Ellis Rainsberger
Ellis D. Rainsberger is a football coach who has held a number of jobs in college football and pro football, including head coach of the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. He was most recently a scout with the Miami Dolphins (2005-2007) and the Tennessee Titans (2000-2004).
Rainsberger was a three-year football letterman at Kansas State University in the 1950s, as well as a two-time All-Big Eight Conference selection. He was also a letterman for the Kansas State wrestling team. Rainsberger returned to his alma mater to serve as head football coach from 1975 to 1977. He started quickly at Kansas State, winning his first three games, but ultimately compiled a record of 6-27. Further, Rainsberger left Kansas State under a cloud when his program was placed on probation for giving too many scholarships.
Following his termination at Kansas State, Rainsberger served as offensive coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League from 1978 to 1982. He spent the 1983 season as an assistant coach with the Denver Gold of the USFL. In 1984, he was interim head coach of the Pittsburgh Maulers for the second half of the season. Notably, the head coach he replaced, Joe Pendry, had been Rainsberger's offensive coordinator at Kansas State.
Before his term at Kansas State, Rainsberger served as the head coach for NAIA-level Washburn from 1962 to 1964 (posting a record of 17-10 and earning a conference championship). His record at Washburn ranks him ninth in terms of total wins and tenth in terms of winning percentage.[1]
He later went to become the 11th coach of the Southern Illinois Salukis for one season in 1966 (with a record of 4-5-1). This ranks him 13th at SIU in terms of total wins and eighth at SIU in terms of winning percentage.[2]
During his long career, Rainsberger has also held a number of assistant coaching positions in the college ranks. He worked as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois from 1967 to 1972, and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1973 to 1974. He also held assistant coach positions at Drake (1959-1961), the University of Kansas (1965), and the University of Toledo (1989-1991).[3]
References
- ^ http://www.wusports.com/documents/2007/7/30/07fbguide-127-137-history1.pdf?id=69
- ^ Southern Illinois Coaching Records
- ^ Fitzgerald, Tim. (2001) Wildcat Gridiron Guide: Past & Present Stories About K-State Football ISBN 0-9703458-0-1