Barry Switzer

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Lore & Background

Switzer was born on October 5, 1937, in Crossett, Arkansas. His father Frank Mays Switzer was convicted of bootlegging and served five months in prison. His mother took her own life on August 26, 1959. His father was murdered on November 16, 1972. Switzer played football at the University of Arkansas, where he was a tri-captain in 1959. He later became an assistant coach at Oklahoma and perfected the wishbone offense. He became head coach at Oklahoma in 1973, winning national championships in 1974, 1975, and 1985. He resigned in 1989 amid NCAA scandals. He was hired by the Dallas Cowboys on March 30, 1994, the day after Jimmy Johnson left.

In Their Own Story

The transition from Jimmy Johnson to Barry Switzer marked a defining moment for the franchise. Switzer was hired specifically because owner Jerry Jones believed he possessed the necessary leadership qualities to manage the team's stars while adhering to Jones' ideas. Despite not being able to assemble his own coaching staff, Switzer navigated his first season with immediate success, guiding the Cowboys to a 12–4 record and an NFC Championship berth. The season ended in heartbreak against the San Francisco 49ers. After falling behind 21–0 quickly, the team fought back to narrow the gap to 24–14 before halftime. However, Switzer's decision to pass instead of run on fourth down near the end of the first half proved costly, allowing the 49ers to score a touchdown and take a 31–14 lead into the break. The game turned decisively in the fourth quarter when Switzer, incensed by an uncalled penalty against Michael Irvin, physically bumped an official while arguing the call. This infraction gave San Francisco favorable field position and contributed to the Cowboys' eventual 38–28 defeat.

Reader's Guide

Switzer's first season with the Cowboys was successful; they went 12–4 and advanced to the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers for the third straight year. In that game, the Cowboys were down 21–0 after two turnovers in the first five minutes. They narrowed the score to 24–14 with a minute to play before halftime, and Switzer elected to try and reach for more points with passes on the suggestion of offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese rather than run the ball. The source does not specify whether Switzer physically bumped an official or drew a penalty for that action.

Did You Know?

• Switzer is one of only three head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl.
• He set an NCAA rushing record of 472 yards per game in 1971 as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator.
• Switzer's father was a bootlegger who served five months in prison.
• He was sued by the SEC for insider trading in 1983, but the case was dismissed.