Post by TheShadow on Jun 12, 2008 16:45:30 GMT -5
www.contracostatimes.com
By Steve Corkran
Staff writer
John Rauch, the man who succeeded Al Davis as Raiders coach more than four decades ago, died Tuesday at the age of 80 at his home in Oldsmar, Fla.
Rauch's wife, Jane, reportedly said her husband died in his sleep, possibly from a heart problem.
Rauch joined the Raiders in 1963, the year Davis became head coach and general manager. He took over for Davis in the 1966 season, when Davis became commissioner of the American Football League, and, in Rauch's second season, guided the Raiders to the first of their five Super Bowl appearances.
"Our hearts go out to his family, whom we knew well," the Raiders said in a statement. "John Rauch gave us several great years as an assistant and head coach for the Oakland Raiders, and he took us to our first Super Bowl in 1967.
"They were memorable years for the Raiders, and they will never be forgotten, and they should not be forgotten."
Rauch coached the Raiders to a 33-8-1 record in his three seasons. He left in 1969 to coach the Buffalo Bills and was replaced by John Madden.
"Anytime you follow Mr. Davis as head coach, everybody will have all eyes on you watching what you can do," Raiders defensive backs coach Willie Brown told The Associated Press. Brown played for Rauch in 1967-68 at the beginning of a Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
"John did quite well, no question about it," Brown said. "He had learned from Mr. Davis the necessary things to be a coach. Mr. Davis was pleased with it, I was pleased with it. He took us to the Super Bowl. All the players loved him. We all stood behind him and played hard for him."
Rauch remains the winningest coach in franchise history in terms of won-loss percentage.
Rauch coached the Bills for two seasons and also worked as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons.