Former Steel Curtain assistant retiring after 40-year career
11/27/2007 12:56 PM
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LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) -New Mexico State defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer, an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Steel Curtain years, will retire after Friday night's season finale against Fresno State.
Widenhofer won four Super Bowl rings with Pittsburgh, first as linebackers coach (1973-76) and later as defensive coordinator (1977-83) when the famed Steel Curtain defense featured stars Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Joe Greene.
During his 40-year career, the 64-year-old Widenhofer also was head coach at Missouri, going 12-31-1 from 1985-88, and Vanderbilt, where he was 15-40 from 1997-2001.
He was also defensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions (1989-92) and linebackers coach for the Cleveland Browns (1993-94).
``I feel like this is the right time for me to retire,'' Widenhofer said. ``I will miss my fellow coaches and especially the players I worked with everyday. I appreciate everyone's support over the years and during my time in Las Cruces.''
Widenhofer spent the past five years assisting New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme, including two seasons at Southeastern Louisiana. The Aggies are 4-8 and 1-6 in the Western Athletic Conference going into the Fresno State game.
Widenhofer played linebacker at Missouri under coach Dan Devine from 1961-64. Widenhofer's first head coaching job was with the USFL's Oklahoma Outlaws in 1984. He went 6-12.
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