Rick Venturi

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Rick Venturi
Biographical details
Born (1946-02-23) February 23, 1946 (age 79)
Taylorville, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1965–1967Northwestern
Position(s)Quarterback, defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1973–1976Purdue (assistant)
1977Illinois (DB)
1978–1980Northwestern
1981Hamilton Tiger-Cats (assistant)
1982–1983Baltimore Colts (LB)
1984Indianapolis Colts (DC/LB)
1985–1990Indianapolis Colts (LB)
1991Indianapolis Colts (DC/LB/Interim HC)
1992–1993Indianapolis Colts (DC)
1994Cleveland Browns (DB)
1995Cleveland Browns (DC)
1996New Orleans Saints (LB/Interim HC)
1997New Orleans Saints (Ast. HC/LB)
1998New Orleans Saints (Ast. HC/DB)
1999New Orleans Saints (Ast. HC/LB)
2000–2001New Orleans Saints (Ast. HC/DB)
2002–2005New Orleans Saints (DC)
2006–2007St. Louis Rams (Ast. HC/LB)
2008St. Louis Rams (Ast. HC/LB/DC)
Head coaching record
Overall1–31–1 (college)
2–17 (NFL)

Rick Venturi (born February 23, 1946) is a former American football player, coach, and current broadcaster. He served as the head coach at Northwestern University and as longtime National Football League (NFL) assistant coach known for his defense.

Biography

Early years

Rick Venturi was born February 23, 1946, in Taylorville, Illinois.

Venturi played quarterback at Rockford Auburn High School in Illinois as a sophomore and junior, and then at Pekin High School for his senior year.

Following graduation he enrolled at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Coaching career

Alumnus Venturi was hired by Northwestern on December 1, 1977,[1][2] succeeding John Pont, who had announced relinquishing his coaching duties seventeen days prior on November 14 while remaining as the university's athletic director.[3]

Both Pont and Venturi were dismissed on November 18, 1980, after the Wildcats went 1–31–1 (.045) in three seasons, ending with twenty consecutive losses.[4] The losing streak lasted an NCAA Division I-record 34 games, finally broken in 1982.[5] Additionally, all but one of the black players on the football team had protested against the unequal treatment of African-American student athletes within the program.[6]

Venturi was succeeded by Dennis Green one month later on December 23.[7]

After leaving Northwestern, Venturi spent twelve years as an assistant with the Indianapolis Colts, beginning in 1982 when the team was still located in Baltimore. He would eventually rise to defensive coordinator. He also served as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and St. Louis Rams.

Venturi also served as interim head coach of the Colts in 1991 and the Saints in 1996, with a career record of 2–17 (.105).

Broadcasting career

He now serves as the analyst on the Colts Radio Network.[8]

Personal life

Venturi married the former Cheri Rotello of Rockford, Illinois, with whom he had two children, a boy and a girl.[9]

His late father, Joe Venturi, is a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Joe coached at Pekin High School in Illinois. His brother, John is also a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. John coached at Washington High School where he won the 1985 Class 4A State Championship. John's 1983 Washington team was the 4A Runner-Up.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Northwestern Wildcats (Big Ten Conference) (1978–1980)
1978 Northwestern 0–10–1 0–8–1 10th
1979 Northwestern 1–10 0–9 10th
1980 Northwestern 0–11 0–9 10th
Northwestern: 1–31–1 0–26–1
Total: 1–31–1

NFL

Team Year Regular Season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
IND* 1991 1 10 0 .091 5th in AFC East – – – –
IND Total 1 10 0 .091 – – –
NO* 1996 1 7 0 .125 5th in NFC West – – – –
NO Total 1 7 0 .125 – – –
Total 2 17 0 .105

* Interim head coach.

References

  1. ^ "People in Sports...," The New York Times, Friday, December 2, 1977. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  2. ^ "Northwestern tabs Venturi". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. December 2, 1977. p. E7.
  3. ^ "Pont Quitting as Northwestern Coach," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, November 14, 1977. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Rosen, Ron. "Griffith Wallows in Record Red Ink," The Washington Post, Wednesday, November 19, 1980. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "Northwestern Finally Wins," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, September 25, 1982. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Monaghan, Shane. "35 years before Missouri, Northwestern athletes pushed for racial equality," Medill Reports Chicago (Northwestern University), Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Dennis Green, 31, Stanford offensive coordinator, today was appointed...," United Press International (UPi), Tuesday, December 23, 1980. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Colts Name Former Coach Rick Venturi the New Color Analyst in the Radio Booth". Stampedeblue.com. September 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Indianapolis Colts: 1992 Official Yearbook. Westport, CT: Professional Team Publications, 1992; p. 13.