 Kollar with the Bengals | |||||||
| No. 68, 77 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | (1952-11-27)November 27, 1952 (age 72) Warren, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Warren G. Harding (Warren, Ohio) | ||||||
| College | Montana State (1971–1973) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1974: 1st round, 23rd overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
Playing | |||||||
Coaching | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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William Wallace Kollar (born November 27, 1952) is an Americanfootball coach and former player. Kollar played as adefensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL) for theCincinnati Bengals from 1974 to 1976, and theTampa Bay Buccaneers from 1977 to 1981. Kollar has 34 years of coaching experience, including the last 28 seasons coaching defensive linemen in the NFL. Before coming to Denver in 2015, he coached the defensive line for Houston (2009–2014), Buffalo (2006–2008), St. Louis (2001–2005) and Atlanta (1990–2000).
Kollar grew up inWarren, Ohio and attendedWarren G. Harding High School, graduating in 1970.[1] He then attendedMontana State University, where he was a three-time First-team All-Big Sky Conference selection and a two-time Little All-American. As a junior for the Bobcats, he was named the Big Sky Player of the Year.[2] Kollar went on to earn Most Valuable Player honors at the 1974 Senior Bowl and was inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 2014.[3] His jersey #77 has been retired by Montana State.[4]
He began coaching as a defensive assistant and special teams coach for theTampa Bay Buccaneers under coachJohn McKay in 1984. He then spent three seasons at theUniversity of Illinois, first as a graduate assistant and then a defensive line/special teams coach, and two years atPurdue University.
Kollar began his NFL coaching career as the defensive line coach for theAtlanta Falcons in 1990. He spent more than a decade (1990–2000) coaching the defensive line for the Falcons, highlighted by an NFC Championship in 1998 and an appearance inSuper Bowl XXXIII against Denver. Kollar then spent five seasons coaching the defensive line in St. Louis. Kollar’s defensive line was instrumental in the Rams’ 2001 Super Bowl run as the club ranked third in the NFL in rush defense (85.9 ypg) while tying for the seventh-most sacks (45) in the league.[5] Kollar then spent three years coaching the defensive line in Buffalo (2006–08), where he coached future All-Pro defensive tackleKyle Williams and two-time Pro Bowl defensive endAaron Schobel.[6]
Kollar joined theHouston Texans in 2009 and spent six years there, including his first five years as assistant head coach/defensive line. During his tenure with the Texans, the team ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense (329 .4 ypg) and third in the league in opponent third-down percentage (35.9).[7] Kollar’s unit adjusted to the defense’s transition to a 3–4 scheme in 2011 under Houston Defensive CoordinatorWade Phillips. The Texans went on to post the third-largest defensive turnaround (−91.2 ypg) in NFL history in 2011.[8] Defensive endsMario Williams,Antonio Smith andJ. J. Watt combined for five Pro Bowls playing for Kollar in Houston.[9]
After the 2014 season, Kollar left the Texans and became theDenver Broncos defensive line coach, where he reunited withGary Kubiak.[10] On February 7, 2016, Kollar was part of the Broncos coaching staff that wonSuper Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated theCarolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.[11]
Kollar and his wife, Jan, have two sons, Chad and Clint.[12]
In 1995, Kollar was inducted into his hometown Warren Sports Hall of Fame.[13] On April 10, 2014, he was named to theSenior Bowl Hall of Fame, commemorating the 40th anniversary of his being named MVP of the annual college all-star game.[14]
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