The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2010 INDUCTEE PROFILE Known for his enthusiasm, Buddy Geis backpedals during a passing drill at Tulane in his early years as a college football coach. In his blood Geis credits Altoona roots for his love of football By Jim Lane coaching professional and major college As a youngster, Geis and his Altoona Mirror football, has never forgotten his roots. friends climbed the fence at Mansion he story goes that when Buddy “Altoona created me,” Geis, a Park to watch the Altoona Mountain Geis was born and smacked on the member of the Blair County Sports Lions play. A few years later, Geis Tbutt he laughed. The doctor imme - Hall of Fame's Class of 2010, said. “My became a standout player for the di ately told his mom her son would family and my friends gave me the Mountain Lions, winning the Joe Cohen grow up to be everybody's buddy. foundation. My teachers and my Blanket as the MVP his senior year. “I'm not sure if that's true or not,” coaches in Altoona made it happen. “I got to know him in junior high,” Geis said from his home in Neptune “They helped put me in the right long-time Altoona friend and team - Beach, Fla., a Jacksonville suburb, position, and I was fortunate to make mate Mel Frye said of Geis. “He played “but my mom called me Buddy ever the best of it.” at Roosevelt and I played at Keith, and, since that day. Actually, she named Because of his brothers and the as junior high kids, we didn't like each me Wayne after John Wayne, but 8th Ward neighborhood he lived in, other. In high school, we became best everyone's always called me Buddy.” Geis was always interested in sports. friends.” The youngest of 10 children — “Neighborhoods were so big Frye was the quarterback and seven boys and three girls — born to back then,” he said. “We were always Geis was a wide receiver-running Gilbert and Bernadette (Bernie) Geis, playing football, baseball or basket - back for the Mountain Lions. Buddy grew up in Altoona and was a ball in the street or the alley. We were “Buddy was such a clutch player,” high school football star at Altoona outside constantly. Frye recalled. “He never lacked confi - Area High School. “Altoona will always be the great - dence, and he backed it up. As a Geis, who spent 30-plus years est city ever to me.” sophomore, he made a game-saving -25- The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2010 tackle against McKeesport, and his career was off and running. “After college, we both coached at Altoona High for Earl Strohm, and even then, I could tell he would have a great career in coaching. He really liked the passing game and was very innovat - ed. His success hasn't surprised me. “He was a great athlete and a great friend. What he's accomplished is amazing.” Geis credits Strohm with a lot of his success. “Coach Strohm made such a huge impact on my career,” Geis said. “He didn't care how fast you were, but if you couldn't block or tackle, you couldn't play for him. He wanted you to be tough and to play and work hard. “That's why people succeed. I grew Buddy shares a laugh with Dallas Cowboys' quarterback Troy Aikman. up in a family that worked hard, that's the way I remember Altoona.” After two years at AHS, Buddy Geis left Memphis for his first job in the Geis loved Strohm's tough mental - and his wife, Jere, went west where NFL. ity and discipline. Buddy became a graduate assistant “A kid from Altoona coaching the “Tough and physical, that's why coach at the University of Arizona, Green Bay Packers — how lucky can we won,” he said. “Coach (Wally) and his college coaching career took a guy be?” Geis said. “It was unreal.” Fields, Coach (Harry) Dinges and off from there. In the meantime, Jere Geis coached Packer receivers, Coach (Ron) Rickens — what a staff! gave birth to their son, Adam. including Sterling Sharpe, for five “They gave me a great founda - “Back then, grad assistants did years. Sharpe will be Geis' Hall of tion; I was so lucky.” recruiting, and I was on the road Fame presenter. A defensive back-running back- when my son was born,” Geis said. “I “Green Bay will always be special wide receiver, Geis started his college signed three kids out of Pittsburgh, to me,” he said. “They have the great - career at Flagstaff, Ariz., a Division I and Jim Young, the head coach, est fans in the world. Dallas fans love school, but left after a year. Then, after called me in May and hired me full - you, but they want a Super Bowl a year at Trinidad, Col. as a wide receiv - time. I was paid $12,000 and got a every year. Packer fans always love er, he landed at Lock Haven State car ... we thought we were millionaires.” you.” College, a big turning point in his life. After a year and a half at When the Packers dumped “That's where I met Bob Weller,” Arizona, Geis went to Tulane with Larry Infante and his staff after five years, it Geis said. “Hubert Jack, the legendary Smith, who had been defensive coor - was back to the college game for football and wrestling coach, was the dinator at Arizona. From Tulane, Geis Geis as offensive coordinator at Duke. coach my first year and Weller took went to Kansas for a year under Mike However, when the Indianapolis Colts over the next year. After I was done Gottfried. hired Infante as head man, Geis playing, I helped Weller coach one year.” Then Lindy Infante, who Geis had rejoined him in the NFL. Weller encouraged Geis to get met at Tulane, became head coach “I was so fortunate to work with into the coaching field, and the rest is of the Jacksonville team in the USFL Lindy for 11 years,” Geis said. “He's an history, as they say. and asked Geis to join him. unbelievable offensive mind.” “I called Coach Strohm, and he “Lawrenceville, Kansas, or The feeling is mutual. got me into Altoona,” Geis said. “I Jacksonville, Florida? It was an easy “The biggest compliment I can coached defensive backs and wide decision,” said Geis, noting his family give Buddy Geis,” Infante said, “is receivers two years at Altoona.” had grown to four by then, with the everytime I got a job, Buddy was one addition of of the first guys I hired.” daughter Jeni. They worked together at Tulane, When the then in the NFL with the Packers and USFL folded, Geis Colts. Geis bio was off to “He's super intelligent, is a hard- Memphis State as working and dedicated guy with a lot Sport: Football offensive coordi - of energy,” Infante said of Geis. “He High School : Altoona nator for two always portrays that to his players.” College: Lock Haven years under At Indy, Geis worked with quarter - Hall of Fame achievement: Spent Pepper Rodgers. back Jim Harbaugh, now the coach 30-plus years coaching professional When the Green at Stanford, and Marvin Harrison, one and major college football, including Bay Packers hired of the NFL's top receivers. nine in the NFL Infante as their “That was a great experience,” Current residence: Neptune Beach, Fla. head coach, Geis said. “Coaching at Indy was -26- The Blair County Sports Hall Of Fame - 2010 close to being at Green Bay.” Geis' final pro stop was Dallas where he was hired by Chan Gailey as quarterbacks coach. He worked close - ly with Troy Aikman, as well as wide receiver Michael Irvin. “Troy Aikman was unbelievable,” Geis said. “He watched film every day. “We went to the playoffs two years, but it's Super Bowl or nothing in Dallas, and the pressure was unbelievable.” Even though Gailey was fired, Dallas owner Jerry Jones kept Geis on the staff for two years as a consultant. “Jerry was super to me and my family,” Geis said. When Gailey was hired as head coach at Georgia Tech, Geis was on the move again, joining the Yellow Jackets for five years as associate head coach. The standout of the Green Bay Packers' receiving corps, Sterling Sharpe “That's where I met and coached (84), will serve as Buddy's Hall of Fame presenter. Calvin Johnson,” Geis said of Johnson, camps in Florida. my spark — my exclamation point.” now a member of the Detroit Lions. “I'm happy what I'm doing,” he He considers his election to the “I've coached guys like Sharpe, said, “and I see my family more, too.” Blair County Sports Hall of Fame the Harrison, Irvin, Harbaugh and Aikman, Geis and Jere, as well as their chil - exclamation point to his coaching but Calvin Johnson is the greatest I've dren, Adam, a high school coach in career. ever been around.” Jacksonville, and Jeni, a nurse, have “I can't thank Altoona enough, it's Although he hasn't coached on lived all over the country, and he gives such a great honor,” he said. “It's great the college or pro level for two years, credit to them for never-ending support. to be honored by the people who are Geis remains close to the game, work - “Jere has always been my special to you. I hope I've always ing with college and professional play - strength,” he said.