Wally Highsmith

Walter "Buzz" Highsmith (August 27, 1943) is an American former gridiron football player and coach. He played professionally in the American Football League (AFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), World Football League (WFL), and National Football League (NFL) as an offensive lineman. Highsmith served as the head football coach at Texas Southern University from 1989 to 1993, compiling a record of 19–34–2.

Wally Highsmith

Profile
Position	Offensive line
Personal information
Born	(1943-08-27) August 27, 1943 (age 82) Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	238 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school	Roosevelt School (Lake Wales, Florida)
College	Florida A&M
Career history
Playing
1968–1969	Denver Broncos
1970–1971	Montreal Alouettes
1972	Houston Oilers
1973	Montreal Alouettes
1974–1975	Memphis Southmen
1976–1977	Toronto Argonauts
Coaching
1980–1985	Miami Edison Senior HS (FL) (Head coach)
1986–1988	Florida A&M (Defensive coordinator)
1989–1993	Texas Southern (Head coach)
1994–1997	Florida A&M (Offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator)
2000	Toronto Argonauts (Defensive line)
2000	Toronto Argonauts (Interim head coach)
2006	Selma HS (AL) (Defensive coordinator)
Awards and highlights
Grey Cup champion (1970) 1974 All-WFL Team
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Playing

Highsmith started his career with the Denver Broncos of the AFL, playing 23 games in two seasons. He next played with the Montreal Alouettes for two years and 22 games, winning the Grey Cup championship in 1970. He then headed to the Houston Oilers of the NFL, playing nine games in one season. Highsmith returned to the Montreal Alouettes in 1973, playing only one game. The Memphis Southmen of the new WFL called, and he played two seasons with them. He finished his career back in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts, playing 21 games over two years.^[1]

Coaching

After retiring, Highsmith remained in the Montreal area and worked as a physical education teacher in the West Island. In 1980, he moved to Florida to become a teacher and football coach at Miami Edison Senior High School.^[2] He then served as the defensive coordinator at Florida A&M until 1989, when he became the head football coach at Texas Southern.^[3] Over five seasons, he compiled a 19–34–2 record and coached 22 players who signed NFL contracts, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan.^[4][5] He was fired after a 2–9 1993 campaign that included six consecutive losses to end the season.^[6] He returned to Florida A&M as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He was fired in 1998 after the Tallahassee Democrat reported that Highsmith has possible violated NCAA rules.^[7] He was the Toronto Argonauts defensive line coach in 2000 and served as interim head coach for two games following the resignation of John Huard.^[8] In 2006, he was the defensive coordinator at Selma High School in Selma, Alabama.^[9]

Personal life

Highsmith is the father of former NFL player Alonzo Highsmith and uncle of former NFL player Ali Highsmith.^[10]

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Texas Southern Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1989–1993)
1989	Texas Southern	3–7–1	3–3–1	5th
1990	Texas Southern	4–7	2–4	T–5th
1991	Texas Southern	5–5–1	3–3–1	T–4th
1992	Texas Southern	5–6	3–4	T–4th
1993	Texas Southern	2–9	1–6	7th
Texas Southern:		19–34–2	12–20–2
Total:		19–34–2