Remembering Gary Moeller

Photo By: The Detriot News

Gary Moeller, who, unfortunately, passed away in July 2022, is a Lima Senior Alum and attended Lima Senior from 1955-59. Moeller attended Ohio State University. He saw his first action on the varsity football team in 1960 as an offensive guard. He switched to linebacker in 1961 and was named an honorable mention all-conference selection by United Press International (UPI) and Associated Press (AP). Moeller served as co-captain in his senior year at OSU. After graduating in 1963, Moeller was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 5th round of the NFL Draft, but did not play for the team. He instead played for the Grand Rapids Blazers of the United Football League (UFL). Moeller quit professional football during the 1964 training camp and entered the coaching ranks with Bellefontaine High School in Ohio. He served there as head coach and defensive line coach for several years until joining Bo Schembechler at Miami University in 1967. Moeller was hired by the University of Illinois as head football coach in 1977, on a five-year contract. Moeller rejoined Michigan in 1980 as an assistant to head coach Bo Schembechler. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1982. He led the Michigan defense from 1982 until his position being changed to offensive coordinator in 1987. After three seasons as offensive coordinator, Moeller was named Schembechler's successor as Michigan head coach in 1990. Moeller then Began coaching in the NFL in 1995. In 2000, Moeller was named head coach for the Detroit Lions. Moeller was the linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears until 2003, which is the time he stopped coaching.