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No-nonsense coach Noll: A great teacher

By WTOP Staff

BARRY WILNER
AP Pro Football Writer

Chuck Noll was a no-nonsense coach, and his Pittsburgh Steelers followed his lead to win four Super Bowls.

Noll, who died Friday of natural causes at 82, wasn’t an entertainer or a charmer when it came to football. He was a winner, the only man to coach four Super Bowl champions, building a dynasty in Pittsburgh for a franchise that hadn’t won an NFL title before he arrived in 1969.

“When Chuck became our head coach he brought a change to the whole culture of the organization,” Steelers President Art Rooney said Saturday. “Even in his first season when we won only one game, there was a different feel to the team. He set a new standard for the Steelers that still is the foundation of what we do and who we are. From the players to the coaches to the front office down to the ball boys, he taught us all what it took to be a winner.”

Noll was a sharp strategist, brilliant evaluator of personnel and strong motivator.

“He was the glue,” said former linebacker Jack Ham, a Hall of Famer like Noll — and so many members of those Steelers teams. “He was the guy that got all of us to buy into how to win a championship. He took the lead.

“Preparation. He always felt you don’t win games on Sunday at 1 p.m., you win games in your preparation on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at practice. I think we all bought into that.”

While Noll’s success on the sideline — a 209-156-1 record in 23 seasons — defined him professionally, football did not dominate his existence. Indeed, he insisted that everyone around him have hobbies and enjoy life away from the field.

Noll was a licensed pilot who flew himself and assistant coaches on scouting trips. He was a wine connoisseur and enjoyed cooking. He had a passion for jazz.

When Tony Dungy was dating his future wife, Noll gave him a recipe to cook for dinner that Dungy says “must have worked.”

Dungy remembers a scouting trip to New Orleans with Noll during which they hit many memorable restaurants and jazz spots. Dungy thought he was about to be elevated to defensive coordinator, but they were so busy in the Big Easy he never asked Noll if he was getting the job.

Dungy finally found out he got the position when they returned to Pittsburgh.

“Most of what I clung to from him was how to deal with people, how to structure your life, how to hire coaches,” Dungy said. “He stressed that you couldn’t get burned out from football, couldn’t let football be everything in your life. He made sure we got away from the game.”

Noll left the game after the 1991 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame two years later. The lessons he taught his players remain constants in their lives.

“The man was just so consistent in his belief that we just believed everything he said,” said Joe Greene, yet another Hall of Fame player for Noll. “He was a man who wasn’t about any kind of hyperbole at all. You got the same Chuck all the time.

“Being the first (draft) pick, I haven’t been able to find any relevance in that. But I do know having Chuck as a coach made all the difference in the world in having the career that I had as a Pittsburgh Steeler.”

Commissioner Roger Goodell called Noll’s quiet leadership “extraordinary.”

“What set Chuck Noll apart was his remarkable ability as a teacher,” Goodell said. “His subject was football and his students became four-time Super Bowl champions. He always put the team, his players, and the game first. His legacy of excellence will forever be an important part of the history of the Steelers and the NFL.”

Owned by the Rooneys since joining the NFL in 1933, the Steelers have always been known for their family-like atmosphere. Noll believed strongly in such an environment and fostered it, a sometimes difficult chore while trying to win championships.

Yet the Steelers went from doormats to dynasty under him.

“As for the football end of it, I think he ranks with (George) Halas and (Vince) Lombardi,” Steelers owner Dan Rooney said Saturday. “There are many other good coaches over the history of the NFL, but I think Chuck Noll ranks up there with those other two guys right at the top. No other coach won four Super Bowls, and the way he did it was with dignity. His players were always his concern, both in treating them well and giving them what they needed to succeed on the field.”

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Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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