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Frank Gansz Obituary
Frank Gansz, who served as the Chiefs head coach during 1987-88 has died, the club announced Monday night. He was 70.
Gansz's teams went 4-11 and 4-11-1 before he was replaced by Marty Schottenheimer in 1989.
Gansz's real forte was as a special teams' coach. He served as the Chiefs' special teams coach in 1981 and 1982 and again in 1986.
The signature game of the 1986 season was a season-ending 24-19 win over Pittsburgh which sent the Chiefs to their first playoff appearance in 15 years. All 24 points were scored by the special teams — on the return of a blocked punt; return of a blocked field goal; a kickoff return and a field goal.
Gansz most recently served as the special teams coach for SMU in 2008.
Gansz concluded his NFL coaching career with a two-year stint as Jacksonville's Jaguars special teams coordinator (2000-01). He joined the Jaguars after spending three seasons as Dick Vermeil's special teams coach with St. Louis, where he was part of the Rams team that posted a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV. Gansz also served as the special teams coordinator with Atlanta ('94-96) and Detroit ('89-93). In between his stints with Kansas City, he coached with the Philadelphia Eagles ('83-85). He also spent time with Cincinnati ('79-80) and San Francisco ('78).
Befor entering the NFL coaching ranks, Gansz had a successful 13-year career on the collegiate level. He enjoyed stops at UCLA ('76-77), Oklahoma State ('73, '75), Army ('74), Navy ('69-72) and Colgate ('68). He began his coaching career with the Air Force Academy ('64-66).
Gansz's son, Frank, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and served as Kansas City's special teams coach from 2001-05.
Memories and Condolences
for Frank Gansz
25 Entries
Heather Wells
August 16, 2013
Mrs. Gansz, Frank, & Jen, was saddened to hear of your loss back in '09. Thinking about you all and hoping time has healed the pain of the loss and brightened the memories. I lost my dad back in '05. Blessings to all of you. Love & hugs, Heather Risley Wells
Scott Copeland
July 5, 2011
I played a round of golf with Mr Gansz at Grandview Golf Club in Pittsburgh. He didn't even tell me he was a former NFL coach until the 12th hole when we were waiting for the group in front of us. Very nice man. I felt very bad when I read this.
Chad Lewis
May 17, 2009
Frank was the best special teams coach in the game. I was with the St. Louis Rams for a year and I loved every minute of Frank's meetings. He inspired me to be a better person and a better player. He was instrumental in my development as a player and I owe so much of what happened in my career to him.
I just wrote a book that is being published and I included Frank. The book is titled: Surround Yourself with Greatness. I wanted everyone to know about Frank's greatness and how much he influenced us as players. I considered it a gift to learn from him each day. I was with a group of players in Ohio and they told me the sad news. I am really sorry for your loss.
I love Frank Gansz and always will.
Tom Baugh
May 2, 2009
Dear "Crash" it was a hell of a ride baby... Living life on the cutting edge, performing at the highest level, there's no other way. Thanks for the inspiration. From one of the many "drilled gunners" you trained in your career. You will never be forgotten, because your spirit lives within all of those you touched.
(KC Chiefs 1986-1988)
Gerald Hood
April 30, 2009
Frank, my sympathies for the loss of your father.
Frank Gregg
April 30, 2009
Good Bye Coach. You always had the ability to see inside people and make them better people and players.
My sympathies to the family. I have to believe that Heaven needed a great coach!
Mitch & Marty Mitchell
April 30, 2009
Dear Barbara: We considered Frank to be one of the most wonderful, courtly, friendly and honorable men that we have ever known. Everyone who knew Frank admired him. He lit up our lives as I know he did yours. You have our prayers and deepest sympathy.
Jefft Gossett
April 29, 2009
Coach "Crash" Gansz,
I was the luckiest man to have you as my first special teams coach in the NFL. You made alot of good players great with your motivational speeches before the games. You will be dearly missed but never replaced or forgotten. You were a great family man as well and my prayers are with them.
L. Dan Johnson,M.D.
April 29, 2009
Dear Barbara and family: My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. I can not begin to tell you how much it meant to me, to have the honor to know "Coach" from our golfing days at the Legends. I will miss his wonderful humor, stories and most of all his friendship.
joe and rose bushofsky
April 29, 2009
Dear Barbara and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. There are no words that I can say that will ease the pain, but he was my friend and we will miss him. Frank was honest, hard working, sharp as a tack, and he new football from every aspect. He was my friend and he will be in my prayers. The world was a better place because Frank spend 70 wonderful years competing and coaching and guiding young and old players. Please take care of yourself Barbara.
john spear
April 29, 2009
To the Gansz family: My deepest sympathy. I was in Frank's high school class at Allderdice class of 56. He attended our 65th birthday reunion. He did not age. He subsequently attended meetings in preperation for our 70th. We loved hearing his life's experiences. He was a class act. We will miss him.
John Spear- Pittsburgh, Pa
Sam Lisle
April 29, 2009
Coach, thanks for the privelege of knowing you and playing for you at Oklahoma State. You were a tremendous influence in my life.
Bruce Blankenship
April 29, 2009
Our prayers are with Coach Gansz's family. I had the privilege of being recruited by Coach at Oklahoma State, and got to play for him for 2 of my 4 years there. He was inspirational and taught me more about the game than any coach I ever had. I still pass on his teachings to young men in football today. He was timeless. He was also instrumental in recruiting the groups that led to the OSU co-Big 8 championship. He will be sorely missed.
Scott Burk
April 28, 2009
Coach Ganz, and I think all of your players think of you that way, you were the best of the best. I remember your morning special team meetings at Cincinnati. Veterans would come early just to get a seat and to get some of your inspiration. Of all the coaches I had during my playing days, you stood out. The football community today is much poorer due to losing you.
Tom Christopoulos
April 28, 2009
Frank, you were a great influence in my life as a coach and a man. You coached me at Oklahoma State University. I'll never forget your high energy at practice and your belief in me as one of your players. Thank you for influencing me with your positive outlook on life as a young man. Tom Christopoulos
April 28, 2009
My condolences to the Gansz family. Frank and I go back to our teen years when we played baseball against each other. As a high school football caoch in Western Pennsylvania Frank would call on our players as a coach/recruiter at several universities. We continued parallel careers in the NFL and we would visit and laugh about the good old days in Pittsburgh. Frank will be dearly missed by all those who had the privilage of being coached by him and by all of his friends. Not only was Frank a competitor ; he competed fairly and within the rules of the game. Frank was a true warrior. Jack Bushofsky , North Side Pittsburgh , Pa.
Pat McInally
April 28, 2009
Setting aside Frank's amazing ability to motivate and coach football players, he was a singularly inspirational man to all those he touched. With such a powerful zest for life and unstoppable optimism, he is a great loss at a time when we can all use the unending smiles and laughs he always threw out to the world.
Again, such a great loss, on so many levels.
Pat McInally (Cincinnati Bengals)
Marlowe Canady
April 28, 2009
I remember this special teams coach more than any other. His special teams were the best. Sir you are going to be missed in the NFL.
Patrick Hammons
April 28, 2009
You brought special teams to a whole new level. You will be missed in Kansas City. May God bless and keep you.
Leon & Martha Everman
April 28, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring comfort to you. Please accept our deepest sympathies.
Ray Cosyn
April 28, 2009
Frank,was a beacon of hope for all Chiefs fans during the dark days before Marty and company arrived. He had moulded his special teams into a weapon that kept the Chiefs in the game when both the offense and the defense couldn't find their way. He was pure energy.
Jeff Edgmon
April 27, 2009
Frank was very simply the finest special teams coach to ever coach in the NFL, he will be missed.
Jon Depiesse
April 27, 2009
Thank you for the explosive KC Chiefs Special Teams. You were special too. You are one of the reasons I became a CHIEFS fan. The 1986 season ending game vs Pittsburgh says it all!! God keep you and bless you.
Brian Peterson
April 27, 2009
I had the opportunity to be around Mr. Ganz when he was head coach, and I had numerous opportunities to get to know Mrs. Ganz- they were a lovely couple and exceptionally nice. As will all Chiefs' fans, I will miss Frank Ganz.
Ken Sheppard
April 27, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this time of grief. I thank you and your family for allowing you to be a part of the Chiefs family. In clsoing you will be missed by the Chiefs football family and the NFL as well as all who were able to truly be apart of your life. My God bless your family and all those that you touched.
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