Head Coach: Bill Cowher
Pro Career: Begins his sixth season as the fifteenth head coach in Steelers' history, replacing Chuck Noll on January 21, 1992. Cowher led the Steelers, to an 11-5 regular-season record in 1995 and, at age 38, became the youngest coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.
Cowher is only the third coach in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs during his first five seasons as head coach. During Cowher's 12-year coaching career, teams he has been associated with have made the postseason 11 times.
Began his NFL career as a free-agent linebacker with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1979, and then signed with the Cleveland Browns the following year. Cowher played three seasons (1980-82) in Cleveland before being traded back to the Eagles, where he played two more years (1983-84).
Cowher began his coaching career in 1985 at age 28 under Marty Schottenheimer with the Cleveland Browns. He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985-86 and secondary coach in 1987-88 before following Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989 as defensive coordinator.
Career record: 58-33
Background: Excelled in football, basketball, and track for Carlynton High in Carnegie, Pa. Was a
three-year starter at linebacker for North Carolina State, serving as captain and earning team MVP
honors as senior. Graduated in 1979 with education degree.
Personal: Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on May 8, 1957. His wife Kaye, also a North Carolina State graduate, played professional basketball for the New York Stars of the Women�s Professional Basketball League with twin sister Faye. Bill and Kaye live in Pittsburgh and have three daughters�Meagan Lyn, Lauren Marie, and Lindsay Morgan.
Mike Archer, linebackers; born July 26, 1953, State College, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Safety/punter Miami 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Miami 1978-83, Louisiana State 1984-90, Virginia 1991-92, Kentucky 1993-95. Pro coach: Joined the Steelers in 1996.
Dave Culley, receivers; born September 17, 1955, Sparta, Tenn., lives in Pittsburgh. Quarterback Vanderbilt 1973-77. No pro playing experience. College coach: Austin Peay 1978, Vanderbilt 1979-81, Middle Tennessee State 1982, Tennessee-Chattanooga 1983, Western Kentucky 1984, Southwestern Louisiana 1985-88, Texas-El Paso 1989-90, Texas A&M 1991-93. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1994-95, joined Steelers in 1996.
Offensive coordinator; VACANT
Jim Haslett, defensive coordinator; born Decenber 9, 1955, Pittsburgh, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive end Indiana University (Pa.) 1975-78. Linebacker Buffalo Bills 1979-86, New York Jets 1987. College coach: Buffalo 1988-90. Pro coach: Sacramento Surge (World League) 1991-92, Los Angeles Raiders 1993-94, New Orleans Saints 1995-96, joined Steelers in 1997.
Dick Hoak, running backs; born December 8, 1939, Jeannette, Pa., lives in Greensburg, Pa. Halfback-quarterback Penn State 1958-60. Pro running back Pittsburgh Steelers 1961-70. Pro coach: Joined Steelers in 1972.
Jim Lewis, defensive backs; born December 18, 1961, Quakertown, Pa., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive back Pittsburgh 1979-82. Pro cornerback Green Bay Packers 1983-86. College coach: Texas A&M 1987-88, Southern Methodist 1989-92, Pittsburgh 1993-94. Pro coach: Joined Steelers in 1995.
Mike Mularkey, tight ends; born November 19, 1961, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., lives in Pittsburgh. Tight end Florida 1979-82. Pro tight end Minnesota Vikings 1983-88, Pittsburgh Steelers 1989-91. College coach: Concordia 1993. Pro coach: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1994-95, joined Steelers in 1996.
John Mitchell, defensive line; born October 14, 1951, Mobile, Ala., lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive end Eastern Arizona J.C. 1969-70, Alabama 1971-72. No pro playing experience. College coach: Alabama 1973-76, Arkansas 1977-82, Temple 1986, Louisiana State 1987-90. Pro coach: Birmingham Stallions (USFL) 1983-85, Cleveland Browns 1991-93, joined Steelers in 1994.
Kent Stephenson, offensive line; born February 4, 1942, Anita, Iowa, lives in Pittsburgh. Guard-nose tackle Northern Iowa 1962-64. No pro playing experience. College coach: Wayne State 1965-68, North Dakota 1969-71, Southern Methodist 1972-73, Iowa 1974-76, Oklahoma State 1977-78, Kansas 1979-82. Pro coach: Michigan Panthers (USFL) 1983-84, Seattle Seahawks 1985-91, joined Steelers in 1992.
Ron Zook, special teams; born April 28, 1954, Ashland, Ohio, lives in Pittsburgh. Defensive back Miami (Ohio) 1972-75. No pro playing experience. College coach: Murray State 1978-80, Cincinnati 1981-82, Kansas 1983, Tennessee 1984-86, Virginia Tech 1987, Ohio State 1988-90, Florida 1991-95. Pro coach: Joined the Steelers in 1996.
