RipRip SchererScherer MEMPHIS brings a family philosophy and a winning attitude to the JMU was 15-16 in the three seasons before Rip Scherer, who came to The University of program, was selected as the head football coach at Scherer's arrival, but his 1991 team tied a school Memphis in 1995, begins his fifth season as the Ti- The University of Memphis on January 13, 1995. record for victories, advanced in the Division I-AA gers' head football coach and huge strides in the Scherer became the 20th head coach in Tiger football playoffs for the first time and was nationally ranked program history. for nine straight weeks. Scherer received two Vir- continue to The 47-year old Scherer made an immediate ginia Division I Coach of the year awards (from the be made impact on the University and the city of Memphis. Virginia Sports Information Directors Association and both on and His first priority was to reach out to the surrounding the Richmond Touchdown Club), and the Dukes off the field. community, which he did by booking over 150 speak- rewrote much of the team's offensive record book. Before tak- ing engagements during his first spring in Memphis. JMU received an at-large berth to the Division ing over at Among his community efforts was bagging grocer- I-AA playoffs for the first time since 1987 and de- Memphis, ies at Seessel's food store in order to raise money for feated a nationally ranked opponent for the first time Scherer the needy, as well as speaking to the Engineering since 1986. The Dukes beat nationally ranked foes served as Club of Memphis and numerous civic organizations. in three consecu- tive September games, and they the head Scherer also worked at coaches clinics in Pittsburgh, won over four ranked foes during the season (three football PA, and Atlantic City, NJ, helped with the Special times in road games). The fourth was in the first coach at Olympics and spoke to all the area high school round of NCAA play, at Delaware and against the James coaches and principles. East's top seed. A less-experienced and injury Madison "We're trying to build a top-notch program here plagued JMU squad finished 4-7 in 1992. Among University at Memphis and you have to start with what's around that season's highlights was a 52-49 victory at de- from 1991 you," Scherer said. "Developing positive relationships fending Division I-AA national champion and then- HEAD COACH through with the community and area high schools is a big unbeaten Youngstown State. Youngstown State fin- 1994. where step in that direction." ished second in the 1992 Division I-AA playoffs, and he compiled a 29-19-0 record. Scherer established himself as an outstand- the Dukes also beat a William and Mary team that Taking over a football program at Memphis ing college head football coach in his first year at was nationally ranked and unbeaten in Division I-AA that had depended primarily on junior college ath- James Madison University and in 1993 led the Dukes play at the time. letes, Scherer and his staff set out to rebuild the Ti- to a successful season in their first year of Yankee Scherer's 1993 team had only four seniors ger football fortunes on high school players from the Conference play. The Pittsburgh native joined the among its first 22 players but lost only to playoff com- Memphis and southeastern regions of the country. JMU staff in December 1990 with no head coach- petitors William and Mary (31-26 on the road) and Over the past four years, Scherer has put together ing experience at any level and promptly directed Boston University (24-21) in its final seven games. some of the most talented recruiting classes in the Dukes to one of the top seasons in Division I-AA. Among the season highlights was a 42-38 win over school history. JMU was 9-4-0 and played in the NCAA playoffs in unbeaten and second-ranked Delaware. 23 Seeking national prominence for the U of M 1991. The Dukes were 4-7-0 in 1992, and the 1993 Scherer employed a varied and productive of- football program, Scherer's Tiger team shocked the team overcame a 2-3 start to finish 6-5-0. fense and emphasized a disciplined style that mini- collegiate football world during the 1996 season. The Tigers grabbed the national spotlight by knock- ing off the No. 6 ranked Tennessee Volunteers on CBS-TV. The game was tabbed the "Upset of the Year" in college football by several news organiza- tions. The increased recognition for the football pro- gram translated into a second outstanding recruit- ing campaign. Scherer and his staff were able to land another first team Parade All-American, mark- ing the second consecutive year that a nationally renowned prep player has choosen the U of M. In his first year at the helm of the Tiger football program, Scherer was charged with the task of re- molding and rebuilding a football program that had not received national attention since the 1971 sea- son. With one season under his belt, Scherer and his staff put together perhaps the greatest recruiting class in school history. The Tigers received com- mitments from three of the top five players in the city of Memphis, including the nation's all-time leading prep receiver and the number four ranked all-time leading prep passer. Scherer (42-50-0 overall; 13-31-0 at UM), who THE SCHERER FAMILY Rip Scherer mizes penalties and turnovers. The Dukes improved and he also has been an assistant under Dick Bestwick, in each of those areas during his tenure, and before Bill Curry and Bo Rein. UP CLOSE WITH RIP the 1994 season he redesigned a JMU defense that Scherer left Arizona's staff after the 1990 team in 1993 allowed 118 fewer yards per game than in competed in the Aloha Bowl, its second straight bowl Born 1992. appearance . Arizona led the Pacific 10 in rushing Aug. 3, 1952, in Pittsburgh, PA JMU scored more points and compiled more during his tenure as offensive coordinator, and the yardage in total offense in each of Scherer's sea- Wildcats had the fewest turnovers in the league in High School sons than in any previous season in the program's h i s first year directing the offense. Arizona was Tom River, N.J., received two varsity letters and history. His first JMU team had but 20 turnovers com- 7-4 in regular-season play was a two-time all-conference selection (1968, pared to the previous squad's 31, and the Dukes had and bet three bowl teams in 1969) and a 1969 all-state selection but 23 in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Twice under 1990. The 1990 Wildcats Scherer JMU set a team record for fewest yards also became the first College penalized in a season. team in 75 years to Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from William and Mary in 1974; Master of When arriving at JMU, Scherer showed little beat UCLA and Education degree in Education Administration from concern for the hurdles before him and quickly Southern California Penn State in 1975; Earned three letters as a began building a program that relied on hard work, in Los Angeles in scholarship QB and was a two-year starter at discipline and organization. Those were quali- the same season. William and Mary. ties he observed in 17 seasons as a Division I-A assistant. Scherer com- Personal Data Scherer came to JMU after three seasons pleted high Name: William Bernard Scherer at Arizona, the last two as offensive coordinator. school in Family: Wife, Michele, a William and Mary He worked under Dick Tomey at Arizona and for New Jersey graduate, and three children, Scott (7/14/79), two years (1977-78) at Hawaii. Scherer was a quar- and was re- Melanie (1/27/82) and Ryan (5/14/90). terback at William and Mary under Lou Holtz and a cruited to Will- graduate assistant under Joe Paterno at Penn State, iam and Mary as Coaching/Administrative Career a quarterback by 1974-75: Graduate assistant at Penn State Lou Holtz. He let- under Joe Paterno, (quarterbacks and receivers); QUESTIONS tered three times, Penn State played in the Cotton Bowl after the 1974 two as a starter, season and the Sugar Bowl after the 1975 season ... RIP'S and then was a 1976: Assistant coach at North Carolina State & ANSWERS under Bo Rein, (quarterbacks) ...1977-78: Assistant We are a tight-fisted family who cares for and graduate assis- tant coach un- coach at Hawaii under Dick Tomey, (running backs respects one another as individuals. and coordinating the running game) ...1979: der Joe Paterno at Penn State for two seasons (1974- Assistant coach at Virginia under Dick Bestwick, We are responsible and accountable for our 75). HEAD COACH (quarterbacks and coordinating the passing game) actions on and off the field. Scherer coached the quarterbacks under Bo We are committed to being a championship pro- ...1980: Assistant coach at Louisiana State under Bo Rein at North Carolina State in 1976 and was run- Rein, (quarterbacks and coordinating the passing gram with each individual striving to be the best he can ning backs coach at Hawaii under Dick Tomey in game) (left Louisiana State after Rein's death in a 24 be in all areas. 1977-78. He coached the quarterbacks under Dick plane crash) ...1980-84: Assistant coach at Georgia We are a program that provides an atmosphere Bestwick at Virginia in 1979 (the first season JMU Tech under Bill Curry, (offensive coordinator) ..