Craig Fertig
Biographical details
Born(1942-05-07)May 7, 1942
Bell, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 4, 2008(2008-10-04) (aged 66)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Playing career
1961–1964USC
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1965–1973USC (assistant)
1974Portland Storm (assistant)
1975USC (assistant)
1976–1979Oregon State
Head coaching record
Overall10–34–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
National (1962)

Craig Fertig (May 7, 1942 – October 4, 2008) was an American football player and coach.[1][2] He was the head football coach at Oregon State University from 1976 to 1979, compiling a record of 10–34–1 (.233) in four seasons.

Playing career

Fertig attended the University of Southern California where he was a star quarterback for the Trojans. In 1964, he set eight school passing records and threw the game-winning touchdown against top-ranked Notre Dame.[1][3][4]

Coaching career

Selected late in the 1965 NFL Draft, 270th overall, Fertig opted not to play pro football and began coaching in 1965 at USC. From 1965 to 1975, he served as an assistant coach with the Trojans, except for a year in the World Football League (WFL) in 1974. Fertig was hired as an assistant coach with the Portland Storm, but the team only lasted one season. The IRS impounded the franchise at the conclusion of the 1974 season and Fertig returned to USC as an assistant in 1975.[5]

At age 33 in December 1975, Fertig was named the head coach at Oregon State University in Corvallis, with a three-year contract at $26,000 per year.[6][7] He followed Dee Andros, who stepped down after eleven seasons and became OSU's athletic director. Fertig was fired during his fourth season in October 1979, in the second year of a three-year contract at $33,696 per year.[8][9][10][11] He coached through the end of the season,[12] and lost the finale to Oregon 24–3 in the Civil War, the Beavers' fifth straight loss to the Ducks.[13]

Fertig served as an assistant athletic director for the Trojans,[14] and was later a broadcaster.[2] In 2003, Fertig was hired as head coach of Estancia High School's varsity football team.[15] As a walk-on coach, Fertig guided the Eagles for two seasons, going 3-7 in 2003 and 4-6 in 2004.[16]

Family and death

Born in Bell, California, Fertig was from Huntington Park, where his father was chief of police.[1][17] He graduated from Huntington Park High School and enrolled at USC. Fertig's sister Trudy also attended USC and married former USC lineman Marv Marinovich; their son Todd Marinovich is Fertig's nephew.[14]

Fertig died in 2008 at age 66 of kidney failure at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach on October 4.[1][2] USC remembered him with a moment of silence at the game against Oregon that evening.[18]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Oregon State Beavers (Pacific-8 / Pacific-10 Conference) (1976–1979)
1976 Oregon State 2–10 1–6 T–7th
1977 Oregon State 3–8 1–7 T–7th
1978 Oregon State 3–7–1 2–6 9th
1979 Oregon State 2–9 1–7 10th
Oregon State: 10–34–1 5–26
Total: 10–34–1

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wharton, David (October 5, 2008). "Craig Fertig 1942–2008". Los Angeles Times. obituary. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Craig Fertig dies". USC Athletics. October 4, 2008. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  3. ^ "USC shocks Notre Dame". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 29, 1964. p. 1B.
  4. ^ "Record-setting USC quarterback, analyst Fertig dies". ESPN. Associated Press. October 4, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "Craig Fertig wants head job". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 11, 1975. p. 13.
  6. ^ Conrad, John (December 12, 1975). "Fertig tapped to succeed Dee". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  7. ^ "Fertig gets Beaver post". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 12, 1975. p. 24.
  8. ^ "Andros, board recommend that Fertig be fired". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 11, 1979. p. 3C.
  9. ^ "Fertig: coaches players bemoan lack of discipline". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 20, 1979. p. 3C.
  10. ^ "Fertig officially fired by OSU". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). October 22, 1979. p. 1B.
  11. ^ "Fertig won't be back in '80". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 23, 1979. p. 1B.
  12. ^ Conrad, John (November 23, 1979). "Keeping his head up and mouth shut". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  13. ^ Withers, Bud (November 25, 1979). "Ducks win it the way Beavers used to, 24-3". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon).
  14. ^ a b Looney, Douglas S. (February 22, 1988). "Bred to be a superstar". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  15. ^ "Estancia Hires Fertig as Coach". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 2003. p. D10. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  16. ^ "Fertig relieved as prep coach". Corvallis Gazette Times. March 16, 2005. p. B2. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  17. ^ "Craig Fertig is back of the week". Palm Beach Post. Associated Press. October 29, 1964. p. 39.
  18. ^ "Fertig, quarterback, analyst for USC, dies at 66". Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
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