View source for Don Strock

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1950)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           =Don Strock
| number         = 10, 12
| position       = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1950|11|27}}
| birth_place    = [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 5
| weight_lbs     = 220
| draftyear      = 1973
| draftround     = 5
| draftpick      = 111
| high_school    = [[Owen J. Roberts School District|Owen J. Roberts]]<br>([[Bucktown, Pennsylvania]])
| college        = [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech]] (1969–1972)
| teams          =
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ([[1973 NFL season|1973]]–[[1987 NFL season|1987]])
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ([[1988 NFL season|1988]])
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ([[NFL season|1989]])
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Miami Hooters]] ({{AFL Year|1993}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Massachusetts Marauders]] ({{AFL Year|1994}}) <br> Head coach
* [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] (1995) <br> Offensive coordinator
* [[Baltimore Ravens]] ({{NFL Year|1996}}–{{NFL Year|1998}}) <br> Quarterbacks coach
* [[FIU Panthers football|Florida International]] (2000–2006) <br> Head coach
| highlights     =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]])
* [[Miami Dolphins#The Miami Dolphins 50 Greatest Players|Dolphins Walk of Fame]] (2012)
* [[Sammy Baugh Trophy]] (1972)
* Third-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1972 College Football All-America Team|1972]])
| statlabel1     = TD–INT
| statvalue1     = 45–42
| statlabel2     = Passing yards
| statvalue2     = 5,349
| statlabel3     = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue3     = 79.4
| regular_record = AFL: {{Winning percentage|13|11|record=y}}
| playoff_record = AFL: {{Winning percentage|1|2|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{plainlist|
* AFL: {{Winning percentage|14|13|record=y}}
* NCAA: {{Winning percentage|15|41|record=y}}
   }}
| pfr            = StroDo00 
|image=Don Strock, circa 1971.png|caption=Strock, {{Circa|1971}}}}
'''Donald Joseph Strock''' (born November 27, 1950) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player and coach.  He played as a [[quarterback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[Miami Dolphins]] (1973–1987), [[Cleveland Browns]] (1988), and [[Indianapolis Colts]] (1989).

Strock played [[college football]] for the [[Virginia Tech Hokies football|Virginia Tech Hokies]] and was selected by the Dolphins in the fifth round of the [[1973 NFL draft]]. After his playing career, he became a coach, serving as the head coach at [[Florida International University]] from 2002 to 2006, compiling a record of 15–41.

==Playing career==
===College===
[[File:Donald Joseph Strock, circa 1971.png|thumb|269x269px|Strock at Virginia Tech, {{Circa|1971}}]]
Strock attended [[Virginia Tech]]. In his senior season in [[1972 NCAA University Division football season|1972]], he led the nation in total passing and total offense, yet finished only ninth in voting for the [[Heisman Trophy]]. He was voted third-team All-America.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tech All-Americans |url=https://hokiesports.com/sports/2018/4/19/all-americans.aspx |access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref> The college game was then dominated by running backs; the 1972 Heisman went to wingback [[Johnny Rodgers]] of [[1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]].<ref>[http://www.heisman.com/winners/j-rodgers72.php Heisman.com - 1972 voting] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108160709/http://www.heisman.com/winners/j-rodgers72.php |date=November 8, 2011 }}</ref>

To date, Strock still holds many collegiate football passing records at his [[alma mater]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Football :: Lane Stadium Records |url=http://www.hokiesports.com/football/lanestadium-records.html |access-date=September 25, 2012 |publisher=hokiesports.com}}</ref> and was inducted into the [[List of Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame inductees|Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame]] in 1985.

===Professional===
Strock played in the [[National Football League|NFL]] as a [[quarterback]]. A 5th round selection (111th overall pick) of the [[1973 NFL draft]], he spent the majority of his professional career with the [[Miami Dolphins]] (1973–1987),<ref>{{Cite web |title=1973 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/draft.htm |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-11-04 |title=Miami's Don Strock has been a team player for 11 1/2 seasons |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-miamis-don-strock-has/148496682/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |work=The Roanoke Times |pages=36}}</ref> and was mostly known for his role as a back-up to Hall-of Famers [[Bob Griese]] in his first years with the team and [[Dan Marino]] as he finished his career with the club.  He also played one season with the [[Cleveland Browns]] (1988) and part of a season on the roster of the [[Indianapolis Colts]] (1989) before retiring as a player.

Strock was a member of the "taxi squad" during the 1973 season when the Dolphins won their second straight [[Super Bowl VIII|Super Bowl]] following the undefeated [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972–73 season]]. He was also a member of the Dolphin teams who played and lost in the [[Super Bowl XVII|1982]] and [[Super Bowl XIX|1984]] Super Bowls.

Strock is remembered for coming off the bench on January 2, 1982, for the [[Miami Dolphins]] in an [[1981–82 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Playoff Game]] against the [[San Diego Chargers]] at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]].  Strock led Miami from a 24–0 deficit to tie the score in the 3rd quarter.  Ultimately, Miami lost the game to San Diego, 41–38, in overtime.  The game is also remembered for the image of San Diego [[tight end]] [[Kellen Winslow]] being helped off the field by his teammates after the game while suffering from exhaustion.  Strock finished the game with 29 of 43 completions for 403 yards and four touchdowns, with one interception.  The game later became known as [[The Epic in Miami]] and has entered NFL lore as one of the greatest games ever in NFL history.

On September 13, 1987, Dolphins punter [[Reggie Roby]] was injured and Strock was called upon to punt.  Strock also was called into duty to quarterback in the game with 2:22 remaining, nearly leading a comeback drive.

==Coaching career==
===Arena Football League, the World League and the NFL===
Strock began his coaching career as the head coach of the [[Miami Hooters]] of the [[Arena Football League]] for one season in 1993.  The following season, he moved on to be the head coach of the [[Massachusetts Marauders]] and again only stayed for one season.  He then moved on to be an assistant coach of the [[Rhein Fire (NFL Europe)|Rhein Fire]] in the [[World League of American Football|World League]] during 1995 season.  Between 1996 and 1998 seasons, he was the quarterbacks coach of the [[Baltimore Ravens]] in the NFL.

===FIU===
On September 13, 2000, Strock was named the first head football coach in FIU's history.  He was named to the position just shy of two years before the university's inaugural football game.  Prior to being named head coach he was the director of football operations, a job he had obtained the year before.  His overall record through the 2006 football season was 15–41.

On November 15, 2006, Strock resigned as head coach of the FIU Golden Panthers.  Of his 15 career victories, none came during the 2006 campaign and only three of them came against [[NCAA Division I-A]] opponents.  His resignation came after an 0–9 start and a [[FIU–Miami football brawl|much-publicized brawl]] against the university of [[Miami Hurricanes]] caused 16 players from FIU to be suspended.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2006 |title=Florida International coach resigns |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2663579 |access-date=November 15, 2006}}</ref> His resignation became effective following FIU's last game against [[Troy University]] on December 2, 2006.

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[FIU Panthers football|FIU Golden Panthers]]
 | conf      = [[NCAA Division I FCS independent schools|NCAA Division I-AA independent]]
 | startyear = 2002
 | endyear   = 2004
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season|2002]]
 | name         = [[2002 FIU Golden Panthers football team|FIU]]
 | overall      = 5–6
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season|2003]]
 | name         = [[2003 FIU Golden Panthers football team|FIU]]
 | overall      = 2–10
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season|2004]]
 | name         = [[2004 FIU Golden Panthers football team|FIU]]
 | overall      = 3–7
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[FIU Panthers football|FIU Golden Panthers]]
 | conf      = [[Sun Belt Conference]]
 | startyear = 2005
 | endyear   = 2006
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
 | name         = [[2005 FIU Golden Panthers football team|FIU]]
 | overall      = 5–6
 | conference   = 3–4
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
 | name         = [[2006 FIU Golden Panthers football team|FIU]]
 | overall      = 0–12
 | conference   = 0–7
 | confstanding = 5th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = FIU
 | overall    = 15–41
 | confrecord = 3–11
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 15–41
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly passing leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49161&SPID=4780&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=560364&Q_SEASON=2006 FIU profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928084935/http://tkt.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=49161&SPID=4780&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=11700&ATCLID=560364&Q_SEASON=2006 |date=September 28, 2020 }}

{{NCAA major college football passing yardage leaders}}
{{Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback navbox}}
{{Miami Dolphins starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Cleveland Browns starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Florida Bobcats}}
{{Massachusetts Marauders}}
{{FIU Panthers football coach navbox}}
{{Super Bowl VIII}}
{{Dolphins1973DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strock, Don}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Marauders coaches]]
[[Category:Baltimore Ravens coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:FIU Panthers football coaches]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Rhein Fire coaches]]
[[Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Florida Bobcats coaches]]