View source for Steve Kragthorpe

{{Short description|American football coach (1965–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Steve Kragthorpe
| image = Kragthorpe 2009.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Kragthorpe as Louisville head coach in 2009
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|04|28}}
| birth_place = [[Missoula, Montana]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|08|04|1965|04|28}}
| death_place = 
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1983–1984
| player_team1 = [[Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds football|Eastern New Mexico]]
| player_years2 = 1985–1987
| player_team2 = [[West Texas A&M Buffaloes football|West Texas]]
| player_positions = [[Quarterback]]
| coach_years1 = 1990–1991
| coach_team1 = [[Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football|Northern Arizona]] (QB)
| coach_years2 = 1992–1993
| coach_team2 = Northern Arizona ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
| coach_years3 = 1994–1995
| coach_team3 = [[North Texas Mean Green football|North Texas]] (OC)
| coach_years4 = 1996
| coach_team4 = [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]] (QB)
| coach_years5 = 1997
| coach_team5 = [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] (QB)
| coach_years6 = 1998–2000
| coach_team6 = Texas A&M (OC)
| coach_years7 = 2001–2002
| coach_team7 = [[Buffalo Bills]] (QB)
| coach_years8 = 2003–2006
| coach_team8 = [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]]
| coach_years9 = 2007–2009
| coach_team9 = [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
| coach_years10 = 2011–2012
| coach_team10 = [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]] (QB)
| overall_record = 44–43
| bowl_record = 1–2
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 1 [[Conference USA|C-USA]] (2005)
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
}}
'''Steven Jon Kragthorpe''' (April 28, 1965 – August 4, 2024) was an American [[college football]] head coach. He served as the [[head coach]] for the [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa Golden Hurricane]] from 2003 through 2006 and the [[Louisville Cardinals Football|Louisville Cardinals]] from 2007 to 2009. After his head coaching career he was an administrative assistant for the [[Louisiana State University]] football program after previously serving as quarterbacks coach for the [[LSU Tigers football|Tigers football team]].

==Early career==
Kragthorpe was born in [[Missoula, Montana]], but attended [[Highland High School (Pocatello, Idaho)|Highland High School]] in [[Pocatello, Idaho]]. Kragthorpe played high school football with ESPN commentator [[Merril Hoge]]. Both graduated from Highland High School in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gocards.com/news/2007/1/9/Kragthorpe_Chosen_to_Lead_Cardinals_Football_Program|title=Kragthorpe Chosen to Lead Cardinals' Football Program|date=2007-01-09|accessdate=2024-08-05|publisher=University of Louisville Athletics}}</ref>

He was recruited by [[Bill Kelly (American football, born 1947)|Bill Kelly]] to play at [[Eastern New Mexico University]], where he played quarterback in 1983 and '84. When Kelly left ENMU for West Texas State (now [[West Texas A&M University]]), Kragthorpe followed him. After sitting out the 1985 season, he played in 1986 and '87. He started 11 games as a senior and completed 179-of-344 passes for 1,980 yards and nine TDs.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Kragthorpe earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1988 from West Texas State and received his MBA in 1989 from [[Oregon State University]]. He then spent more than a decade as an assistant coach at several colleges. At age 26, he became [[offensive coordinator]] under [[Steve Axman]] at [[Northern Arizona University]]. He left in 1994 to join [[Matt Simon (American football, born 1953)|Matt Simon]]'s coaching staff at the [[University of North Texas]]. After leaving the state of [[Texas]] for one year, serving as quarterbacks coach under [[Dan Henning]] at [[Boston College]] in 1996, Kragthorpe came back to join [[R. C. Slocum]]'s staff at [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]]. He served as quarterbacks coach in 1997 before replacing Steve Marshall as offensive coordinator in 1998. Texas A&M won a [[Big 12 Conference|Big 12]] championship in 1998.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In 2001, Kragthorpe left the collegiate ranks to become quarterback coach under head coach [[Gregg Williams]] for the [[Buffalo Bills]]. He coached quarterback [[Drew Bledsoe]] during one of Bledsoe's better seasons in the NFL. In 2003, Kragthorpe took over his first head coaching position, succeeding [[Keith Burns (American football coach)|Keith Burns]] at the [[University of Tulsa]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

==Head coaching career==
===Tulsa===
In his first season at [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa]], Kragthorpe guided a program that had won just two games during the previous two seasons to an 8–5 record and its first [[bowl game]] appearance since 1991. In 2005, Tulsa won the [[Conference USA]] championship and then went on to beat [[Fresno State University|Fresno State]] in the [[2005 Liberty Bowl|AutoZone Liberty Bowl]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

===Louisville===
Kragthorpe took over the University of Louisville vacancy on January 9, 2007. He replaced former head coach, and fellow Montanan, [[Bobby Petrino]], who agreed to serve as head coach of the [[Atlanta Falcons]]. Kragthorpe's contract was a 1.1 million dollar a year contract (with bonuses) for five years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://datacenter.courier-journal.com/government/salaries/search-results.php?last=kragthorpe&first=&min=0&max=10000000&title=&dept=&entity=%25&Submit=Search|title=Government Salaries|date=October 9, 2009|accessdate=October 9, 2009|publisher=Louisville Courier Journal}}</ref> Louisville hired Kragthorpe in what many consider to be a "whirlwind courtship," becoming the head coach in less than 48 hours after Petrino submitted his resignation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=2725663|title=Kragthorpe leaves Tulsa for Louisville|date=January 9, 2007|access-date=December 5, 2008|publisher=ESPN.com news services}}</ref> 

In 2007, Kragthorpe carried around a [[baseball bat]] in an attempt to motivate his players to become "Better After Today"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/19/AR2007081901627.html|title=Louisville's Kragthorpe Wants to Be a Real Hit|date=August 20, 2007|accessdate=December 5, 2008|last=Prisbell|first=Eric|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> and placed [[mousetrap]]s around the locker room in another effort at motivation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/sports/ncaafootball/07colleges.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=College%20Football:%20No.%208%20Louisville%2058,%20Middle%20Tennessee%2042&st=cse|title=College Football: No. 8 Louisville 58, Middle Tennessee 42|date=September 7, 2007|accessdate=December 5, 2008|publisher=Associated Press via International Herald Tribune}}</ref>

Although Louisville started the [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007 season]] as #10 in the [[AP Poll]] and returned the majority of the [[2007 Orange Bowl]] champion team, including [[Heisman Trophy]] candidate [[Brian Brohm]] at quarterback, the Cards finished the season a disappointing 6–6, including a loss to [[Syracuse Orange football|Syracuse]] in which the Cardinals were 37 point favorites. Nine consecutive winning seasons and bowl games came to an end under the direction of Kragthrope, even though he led a team that had enough talent to see five of its players taken in the NFL Draft. Rumors swirled on whether Kragthorpe would return for a second season. After days of speculation whether Kragthorpe could leave for the vacant head coaching job at [[Southern Methodist University]], Louisville sports information director Rocco Gasparro confirmed on November 21, that there is a "50–50 chance" Kragthorpe will be at SMU in 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080124185018/http://www.whas11.com/news/local/stories/112007whasjdtopstorysports.22339825.html Kragthorpe could be leaving]. Web.archive.org (November 21, 2007). Retrieved on April 17, 2013.</ref> In a press conference that same day Kragthorpe ruled out any speculations that he was entertaining an offer from SMU, saying he was "100 percent committed" to Louisville.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071202085241/http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7473992 FoxSports: Kragthorpe shoots down SMU rumor]. Associated Press. Retrieved on April 17, 2013.</ref> Following Louisville's dismal 2007 season, Kragthorpe released both offensive coordinator [[Charlie Stubbs (American football)|Charlie Stubbs]] and defensive coordinator [[Mike Cassity]] and then hired Michigan defensive coordinator [[Ron English (American football)|Ron English]] to guide the Cardinals defense and handed the offensive coordinator duties to [[Jeff Brohm]],<ref>[http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20071202/SPORTS02/71202018/Kragthorpe-announces-changes-his-staff ''Louisville Courier-Journal:'' Kragthorpe announces changes on his staff]. December 2, 2007.</ref> who was expected to install an offense similar to that run by former Louisville head coach [[Bobby Petrino]].

====2008====
Kragthorpe opened his second season at Louisville with very low expectations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090205061751/http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=106691&SPID=11215&DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=1523843 2008 Football Media Day: Commissioner Tranghese's Opening Remarks]. BIG EAST Conference (July 29, 2008).</ref> A year removed from being a preseason top 10 program, the Cardinals entered the 2008 season picked 7th in the 8 team Big East Conference by members of the media. Louisville hosted in-state rival [[2008 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]] on Sunday, August 31, falling to the Wildcats 27–2 in Louisville's first opening day loss since 2002.<ref>[http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/083108aad.html Louisville Football – Cardinals Drop Season Opener] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006173948/http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/083108aad.html |date=October 6, 2011 }}. Uoflsports.com (August 31, 2008). Retrieved on April 17, 2013.</ref> On October 25, 2008, Louisville defeated a ranked [[2008 South Florida Bulls football team|South Florida]] team 24–20. Kragthorpe also lost to [[2008 Syracuse Orange football team|Syracuse]] in back to back seasons, giving Syracuse head coach [[Greg Robinson (American football coach)|Greg Robinson]] two of his three [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] wins as a head coach. Following the Syracuse loss, Kragthorpe's Cardinals lost the next four games capped off by a 63–14 loss to [[2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team|Rutgers]] (Louisville's worst defeat since 1987.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1691187301.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+5%2C+2008&author=Eric+Crawford&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=Questions+on+Cards+should+focus+on+future|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102317/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1691187301.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+5,+2008&author=Eric+Crawford&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=Questions+on+Cards+should+focus+on+future|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012|title=Questions on Cards should focus on future|date=December 5, 2008|accessdate=December 5, 2008|last=Crawford|first=Eric|publisher=The Courier-Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1691187571.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+5%2C+2008&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=A+Scarlet+fever+epidemic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102329/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/1691187571.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+5,+2008&author=&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=C.1&desc=A+Scarlet+fever+epidemic|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012|title=A Scarlet fever epidemic|last=Brown|first=C. L.|date=December 5, 2008|accessdate=December 5, 2008|publisher=The Courier-Journal}}</ref> This marked the team's first losing season since 1997.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Following a second straight losing season in 2009, Louisville fired Kragthorpe shortly after the conclusion of the season.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

==Later coaching positions==
Following his Louisville stint, Kragthorpe accepted the wide receivers coaching position at [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] in February 2010,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100217170649/http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021310aaa.html Sherman Completes Coaching Staff with Three Hirings]. aggieathletics.com, February 13, 2010</ref> but later resigned in July 2010 due to a family member's illness.<ref name="Baker">Baker, Matt (October 15, 2010). [http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/highschool/article.aspx?subjectid=227&articleid=20101015_29_B1_CUTLIN598046 "Holland Hall's Brad Kragthorpe benefits from dad's coaching experience"], ''[[Tulsa World]]''.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=5411050|title = Kragthorpe resigns as Texas A&M assistant|date = July 26, 2010}}</ref> After spending the 2010 season out of football,<ref>Bailey, Eric (January 12, 2011). [http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/TU/article.aspx?subjectid=94&articleid=20110112_94_B1_CUTLIN841102 "TU search will not include ex-coach: Kragthorpe surprised he won't be considered for Hurricane opening."] ''[[Tulsa World]]''.</ref> on January 20, 2011, he was hired as the new offensive coordinator at [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]].<ref>Kleinpeter, Jim (January 20, 2011) [http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2011/01/lsu_football_steve_kragthorpe_1.html "LSU football: Steve Kragthorpe hired as offensive coordinator"], ''[[Times-Picayune]]''.</ref>

On August 4, 2011, Kragthorpe stepped down from the offensive coordinator position at LSU, due to [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>[http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-08-04/steve-kragthorpe-stepping-down-lsu-offensive-coordinator-parkinsons-disease "Kragthorpe stepping down as LSU's offensive coordinator"], ''[[Sporting News]]'', August 4, 2011.</ref> He remained as quarterbacks coach through the 2012 season. Following the season, Kragthorpe assumed the role of special assistant to the head coach and chief of staff for the LSU football program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/2015/10/22/kragthorpe-enjoys-moment-limelight/74394146/|title = Kragthorpe enjoys moment in limelight}}</ref>

After LSU lost to Texas A&M 72–74 in seven overtime periods on November 28, 2018, Kragthorpe was reportedly punched in the chest by a Texas A&M team staff member.<ref>/http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/25370822/kevin-faulk-lsu-involved-skirmish-texas-game</ref> The punch reportedly hit where Kragthorpe's [[brain pacemaker]] is implanted. [[Kevin Faulk]], LSU Director of Player Development, physically retaliated against the Texas A&M staff member. The staff member was identified as Cole Fisher, Jimbo Fisher's nephew.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_362911e2-f0d6-11e8-92da-e3335679084e.html|title = Sources: Jimbo Fisher's nephew is man who reportedly punched LSU's Steve Kragthorpe}}</ref> After the game, it was reported that Kragthorpe exaggerated the claim and that he was in fact simply shoved after getting into a verbal altercation with Cole Fisher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Video-appears-to-dispute-LSU-coach-s-version-of-13423307.php#item-85307-tbla-5|title=Video appears to dispute LSU coach's version of postgame melee at Texas A&M|date=November 27, 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Kragthorpe and his wife had three sons. His brother, Kurt, is a sports columnist for ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]''; their father, [[Dave Kragthorpe]], was also a college football coach, most notably at [[Oregon State]]. Steve's son, [[Brad Kragthorpe|Brad]], the current [[Cincinnati Bengals]]' quarterback coach, was the quarterback for [[Holland Hall (Tulsa, Oklahoma)|Holland Hall]], a private [[University-preparatory school|prep school]] in Tulsa, where he was rated as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the state.<ref name="Baker"/> 

Kragthorpe was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011. He died from complications of the disease on August 4, 2024, at the age of 59.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Louisville football coach Steve Kragthorpe dies after battle with Parkinson's disease|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2024/08/05/louisville-football-steve-kragthorpe-obituary/74677219007/|author=Cubit, Alexis|date=2024-08-05|work=[[Courier-Journal]]}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa Golden Hurricane]]
 | conf      = [[Western Athletic Conference]]
 | startyear = 2003
 | endyear   = 2004
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
 | name         = [[2003 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | bowlname     = [[2004 Humanitarian Bowl|Humanitarian]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
 | name         = [[2004 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]]
 | overall      = 4–8
 | conference   = 3–5
 | confstanding = T–6th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Tulsa Golden Hurricane football|Tulsa Golden Hurricane]]
 | conf      = [[Conference USA]]
 | startyear = 2005
 | endyear   = 2006
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
 | name         = [[2005 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]]
 | overall      = 9–4
 | conference   = 6–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[2005 Liberty Bowl|Liberty]]
 | bowloutcome  = W
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
 | name         = [[2006 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|Tulsa]]
 | overall      = 8–5
 | conference   = 5–3
 | confstanding = 3rd <small>(West)</small>
 | bowlname     = [[2006 Armed Forces Bowl|Armed Forces]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Tulsa
 | overall    = 29–22
 | confrecord = 20–12
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinals]]
 | conf      = [[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East Conference]]
 | startyear = 2007
 | endyear   = 2009
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
 | name         = [[2007 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]]
 | overall      = 6–6
 | conference   = 3–4
 | confstanding = T–5th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2008]]
 | name         = [[2008 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]]
 | overall      = 5–7
 | conference   = 1–6
 | confstanding = 8th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | year         = [[2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2009]]
 | name         = [[2009 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]]
 | overall      = 4–8
 | conference   = 1–6
 | confstanding = 7th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Louisville
 | overall    = 15–21
 | confrecord = 5–16
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 44–43
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype =
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Tulsa Golden Hurricane football coach navbox}}
{{Louisville Cardinals football coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kragthorpe, Steve}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Boston College Eagles football coaches]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills coaches]]
[[Category:Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds football players]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football coaches]]
[[Category:LSU Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Northern Arizona Lumberjacks football coaches]]
[[Category:North Texas Mean Green football coaches]]
[[Category:Oregon State University alumni]]
[[Category:Texas A&M Aggies football coaches]]
[[Category:Tulsa Golden Hurricane football coaches]]
[[Category:West Texas A&M Buffaloes football players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Missoula, Montana]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Pocatello, Idaho]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Idaho]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Idaho]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in the United States]]