The Life of Coach Chuck Curtis: From the Spread Formation to Spreading the Word

Assistant football coach for Southern Methodist University and head coach at the University of Texas at Arlington, Chuck Curtis was born in Midlothian, Texas, on July 15, 1935, to farmers John and Bonnie Curtis. From humble beginnings in the throes of the Great Depression, Chuck Curtis would go on to become one of the most successful quarterbacks in TCU history, one of Texas football’s most interesting figures, and an Elder of the Palo Pinto Cowboy Church.

Through conversations with his collaborator, Brian Honea, Coach Curtis chronicles his greatest achievements on and off the field—from playing backup quarterback for the New York Giants under offensive coordinator Vince Lombardi and defensive coordinator Tom Landry, to banking and ranching with Mickey Mantle.

These conversations also reveal the man behind the legend—one who was divorced, nearly committed suicide, and eventually found salvation through the grace of God and the love of his wife Carole and daughter Kim.