Aurora University Thursday, Nov. 15 announced National Football League (NFL) legend Don Beebe is the Spartans football head coach. Beebe, highly regarded by coaches, players, and fans for his strong character, robust work ethic and perseverance, embodies Aurora University athletics’ core values of academic success, social responsibility, and athletic championships.
Beebe, a wide receiver in the NFL for nine years, including six Super Bowl game appearances and one Super Bowl championship, is widely known for his never-say-die grit best displayed in Super Bowl XXVII when he denied Leon Lett of the Dallas Cowboys an easy touchdown after a fumble recovery and run to the goal line.
“I am honored to coach AU football, drawing on my NFL, coaching, and training experience and bringing it home where my roots are, where I was born and raised my family, and still live,” said Beebe, 53. “I knew mentoring kids was my calling when I retired and sports is my avenue to do that. I care about my players and want to instill in them the importance of never settling for mediocrity. I want our Spartan football players to think big. With hard work and commitment, they can and will achieve great things.”
After retiring from the NFL, Beebe founded House of Speed, in Aurora, which specializes in training athletes to perform better by enhancing speed and character. He was head coach at Aurora Christian High School for 10 seasons when the teams captured two State championships, including three other seasons in which they qualified for semifinal rounds.
“Bringing in Don Beebe raises the ceiling quite a bit for recruiting and leading our drive to win conference championships and compete on a national level,” said Jim Hamad, director of athletics at Aurora University. “And while we are thrilled to have an NFL veteran coach our student athletes, it is Don’s mentorship on and off the field that gives us the most excitement. Don has led a life of character and integrity and we are confident our students will respond to his guidance. I think the future is brighter than ever for AU athletics.”
“We have a talented football team and we want to give our athletes every opportunity to be successful,” said Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D., president of Aurora University. “We are confident that Don will help us elevate our game to new levels.”
Beebe grew up not far from Aurora University in Sugar Grove, Ill. and was graduated from Kaneland High School. He attended Aurora University and played Spartan basketball for one season. Later, when he played football at Chadron State College in western Nebraska, his speed caught the eye of NFL scouts. He was invited to NFL combine trials in Indianapolis in 1989 where he (and Deion Sanders each) ran the 40-yard dash in a record-setting 4.25 seconds. Beebe was the Buffalo Bills’ first pick in the draft.
Beebe was the first NFL player to take the field in six Super Bowls, four with the Buffalo Bills and two with the Green Bay Packers. He was a pass receiver on ine Green Bay Super Bowl victory. He holds numerous records, including the Buffalo Bills record for most touchdowns in one game, four. Buffalo Bills’ head coach during the four Super Bowl appearances, Marv Levy, said Beebe, “showed what a fighting heart is all about. He gave everything he had all of the time.”
After retiring from the NFL, Beebe founded House of Speed in Aurora with Dr. Jeff Schutt in 1998. House of Speed has trained 100,000 athletes of various levels and sports, including more than 40 professional athletes such as Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo and Michael Turner, former Northern Illinois University star and later of the Atlanta Falcons. Beebe coached football at Aurora Christian High School from 2004 to 2013, and led teams to three State championship game appearances and two championships.
Beebe is a sought-after motivational speaker and in 2012 published a memoir, “Six Rings from Nowhere” which is a chronicle of his journey from construction worker to NFL record-holder. He lives in Aurora with his wife, Diana. Their son, Chad, is in his first season as a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. Two of his three daughters play volleyball, one in high school and one in college, and his third daughter recently gave birth to the Beebes’ first grandchild. He is involved in charitable organizations, including Make-A-Wish Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
— Aurora University