Complete Linebacking »

Lou Tepper is one of football's most widely respected defensive coaches. He has coached 20 linebackers who have gone on to play professional football, including three Butkus Award winners-Alfred Williams, Dana Howard, and Kevin Hardy-and one Butkus Award runner-up. He directed nationally ranked defenses at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, the University of Colorado, and the University of Illinois, the last of which became known as "Linebacker University" during his nine-year stay.

After serving as Illinois' defensive coordinator and as assistant head coach to John Mackovic from 1988 to 1991, Tepper was promoted to head coach. In five seasons he guided the Illini to three bowl appearances, including a 30-0 victory in the 1994 Liberty Bowl. During his tenure as head coach at Illinois, 91 percent of the team's seniors graduated. Tepper also developed a racial harmony policy for which he received a Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

Tepper graduated from Rutgers University, where he was a standout defensive back. He went on to assist Jim Root at the University of New Hampshire and the College of William and Mary from 1968 to 1977, Bill Dooley at Virginia Tech from 1978 to 1982, and Bill McCartney at the University of Colorado from 1983 to 1987.

Tepper was named the 1990 Assistant Coach of the Year in the Big Ten Conference by The Sporting News. He served as chairman of the Big Ten Head Football Coaches organization in 1996. For three years he was a member of the American Football Coaches Association Ethics Committee, headed by American Football Coaches Association executive director, Grant Teaff. A charter member and chairman of the Illinois State Board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Tepper is an active speaker for FCA and Promise Keepers, an organization headed by his former coaching colleague Bill McCartney.

Tepper and his wife, Karen, have two children, Matthew and Stacy Ann. His favorite leisure activities include reading, jogging, and racquetball.

Learn linebacking from the coach of three Butkus Award winners! Lou Tepper coached Alfred Williams, Dana Howard, and Kevin Hardy to college football's annual award for best linebacker and 20 linebackers who have gone on to play professional football.

In Complete Linebacking , Coach Tepper presents the most in-depth book ever written on the subject. Players and coaches receive a clinic on fundamentals, pre-snap keys, and techniques used by inside and outside linebackers in 9 specific defenses. The book also includes 4 key linebacker diagnostic tests, 33 drills to improve linebacking skills, and special practice and game grading systems to help evaluate and maximize performance at the most important defensive position.

About the Author

Lou Tepper is one of football's most widely respected defensive coaches. He has coached 20 linebackers who have gone on to play professional football, including three Butkus Award winners-Alfred Williams, Dana Howard, and Kevin Hardy-and one Butkus Award runner-up. He directed nationally ranked defenses at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, the University of Colorado, and the University of Illinois, the last of which became known as "Linebacker University" during his nine-year stay.

After serving as Illinois' defensive coordinator and as assistant head coach to John Mackovic from 1988 to 1991, Tepper was promoted to head coach. In five seasons he guided the Illini to three bowl appearances, including a 30-0 victory in the 1994 Liberty Bowl. During his tenure as head coach at Illinois, 91 percent of the team's seniors graduated. Tepper also developed a racial harmony policy for which he received a Martin Luther King Jr. Award.

Tepper graduated from Rutgers University, where he was a standout defensive back. He went on to assist Jim Root at the University of New Hampshire and the College of William and Mary from 1968 to 1977, Bill Dooley at Virginia Tech from 1978 to 1982, and Bill McCartney at the University of Colorado from 1983 to 1987.

Tepper was named the 1990 Assistant Coach of the Year in the Big Ten Conference by The Sporting News. He served as chairman of the Big Ten Head Football Coaches organization in 1996. For three years he was a member of the American Football Coaches Association Ethics Committee, headed by American Football Coaches Association executive director, Grant Teaff. A charter member and chairman of the Illinois State Board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Tepper is an active speaker for FCA and Promise Keepers, an organization headed by his former coaching colleague Bill McCartney.

Tepper and his wife, Karen, have two children, Matthew and Stacy Ann. His favorite leisure activities include reading, jogging, and racquetball.

Chapter 1. Physical Qualities

Chapter 2. Linebacker Intangibles

Chapter 3. Hit and Shed

Chapter 4. Pursuit

Chapter 5. Tackling

Chapter 6. Zone Coverage Skills

Chapter 7. Man Coverage Skills

Chapter 8. First: 12 Seconds

Chapter 9. Final: 12 Seconds

Chapter 10. Linebacker Technique Terminology

Chapter 11. 32 Technique

Chapter 12. 31 Technique

Chapter 13. 51 and 52 Techniques

Chapter 14. Hawk Technique

Chapter 15. Middle Linebacker Technique

Chapter 16. 5 Techniques

Chapter 17. 7 and 9 Techniques

Chapter 18. Teaching Style

Chapter 19. Practice Organization

Chapter 20. Linebacker Grading