Rick Venturi

Rick Venturi (born February 23, 1946) is a former American football player, coach, and current broadcaster. He served as the head coach at Northwestern University and as longtime National Football League (NFL) assistant coach known for his defense.

Alumnus Venturi was hired by Northwestern on December 1, 1977,[1][2] succeeding John Pont, who had announced relinquishing his coaching duties seventeen days prior on November 14 while remaining as the university's athletic director.[3] Both Pont and Venturi were dismissed on November 18, 1980, after the Wildcats went 1–31–1 (.045) in three seasons, ending with twenty consecutive losses.[4] The losing streak lasted a NCAA Division I-record 34 games, finally broken in 1982.[5] Additionally, all but one of the black players on the football team had protested against the unequal treatment of African-American student athletes within the program.[6] Venturi was succeeded by Dennis Green one month later on December 23.[7]

After leaving Northwestern, Venturi spent twelve years as an assistant with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, eventually rising to defensive coordinator. He also served as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, and St. Louis Rams.

Venturi also served as interim head coach of the Colts in 1991 and the Saints in 1996, with a career record of 2–17 (.105). He now serves as the analyst on the Colts Radio Network. [8]

Venturi played quarterback at Rockford Auburn High School in Illinois as a sophomore and junior, and then at Pekin High School for his senior year before enrolling at Northwestern. While at Northwestern he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity. His father, Joe Venturi, was a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. Joe coached at Pekin High School in Illinois. His brother, John is also a member of the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. John coached at Washington High School where he won the 1985 Class 4A State Championship. John's 1983 Washington team was the 4A Runner-Up.