Ken Karcher Head Football Coach of what God has in store for you. And four, Karcher knows what it is like to be an Ken Karcher there is hope - He will save you and NFL quarterback - fulfilling what many Head Coach exchange your life for His'." consider a childhood dream. He had pro Ken Karcher was With just this small bit of explanation fessional stints with the Kansas City on top of the world, set into his life, Karcher traveled back to Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and was a or it seemed at South Bend, Ind., and pondered what his member of the Denver Broncos Super least as high as a brother had told him. Bowl XXII team. high school senior "I realized what the world thought was "It's not like what people think," could be. a hero, I thought was a zero," said the Karcher commented. "It was a great expe He had major sixth-year Flames' head coach. rience and I met a lot of nice people." college scholar Upon returning from his weekend It was while with Kansas City that a ships for football, baseball and basketball. excursion home, Karcher went for a walk few teammates and Karcher started He had professional opportunities to play on the campus of Notre Dame. It was prayer meetings and worked together to baseball out of Shaler Area High School. while on that walk around the famed site help understand where each stood with He had a healthy family, many friends and that he stopped and offered himself and Christ and how to strengthen their rela good grades. his life to the Lord that day in July of 1982. tionship with Him. Their experiences are Then came a turn of events as he "I said, 'Lord, I don't know everything revisited in the book, "Character Counts" began dealing with poor grades and about being a Christian, but I know right written by one of Karcher's friends. diminished playing time at his college of now, things aren't right"," recalled Karcher. It is those same goals that Karcher is choice - Notre Dame. In Division I football, It was with that simple statement that devoted to instilling in the young football it did not matter that he was ranked the Lord heard and answered his prayer players at Liberty University. among the top-five quarterbacks in the and his life was changed forever. "My goal for each of my players Is nation out of high school. Soon after his life-changing decision, essentially this," stated the head coach. The upward twist of life seemed to Karcher transferred to Tulane University to "First to help them understand who they take a downward spin for this young man work under the passing tutelage of Wally are in Christ and secondly graduate with from Pittsburgh, Pa. However, just when English. excellence. I also want to help them things seemed to be sailing out of his nor "My goal, even as a young Christian, become the best football players they can mal level of control, Karcher unknowingly was to make it to the National Football possibly be." was about to realize just how high his life League," said Karcher. "I knew the only Karcher has had several impacting could get. way I was going to get there was to trans coaches in his life such as Dan Reeves, "I came home for a weekend my soph fer out of Notre Dame." Mike Shanahan, Tony Dungy and the leg omore year and my little brother Rob said While at Tulane, Karcher honed the endary Johnny Majors to name a few. But "I've got four things to tell you"," remem skills that would take him to the NFL. He ironically it is the one that never went on bered Karcher. "He said 'One, God has a was a two-year starter for the Green Wave to national stardom that impacted the life plan for your life, which is designed just and a 1985 participant in the Blue-Gray of the Flames' head coach most. for you. Two, Jesus Christ died on the All-Star game. "My high school coach, who is also my cross for you - Even if you were the only "We threw the ball a lot," remembered uncle, taught me the most about life and person on the Earth, He would have still Karcher. "And that's where I met my wife. work," remembered Karcher. "He taught died for you. Three, you need to admit So it turned out to be a wise decision to me a lot of biblical things that he may not you're a sinner and you have fallen short transfer." have thought were biblical at the time." Ken Karcher Quick Facts Biographical Information 1994-96; Offensive 1998: Rhein Fire - NFL Europe World Bowl Birth date: July 1, 1963 Coordinator/Quarterback Coach, Champions, coached league's top-ranked Family: Wife, Pauline University of Pittsburgh quarterback, league offensive player of the Children: Four children - Austin (15), 1997-99: Offensive year and World Bowl most valuable player Kelly (13), Katie (11) and Clay (8) Coordinator/Quarterback Coach, 1999: Rhein Fire - Coached the league's Hometown: Glenshaw, Pa. Rhein Fire (NFL Europe) top-rated quarterback High School: Shaler Area High School, 1998-99: Executive Director, Keystone Playing Experience Pittsburgh, Pa., 1981 Christian Academy 1979-81: Shder Area High School, quartettjack College: Tulane University, 2(XX)-Present: Head Coach, Uberty University 1981-82: University of Notre Dam.e, quartertsack New Orleans, La., 1986 1983-85: Tulane University, quarterback Coaching Honors 1986: Denver Broncos, free agent tryout Coaching Experience 1992: Orlando Thunder - North America 1987: New Orleans Saints, free agent tryout 1989: Quatterback Coach, Idaho State University East Champions, World Bowl Finalist, 1987-89: Denver Broncos, quarterback 1991: Quarterback/Wide Receiver Coach, coached the league's top-rated quarterback 1990: Kansas City Chiefs, free agent tryout University of North Texas 1994: University of Pittsburgh - Second- 1992: Offensive Coordinator/Quarterback best offense in the Big East, coached Big Playing Honors Coach, Oriando Thunder(World League) East offensive player of the year 1980: Parade High School Ail-American 1993-94: Passing Game 1997: Rhein Fire - League Champions, 1985: Blue-Gray All-Star Game participant Coordinator/Quarterback Coach, World Bowl Finalist, coached league's 1987: Member of the Denver Broncos University of Pittsburgh offensive player of the year Super Bowl XXII team UbertyFlames.com.