Athletes - Jim E. Mora

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	Athletes - Jim E. Mora

James Earnest (Jim) Mora (b. May 24, 1935) was the former head coach of the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars, New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. He played football at Occidental College where he was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He is the father of Jim L. Mora, the current head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Early life

Mora was born May 24, 1935 in Glendale, CA.

Mora is an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Mora was a tight end at Occidental College in California and played three years of service football after graduating and then became an assistant coach at his alma mater in 1960. He moved up to head coach four years later.

Mora, who received a master's degree in education in 1967, left Occidental after compiling an 18-9 record in three seasons and served as an assistant coach at several colleges until 1978, when he became defensive line coach for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.

Football career

When the U. S. Football League was organized in 1983, Mora was named head coach of the Philadelphia Stars, who moved to Baltimore in 1985. He guided the team to a 48-13-1 record and two USFL championships. Mora was named coach of the year in 1984. The league folded after the 1985 season and Mora took over the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

He took over as head coach of the Saints in 1986. Previous to Mora, the Saints' best seasons had come in 1979 and 1983 (8-8). The closest they had ever come to making the playoffs was in the strike shortened 1982 season when 16 teams made the playoffs (New Orleans was number 17). But Mora righted the ship, taking the team to a 12-3 record in his second year, which is still the best in franchise history. However, the Saints would lose their first playoff game.

In 1988 and 1989, the Saints went 10-6 and 9-7 respectively, but missed the playoffs both times. In 1990, they dropped to 8-8, but returned to the playoffs. They would make the playoffs in 1991 with a 11-5 mark and a division title (not duplicated again by New Orleans until 2000) and again in 1992 with an 12-4 mark. However, all three years New Orleans would lose its first playoff game.

In 1993, New Orleans would complete its seventh consecutive non-losing season with an 8-8 mark. The team would then fall to 7-9 in each of the next two seasons. Mora suddenly quit in the middle of a 3-13 season in 1996, the worst season New Orleans had suffered since the 1-15 1980 season.

In 1998, Jim Mora replaced Lindy Infante as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. After a 3-13 season, Indy got the number one pick in the draft. Faced between Peyton Manning of Tennessee and Ryan Leaf of Washington State, Mora and his team selected Manning. Although Manning took every snap his rookie season, the team struggled to a second consecutive 3-13 season and missed the playoffs for the ninth time in eleven years.

Again with a high pick, Indianapolis selected Edgerrin James out of Miami. Along with Marvin Harrison at wideout, Indianapolis was loaded at the skill positions with young talent and was ready for a monster '99 season--and they would not disappoint.

Mora led his troops to a 13-3 season and a first round bye, the best season since Dom McCafferty led the team to its only Super Bowl championship in 1970 (when they were still the Baltimore Colts). However, Tennessee dominated Indy on its way to its first Super Bowl appearance. Mora was now 0-5 in the playoffs.

2000 was somewhat of a down season as Indy posted a 10-6 record. Things were looking good in the playoffs against Miami, but Mike Vanderjagt missed a field goal and Lamar Smith ran Miami down the field with a 200+ yard performance as Miami won in overtime. Mora dropped to 0-6 in the playoffs.

2001 was a terrible year as Indy slumped to a 6-10 season. It became apparent down the stretch that Mora would get fired, especially after his outburst with six games left.

After dropping to 4-6, Mora said in a press conference "Playoffs?! You want to talk about playoffs? You kidding me?! Playoffs?! I just hope we win a game! Another game!" Indianapolis only won two more games that year; Mora was fired after the season. It's important to note that sources said the reason he was ousted was because he refused to let go of one of his coordinators. It is one of the more known sports quotes.

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