Harry Hiestand is an American football coach primarily known for his extensive career as an offensive line coach at both the collegiate and National Football League (NFL) levels. He is widely regarded for his ability to develop highly skilled offensive linemen, many of whom have gone on to successful professional careers.
Early Life and Playing Career Hiestand played college football as an offensive guard at East Stroudsburg University from 1977 to 1980. After his playing career, he quickly transitioned into coaching.
Coaching Career
Hiestand's coaching career spans several decades, marked by multiple stints at prominent universities and professional teams.
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Collegiate Coaching
- East Stroudsburg (1981-1982): Began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.
- Toledo (1983-1985): Served as the offensive line coach.
- USC (1986-1987): Coached the offensive line for the Trojans.
- Pacific (1988-1989): Held the offensive line coaching position.
- Miami (OH) (1990-1993): Coached the offensive line.
- Cincinnati (1994-1996): Offensive line coach for the Bearcats.
- Missouri (1997-2000): Offensive line coach.
- Notre Dame (2001-2004): His first stint with the Fighting Irish, where he began to establish his reputation for developing linemen.
- Tennessee (2009): Coached the offensive line under Lane Kiffin.
- Notre Dame (2012-2017): Returned to Notre Dame for a highly successful second stint. During this period, he coached multiple future NFL Draft picks, including Zack Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Quenton Nelson, and Mike McGlinchey, solidifying Notre Dame's reputation for offensive line development. His offensive lines were consistently among the best in college football.
- Notre Dame (2022-2023): Came out of retirement for a third tenure with the Fighting Irish, again focusing on developing the team's offensive line. He retired again after the 2023 season.
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National Football League (NFL) Coaching
- Chicago Bears (2005-2008): Hiestand made the leap to the NFL, coaching the offensive line for the Bears. He helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in 2007, where they faced the Indianapolis Colts.
- Chicago Bears (2018-2019): Returned to the Bears for a second stint, rejoining Matt Nagy's coaching staff.
Coaching Philosophy and Impact Hiestand is known for his demanding yet effective coaching style, emphasizing fundamental techniques, strong work ethic, and a deep understanding of offensive line play. He is particularly praised for his ability to refine player footwork, hand placement, and leverage. His impact is evident in the numerous offensive linemen he has coached who have become NFL Pro Bowlers and All-Pros, making him one of the most respected offensive line coaches in modern football.
Retirement Harry Hiestand officially retired from coaching in January 2024, concluding a distinguished career spanning over four decades.