1953) Ron Hicks (1954) Don Coulom (1955) Joe Plaskas (1956) Lew Flinn (1957–1959) Tom Beck (1960) George Bork (1961–1963) Jack Dean (1964) Ron Christian (1965) Mike Griesman (1966) Bob Carpenter (1967–1968) Steve Parker (1969) Terry Drugan (1970–1972) Bob Gregolunas (1973) Jerry Golsteyn (1974–1975) Pete Kraker (1976–1978) John Gibbons (1979–1980) Rick Bridges (1981) Tim Tyrrell (1982–1983) Darryl Taylor (1984) Marshall Taylor (1985–1988) Stacey Robinson (1989–1990) Rob Rugai (1991–1992) Scott Crabtree (1993) Aaron Gilbert (1994–1995) Brandon Barker (1996) Randall Foster (1997) Frisman Jackson (1997–1999) Chris Finlen (1997, 1999–2001) Craig Harmon (1998) Josh Haldi (2002–2004) Phil Horvath (2004–2006) Dan Nicholson (2005–2008) Ryan Morris (2007) Chandler Harnish (2008–2011) DeMarcus Grady (2008–2010) Jordan Lynch (2012–2013) Matt McIntosh (2014) Drew Hare (2014–2016) Ryan Graham (2015–2017) Tommy Fiedler (2015) Anthony Maddie (2016) Daniel Santacaterina (2016–2017) Marcus Childers (2017–2019) Ross Bowers (2019–2020) Rocky Lombardi (2021–2023) Ethan Hampton (2021–2022, 2024) Justin Lynch (2022) Josh Holst (2024)

Northern Illinois Huskies starting quarterbacks

Don Fortunato (1948)
Bob Heimerdinger (1949–1951)
Jim Harmes (1952)
Paul Smith (1953)
Ron Hicks (1954)
Don Coulom (1955)
Joe Plaskas (1956)
Lew Flinn (1957–1959)
Tom Beck (1960)
George Bork (1961–1963)
Jack Dean (1964)
Ron Christian (1965)
Mike Griesman (1966)
Bob Carpenter (1967–1968)
Steve Parker (1969)
Terry Drugan (1970–1972)
Bob Gregolunas (1973)
Jerry Golsteyn (1974–1975)
Pete Kraker (1976–1978)
John Gibbons (1979–1980)
Rick Bridges (1981)
Tim Tyrrell (1982–1983)
Darryl Taylor (1984)
Marshall Taylor (1985–1988)
Stacey Robinson (1989–1990)
Rob Rugai (1991–1992)
Scott Crabtree (1993)
Aaron Gilbert (1994–1995)
Brandon Barker (1996)
Randall Foster (1997)
Frisman Jackson (1997–1999)
Chris Finlen (1997, 1999–2001)
Craig Harmon (1998)
Josh Haldi (2002–2004)
Phil Horvath (2004–2006)
Dan Nicholson (2005–2008)
Ryan Morris (2007)
Chandler Harnish (2008–2011)
DeMarcus Grady (2008–2010)
Jordan Lynch (2012–2013)
Matt McIntosh (2014)
Drew Hare (2014–2016)
Ryan Graham (2015–2017)
Tommy Fiedler (2015)
Anthony Maddie (2016)
Daniel Santacaterina (2016–2017)
Marcus Childers (2017–2019)
Ross Bowers (2019–2020)
Rocky Lombardi (2021–2023)
Ethan Hampton (2021–2022, 2024)
Justin Lynch (2022)
Josh Holst (2024)

v t e Benedictine Eagles head football coaches
Unknown (1917–1920) Leo Rahak (1921–1922) Benedict Brauer (1923–1926) Robert Mastny (1927–1928) Aloysius Vanek (1929) Robert Mastny (1930) Bill Fuzak (1931) Jack Meluch (1932–1933) Robert Mastny (1934–1936) Julian Heim (1937–1942) No team (1943–1947) Milo Harshbarger (1949–1955) Thomas Loehman (1956–1957) James Rugheimer (1958) Henry Knight (1959–1962) Paul Amadio (1963) Fred Churchill (1964) Chuck Kurt (1965–1969) Tom Beck (1970–1974) Marv Carlson (1975–1978) Ralph Young (1979–1983) Bill Barz (1984–1989) John Welty (1990–1997) Rob Boras (1998) Jeff Hand (1999–2000) Mike Murray (2001–2002) Tom Mitchell (2003–2004) Jon Cooper (2005–2015) Josiah Sears (2016–2017) Brad McCaslin (2018) Jim Schroeder (2019– )

Benedictine Eagles head football coaches

Unknown (1917–1920)
Leo Rahak (1921–1922)
Benedict Brauer (1923–1926)
Robert Mastny (1927–1928)
Aloysius Vanek (1929)
Robert Mastny (1930)
Bill Fuzak (1931)
Jack Meluch (1932–1933)
Robert Mastny (1934–1936)
Julian Heim (1937–1942)
No team (1943–1947)
Milo Harshbarger (1949–1955)
Thomas Loehman (1956–1957)
James Rugheimer (1958)
Henry Knight (1959–1962)
Paul Amadio (1963)
Fred Churchill (1964)
Chuck Kurt (1965–1969)
Tom Beck (1970–1974)
Marv Carlson (1975–1978)
Ralph Young (1979–1983)
Bill Barz (1984–1989)
John Welty (1990–1997)
Rob Boras (1998)
Jeff Hand (1999–2000)
Mike Murray (2001–2002)
Tom Mitchell (2003–2004)
Jon Cooper (2005–2015)
Josiah Sears (2016–2017)
Brad McCaslin (2018)
Jim Schroeder (2019– )

v t e Elmhurst Bluejays head football coaches
Robert G. Leonhardt (1920–1921) Robert M. Hale (1922–1927) Fred McFarland (1928–1930) Ralph Curtis (1931–1932) Oliver M. Lanhorst (1933–1948) William Kastrinos (1949–1952) Joe Palmieri (1953–1955) Spud Owen (1956–1958) James Stone (1959) Oliver M. Lanhorst (1960–1962) Wendell Harris (1963–1973) Al Hanke (1974–1975) Tom Beck (1976–1983) Bruce Hoffman (1984–1988) Charlie Goehl (1989–1992) Paul Krohn (1993–2003) Tom Journell (2004–2007) Tim Lester (2008–2012) Joe Adam (2013) Ron Planz (2014–2018) Jeff McDonald (2019) No team (2020) Jeff McDonald (2021–2022) Mike Murray (2023– )

Elmhurst Bluejays head football coaches

Robert G. Leonhardt (1920–1921)
Robert M. Hale (1922–1927)
Fred McFarland (1928–1930)
Ralph Curtis (1931–1932)
Oliver M. Lanhorst (1933–1948)
William Kastrinos (1949–1952)
Joe Palmieri (1953–1955)
Spud Owen (1956–1958)
James Stone (1959)
Oliver M. Lanhorst (1960–1962)
Wendell Harris (1963–1973)
Al Hanke (1974–1975)
Tom Beck (1976–1983)
Bruce Hoffman (1984–1988)
Charlie Goehl (1989–1992)
Paul Krohn (1993–2003)
Tom Journell (2004–2007)
Tim Lester (2008–2012)
Joe Adam (2013)
Ron Planz (2014–2018)
Jeff McDonald (2019)
No team (2020)
Jeff McDonald (2021–2022)
Mike Murray (2023– )

v t e Grand Valley State Lakers head football coaches
Robert Collins (1971–1972) Jim Harkema (1973–1982) Bob Giesey (1983–1984) Tom Beck (1985–1990) Brian Kelly (1991–2003) Chuck Martin (2004–2009) Matt Mitchell (2010–2019) No team (2020) Matt Mitchell (2021–2022) Scott Wooster (2023– )

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