Posted on Sun, Nov. 14, 2004
CHARLES SPIELMAN
Keeping football all in the family
Charles Spielman, who is the father of Dolphins GM Rick and former Lions linebacker Chris, has returned to coaching.
By ROMAN O. GARCIA JR.
[email protected]
Football has been in Charles Spielman's family for more than 40 years.
That tradition doesn't appear to be ending any time soon.
Spielman, father of Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman and Chris Spielman, the coach/general manager of the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League and former linebacker with the Detroit Lions, had retired in 1988 from coaching.
The elder Spielman, called ''Sonny'' by those close to him, is coaching again.
He has spent the past four seasons as an assistant at Krop High School in Ives Estates. He is the current quarterbacks coach for the Lightning (4-5), which finished fifth in District 10-6A. Spielman has also coached linebackers and offensive linemen.
SECOND CHANCE
''A lot of guys at my age don't get a second chance at doing something that they love to do,'' the 67-year-old coach said. ``Mike [Searcy] has given me that chance along with the administration.''
Spielman met Searcy at the Ohio State summer football camp four years ago, and they had an instant connection. Searcy had just gotten the job at Krop when they met.
Jokingly, Spielman told Searcy that if he ever had an opening, he was an old retired coach who would be willing to work. Two days later, Searcy called to offer him a coaching job.
''I had heard about all the great athletes that Florida had,'' Spielman said. ``After spending all my life in Ohio, I wanted to see what it was like coaching and competing with all the great athletes in Florida.''
Spielman, who has a home in Ohio, played four years of high school football at Canton Central Catholic before playing college ball at St. Joseph's College in Indiana.
''Back when I played in the inner city of Ohio, all we had was a pair of socks and leather hats for equipment,'' Spielman said. ``We played pick-up games on the weekends, because back in those days, there was no such thing as Optimist leagues.''
Spielman started coaching in 1959 at his alma mater, Canton Central Catholic, as an assistant. He moved to Canton McKinley as an assistant from 1965-1970, and then got his first head-coaching job as he led Timken Vocational School from 1970-1980.
He then became an assistant coach at Massillon Washington High School from 1980-1988. While there, he spent time as athletic director, assistant principal and coached other sports.
''Adding the experience that he [Charles] has brought can't be matched,'' said Searcy, who is in his fourth season as head coach at Krop.
``He is someone that I look up to and brings a lot of wisdom to our staff.''
After retiring from coaching in 1988, Spielman did many things ranging from helping rebuild a historic restaurant to working in public relations.
So what brought him back to coaching?
AN ADDICTION
''I'm addicted to the sport. Once you get it into your blood, it is very hard to get it out,'' he said.
Rick and Chris both played for their father in high school.
''I give Rick a lot of credit,'' Charles Spielman said. ``Chris got most of the headlines, but Rick always complimented and reinforced Chris to get him to the next level.''
Now, he has both his kids working in football.
''I respect the work that Rick does, and we talk every so often, but he calls from all over,'' Charles Spielman said. ``We don't talk much football, we mostly talk about family stuff.''
So with Charles coaching at Krop, Rick as the Dolphins' GM and Chris being the general manager and coach in Columbus, it looks like the Spielman name and football will be synonymous for many years to come.
