Fred O'Connor

Fred O'Connor is an American football coach. He is currently Special Assistant to the Head Coach at Florida Atlantic University, and has served in coaching positions in the National Football League, the Canadian Football League, and NCAA college football.

His one experience as an NFL head coach came with San Francisco in 1978. Originally hired as the offensive coordinator for new head coach Pete McCulley, he became interim head coach after McCulley was fired nine games into the season. Inheriting a 1-8 team, O'Connor compiled a 1-6 record for the remainder of the season, before he too was terminated. Ironically this paved the way for the great Forty Niner teams of the 1980s and 1990s, as his replacement as head coach was future Hall of Fame member Bill Walsh.

Coaching Experience
Bowl Games as a Coach


 * 2010 Texas vs. The Nation All Star Game
 * 2009 Texas vs. The Nation All Star Game
 * 1977 Challenge Bowl (Pac 10 All-Stars vs. Big 10 All-Stars)
 * 1976 Senior Bowl

At Florida Atlantic University

Fred O'Connor joined the staff along with the current seniors and worked with three groups during their tenure. His first role was with the receivers. Staff assignments were shuffled, he moved to the running backs. Following the 2002 season and more reassignments he moved to the quarterbacks...in 2004 he began the season as a special assistant to the head coach, however, he easily stepped back into the role of running backs coach following a mid-season vacancy...FAU has, not one but two former NFL Head Coaches, Schnellenberger and O'Connor, on the sideline to work with the signal caller. Last season, Jared Allen ended his junior campaign with a no. 4 national ranking in quarterback efficiency. He completed more than 63% of his passes for a total of 3003 yards for an average of 214.5 per game and a record of 11–3 along the way to a semi-final NCAA finish.

Coaching Accomplishments


 * Called offensive plays and led the Chicago Bears to a third ranked offense in the NFL
 * Called all plays as Walter Payton set single-game rushing record of 275 yards vs. Minnesota
 * Position coach for three NFL Hall of Fame running backs (Walter Payton, John Riggins and O.J. Simpson)
 * Records at Villanova University: #1 offense in ECAC; #9 nationally pass offense; NCAA record for most offensive plays in a season (932)
 * Records at University of Maryland: #1 pass offense in ACC; #2 in ACC total offense
 * Led Catholic University to best record in school's history

Prominent Players Coached


 * Walter Payton (Bears)
 * John Riggins (Redskins)
 * O.J. Simpson (49ers)
 * Joe Thiesman (Redskins)
 * Art Monk (Redskins)
 * Virgil Carter (Bears)
 * Steve DeBerg (49ers)
 * Freddie Solomon (49ers)
 * Ray Guy (Southern Mississippi)
 * Mike Siani (Villanova)
 * Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson (Montreal)
 * David Overstreet (Montreal)
 * Vince Ferragamo (Montreal)