Arnsparger Becomes a Charger : NFL: Florida athletic director is team’s new defensive coordinator.

The last time the Chargers came face to face with Bill Arnsparger was the last time the Chargers advanced to the playoffs.

It’s been a long time. . . .

Arnsparger’s well-disciplined Miami defense grabbed five of Dan Fouts’ errant passes in a 34-13 Dolphin victory on Jan. 16, 1983, and it’s been a steady ride downhill since for the Chargers.

“I remember a game a year before that when Fouts almost ended my career,” Arnsparger said, while referring to the Chargers’ 41-38 playoff overtime victory. “I remember a time when the Chargers would cause you a lot of problems.”

It’s been a long time, all right, but Arnsparger’s back, and while that might come as a shock to many in the NFL who haven’t seen him on the sideline since 1983, this time he will be working for the Chargers as defensive coordinator.

“The first person I ran into at the Senior Bowl was (Falcons’ defensive coordinator) Doug Shively,” said General Manager Bobby Beathard, who is presently in Mobile, Ala. “He wanted to know, ‘Is the rumor true? Is the man coming back?’ ”

It’s true. Arnsparger resigned Monday as University of Florida athletic director and accepted a three-year contract with the Chargers.

“It’s a stroke of genius by the Chargers,” said Nick Buoniconti, a former Miami linebacker who played for Arnsparger. “When we played there wasn’t a better defensive mind in the game, and I can’t imagine it’s any different now. I mean the guy’s just a defensive genius.

“His defenses don’t give up the big plays. If you’re gonna beat him, you’re gonna have to do it with the 80-yard march. You’re gonna get a lot of fans who want this aggressive type defense, but he’s not going to do that. That’s not his style. He’d rather match wits with the offensive coordinator of the other team, and he figures he’ll win.

“I’ve never been around a man who is better suited for the job. He’s a perfect personality for the players. For the writers he’s going to be very boring; for the players he’s going to be very exciting.”

Arnsparger, who was contracted to Florida through December 1993, at a yearly salary of $100,000, bought his release by agreeing to pay the school $50,000. Arnsparger will pay the school in yearly installments, and the money will be used to fund a scholarship in his name.

“I think it’s a brilliant move,” said Dick Anderson, a former Miami safety, who played for Arnsparger. “I don’t think there has ever been a defensive coach as good as Bill Arnsparger.”

Arnsparger, 65, guided Miami’s “no-name defense” to a first-place ranking in 1972, and then directed the Dolphins’ “Killer Bs’ defense” to a first-place showing in 1982. He has coached in five Super Bowls.

“He’s special because he’s been more successful than most,” said Mike Scarry, who coached with Arnsparger for a decade in Miami. “Some people are able to get the job done a little better than other people, and sometimes you don’t even know why. He just gets it done.”

Beathard began courting Arnsparger a year ago after Coach Dan Henning mentioned that Arnsparger had called. Arnsparger was not interested in the team’s defensive line position last year, but he kept in contact with Beathard.

“I wanted to pursue it when we had the change, but I didn’t want to push it too hard on Bobby Ross or force anything,” Beathard said. “I told Bobby just to talk to him.”

Ross met Wednesday with Arnsparger in Anaheim after it became apparent that Rod Rust was not ready to accept an offer to become defensive coordinator.

“Initially, I had some of the same reservations others might have had,” Ross said. “Then I met the man, talked to people and now I believe this is a real stabilizing thing for our young defense. I’m very comfortable with him.

“Most presidents are elected around that age, so that’s not a concern. This is an outstanding teacher. His approach is simple, but sound.”

Arnsparger called Ross late Sunday to accept the Chargers’ offer, and then advised Florida President John Lombardi of his decision Monday morning.

“I wanted the opportunity to get back into coaching,” Arnsparger said. “That was a major decision to make, and when that decision was made then it was easy to know where to do it . . . It’s young personnel in San Diego and it’s a group waiting to happen.”

Arnsparger was a high school lineman in Paris, Ky., under Blanton Collier, who went on to coach the Cleveland Browns. He spent two years as a Marine sergeant at Camp Pendleton, and then became a teammate of Ara Parseghian’s and Bo Schembechler’s at Miami (Ohio), while playing for Coach Woody Hayes. Hayes, while still at Miami, later gave Arnsparger his first job in coaching.

He was a coaching assistant with Don Shula in 1959 at Kentucky, then joined Shula in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts (1964-1969), and Miami Dolphins (1970-1973). In his first 10 years with Shula, Arnsparger’s defense led the league in fewest points allowed three times.

“He’s a like a sage; like a mentor,” Beathard said. “I met with several of our new coaches today and I told them they are real fortunate; they are going to learn a lot from Arns. It’s a good thing for them, and it’s good for the Chargers and Bill.”

After an unsuccessful stint as head coach of the New York Giants (1974-1976), Arnsparger returned to the Dolphins. He remained in Miami until 1984, when he became LSU’s head coach. The Tigers won a SEC title and appeared in three bowl games in his three years on the job. He then took control of Florida’s problem-plagued program.

“This guy was like a guru to a lot of coaches in the game; he was awfully good,” Beathard said. “I talked to his wife, and she said, ‘Bobby, he’s like a young kid. He got up this morning and he was so excited about getting started on this.’ ”