Hudson Houck, Former CV Coach, Now With Chargers

Hudson Houck, who served two different years in the 1960s as an assistant coach with the Crescenta Valley High football program, is starting his third season as an offensive line coach with the San Diego Chargers.

Born in Los Angeles, Houck graduated from Eagle Rock High and then from USC where he played center for the Trojans for three years.

He got his first coaching job with the Falcons in 1966. His coaching career was interrupted by a two-year stint in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Following his discharge from the military he returned to CV in 1969 for another season as an assistant coach.

For the next 12 years, he spent his time coaching at the major college level. First as a freshman coach with USC for two seasons and then as an offensive line coach for Stanford University.

He returned to USC in 1976 and for the next seven seasons, under head coach John Robinson, was the Trojans’ offensive line coach.

Houck, 61, began his more than 21-year NFL coaching career right in his own back yard by joining the Los Angeles Rams and coach Robinson in 1983. For the following nine seasons, which were some of the best the Rams had before they moved to St. Louis, Houck handled offensive line duties.

Under his guidance, the Rams’ offensive line led the way for such 1,000 yard rushers as Eric Dickerson, including five seasons (1983-1987) in which a Los Angeles back won the NFL rushing title. In those days, rushing wasn’t the only weapon available to the Rams. The team’s quarterback, Jim Everett, passed for more yards from 1989 to 1991 than any other quarterback in the NFL. Due to the pass protection that Houck’s offensive line provided, Everett didn’t miss a start for four seasons (1988-1991).

During his years with the Rams, no teams sent more offensive linemen to the Pro Bowl than Los Angeles. Five Rams’ linemen made the trip to Hawaii for the game 21 times, including Jackie Slater (seven trips) and Doug Smith (six times).

In 1992, Houck ended his 16-year collaboration with Robinson to become the offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks.

His time in the Pacific Northwest lasted only a season as he joined the Dallas Cowboys to become their offensive line coach.

In his nine seasons with the Texas team, he accomplished much the same thing with Dallas as he did with the Rams. He helped to mold the Cowboys’ offensive line into one of the top squads in NFL history.

During his time with Dallas, the Cowboys allowed only 237 sacks in 144 regular-season games which was an average of about one-and-a-half sacks a game. in addition, Dallas was only one of three NFL teams to allow fewer than 40 sacks in each of Houck’s nine seasons with the club.

In addition, six Dallas linemen made 22 trips to the Pro Bowl while he was the team’s offensive line coach, more than any other NFL team during that time.

Houck joined the Chargers as their offensive line coach in 2002 and even though his teams haven’t performed as well as the Rams or the Cowboys, Houck has had his moments.

In his first season with San Diego, the Chargers’ offensive line did contribute to running back LaDainian Tomlinson gaining enough yards to become the second leading rusher in the NFL that season.

The team also provided enough coverage for quarterback Drew Brees to get sacked only 24 times, fifth fewest in the league in 2002.

Houck now resides with his wife in La Jolla. They have three children.