| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive line |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1943-08-27)August 27, 1943 (age 82) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 238 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Roosevelt School(Lake Wales, Florida) |
| College | Florida A&M |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| 1968–1969 | Denver Broncos |
| 1970–1971 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1972 | Houston Oilers |
| 1973 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 1974–1975 | Memphis Southmen |
| 1976–1977 | Toronto Argonauts |
Coaching | |
| 1980–1985 | Miami Edison Senior HS (FL) (Head coach) |
| 1986–1988 | Florida A&M (Defensive coordinator) |
| 1989–1993 | Texas Southern (Head coach) |
| 1994–1997 | Florida A&M (Offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator) |
| 2000 | Toronto Argonauts (Defensive line) |
| 2000 | Toronto Argonauts (Interim head coach) |
| 2006 | Selma HS (AL) (Defensive coordinator) |
| Awards and highlights | |
Stats atPro Football Reference  | |
Walter "Buzz" Highsmith (August 27, 1943) is an American formergridiron football player and coach. He played professionally in theAmerican Football League (AFL),Canadian Football League (CFL),World Football League (WFL), andNational Football League (NFL) as anoffensive lineman. Highsmith served as the head football coach atTexas Southern University from 1989 to 1993, compiling a record of 19–34–2.
Highsmith started his career with theDenver Broncos of the AFL, playing 23 games in two seasons. He next played with theMontreal Alouettes for two years and 22 games, winning theGrey Cup championship in 1970. He then headed to theHouston Oilers of the NFL, playing nine games in one season. Highsmith returned to the Montreal Alouettes in 1973, playing only one game. TheMemphis Southmen of the new WFL called, and he played two seasons with them. He finished his career back in the CFL with theToronto Argonauts, playing 21 games over two years.[1]
After retiring, Highsmith remained in the Montreal area and worked as a physical education teacher in theWest Island. In 1980, he moved to Florida to become a teacher and football coach atMiami Edison Senior High School.[2] He then served as the defensive coordinator atFlorida A&M until 1989, when he became the head football coach atTexas Southern.[3] Over five seasons, he compiled a 19–34–2 record and coached 22 players who signed NFL contracts, includingPro Football Hall of FamerMichael Strahan.[4][5] He was fired after a 2–9 1993 campaign that included six consecutive losses to end the season.[6] He returned to Florida A&M as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He was fired in 1998 after theTallahassee Democrat reported that Highsmith has possible violated NCAA rules.[7] He was the Toronto Argonauts defensive line coach in 2000 and served as interim head coach for two games following the resignation ofJohn Huard.[8] In 2006, he was the defensive coordinator atSelma High School inSelma, Alabama.[9]
Highsmith is the father of former NFL playerAlonzo Highsmith and uncle of former NFL playerAli Highsmith.[10]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Southern Tigers(Southwestern Athletic Conference)(1989–1993) | |||||||||
| 1989 | Texas Southern | 3–7–1 | 3–3–1 | 5th | |||||
| 1990 | Texas Southern | 4–7 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1991 | Texas Southern | 5–5–1 | 3–3–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1992 | Texas Southern | 5–6 | 3–4 | T–4th | |||||
| 1993 | Texas Southern | 2–9 | 1–6 | 7th | |||||
| Texas Southern: | 19–34–2 | 12–20–2 | |||||||
| Total: | 19–34–2 | ||||||||