Jim Koetter

American football player and coach
Jim Koetter
Biographical details
Bornc. 1938 (age 85–86)
McCook, Nebraska, U.S.
Playing career
1958–1959Idaho State
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961–1962Aberdeen HS (ID)
1963–1964Highland HS (ID) (assistant)
1965–1979Highland HS (ID)
1980–1982Idaho State (assistant)
1983–1987Idaho State
Head coaching record
Overall23–32–1 (college)

Jim J. Koetter (born c. 1938) is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach of the Idaho State Bengals football team from 1983 to 1987.

Biography

A native of McCook, Nebraska, Koetter played college football at McCook Junior College (which later merged into Mid-Plains Community College), then transferred to Idaho State University (ISU) in Pocatello, Idaho, where he played as an end in 1958 and 1959, and earned a bachelor's degree in 1961.

Remaining in eastern Idaho, Koetter was the head coach at Aberdeen High School for two years before joining the coaching staff as an assistant coach at Highland High School in Pocatello in 1963. He succeeded Ron Anderson as head coach two years later and led the Rams for 15 seasons with a record of 102–49–2 (.673). Koetter was also an assistant basketball coach and track coach at Highland.[1][2]

Koetter became an assistant at his alma mater ISU in 1980 under new head coach Dave Kragthorpe,[3] and the next year the Bengals won the national title in Division I-AA. When Kragthorpe left ISU in June 1983,[4] Koetter was promoted to head coach;[2][5][6] he led the Bengals for five seasons,[7] compiling a record of 23–32–1 (.420).

After his tenure at ISU, Koetter returned to high school coaching at Pocatello High School.[8]

Koetter is a 1985 inductee of the Idaho State athletic hall of fame, in both football and track and field.[9] He is the father of Dirk Koetter, who has coached in the National Football League (NFL) including a tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NCAA#
Idaho State Bengals (Big Sky Conference) (1983–1987)
1983 Idaho State 8–4 5–2 2nd L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 12
1984 Idaho State 5–6 4–3 T–3rd
1985 Idaho State 5–6 3–4 5th
1986 Idaho State 2–9 1–7 8th
1987 Idaho State 3–7–1 3–5 7th
Idaho State: 23–32–1 16–21
Total: 23–32–1

References

  1. ^ "Jim Koetter Gets Highland Coaching Post". Idaho State Journal. Pocatello, Idaho. March 23, 1965. p. 7. Retrieved August 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ a b "...Koetter take over as ISU head mentor". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. Associated Press. June 4, 1983. p. 17. Retrieved August 7, 2018 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "Highland football coach to join Idaho State staff". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 6, 1979. p. 35.
  4. ^ Sorensen, Mike (June 4, 1983). "Kragthorpe's back at his alma mater". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 4A.
  5. ^ "Transactions: College". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). June 4, 1983. p. 13.
  6. ^ "ISU searching for two football assistants". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. June 28, 1983. p. 2C.
  7. ^ "Transactions: College". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). November 24, 1987. p. C2.
  8. ^ O'Donnell, Michael H. (November 21, 2012). "Football family: Father and sons coached Pocatello teams". Idaho State Journal. (Pocatello). Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Jim J. Koetter". isubengals.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
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Idaho State Bengals head football coaches
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1981 Idaho State Bengals football—NCAA Division I-AA national champions