Dick Hoak

Richard John Hoak (born December 8, 1939) is an American former professional football player and coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Steelers as a running back. Hoak played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL draft. He played for the Steelers from 1961 to 1970, and then became the longest tenured coach in the team's history, from 1972 to 2007.

Early life Hoak was born on December 8, 1939, in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. Hoak was a star quarterback, and defensive back, at Jeannette High School. He led Jeannette to a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) 3A title in 1956. He was named All-State and All-WPIAL.

Hoak additionally played three years on Jeannette's basketball team, leading the team in scoring as a senior and setting a single game scoring record (39 points). He was named All-WPIAL in basketball, as well as to the All-Section basketball team. Hoak also earned three letters in track. He graduated in 1957. As a junior in 1959, Penn State won the first Liberty Bowl (7–0 over Alabama). Penn State was again in the 1960 Liberty Bowl, winning 41–12 over Oregon. Hoak was named the game's Most Valuable Player (MVP) passing for two touchdowns, running for two touchdowns, and intercepting two passes.

As a senior in 1960, he was voted the Nittany Lion's MVP by his teammates and by the Penn State Quarterback Club. Hoak had an impressive career, amassing 3,965 rushing yards in 1132 attempts (3.5 avg) with 25 touchdowns. He also caught 146 passes for 1,452 yards (9.9 avg) and 8 touchdowns. and led the team in rushing three times. He retired after the 1970 season as Pittsburgh's number 2 all-time rusher, and is currently eighth all time in rushing yards out of all Steelers (as of the 2025 season).

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving GP GS Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1961 PIT 14 7 85 302 3.6 22 0 3 18 6.0 7 0 1962 PIT 14 6 117 442 3.8 39 4 9 133 14.8 23 0 1963 PIT 12 12 216 679 3.1 17 6 11 118 10.7 23 1 1964 PIT 14 7 84 258 3.1 17 2 12 137 11.4 22 3 1965 PIT 14 11 131 426 3.3 42 5 19 228 12.0 48 1 1966 PIT 13 10 81 212 2.6 16 1 23 239 10.4 31 0 1967 PIT 14 2 52 142 2.7 11 1 17 111 6.5 20 1 1968 PIT 14 13 175 858 4.9 77 3 28 253 9.0 30 1 1969 PIT 14 13 151 531 3.5 13 2 20 190 9.5 26 1 1970 PIT 12 0 40 115 2.9 13 1 4 25 6.3 18 0 Career 135 81 1,132 3,965 3.5 77 25 146 1,452 9.9 48 8

Coaching career After a highly successful playing career, Hoak was hired by then-coach Chuck Noll as the Steelers' running backs coach in 1972, and served in that position for 35 seasons. He passed on the head coaching job with the USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers when offered it in 1983 because it would have been disloyal to the Rooneys (the Steelers ownership family). and Hoak was the only one of Noll's assistants retained under his successor, Bill Cowher.

During his tenure, the Steelers rushed for over 30,000 yards (the only team to do so in this time period) and led the league in rushing yards three times. He was the position coach for Steeler greats Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis. Harris and Bettis are the first and second all-time Steeler leading rushers, Hoak being number eight on that list (through the 2024 season). Over his 35 years as a Steeler's coach, the team won five Super Bowls and numerous AFC Championships. In 2017, Hoak was inducted as an inaugural member of the Steelers Hall of Honor. In 1968, he received the Dapper Dan Award.

Personal life Hoak lives in Hempfield Township, Pennsylvania. Hoak's wife, Lynn, died March 9, 2019.