Arthur T. Haege (September 29, 1937 – March 5, 2007) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played college football at St. Ambrose and later had short stints in the American Football League (AFL) with the Boston Patriots, the United Football League (UFL) with the Chicago Bulls, and the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. During his time in professional football, he began a coaching career. Haege later coached various teams at the high school, college, and professional arena football levels.
Early life and education
Haege was born on September 29, 1937, in Canton, Illinois. One of four children (three sons, one daughter) born to Bob (a former player at Notre Dame, who was dismissed after one season) and Kathleen Haege, he liked football from a young age. He grew up in Peoria, Illinois, and attended Spaulding Institute there, where he was a starter on the baseball and football teams. Haege played college football at St. Ambrose University, in Davenport, Iowa, from 1956 to 1959. He was a four-year letterman and played both offense and defense, as a tight end and defensive end. He also played punter, and was for two years the team's top receiver. As a senior, Haege was named the school's athlete of the year and was selected honorable mention Little All-America. He later became, in 1993, the first person to be inducted into their athletic hall of fame.
While at St. Ambrose, Haege also won a regional Golden Gloves tournament and played a season of semi-professional baseball with the Holland Dutchmen.
Professional playing career
Haege was signed by the Boston Patriots of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960, but left during camp to resume studies at St. Ambrose. He later rejoined the Patriots in 1961, and upon joining for the second time was changed from end to linebacker. After playing in the 1961 preseason with Boston, he was released in late August.
In July 1962, Haege was signed by the Chicago Bulls of the United Football League (UFL). He scored one touchdown on the season, wearing number 66 while playing linebacker and punter. In June 1963, Haege was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was released in mid-August, after having appeared in just one game. They were the final team of his playing career. During his playing days, he weighed and was tall.
Coaching career
In October 1961, after being released by the Patriots, Haege received his first coaching job at Gordon Tech High School as freshmen coach. Following the 1962 season, he became a coach at St. Ignace High School, serving as an assistant in 1963, as well as junior varsity coach and basketball coach, before being promoted to head coach in 1964. In his first season as head, he led them to a 6–2 record and the conference championship. It was the first championship in school history.
Haege left for Manistee High School in 1965 as head, and led them to a 5–3 record, their first winning season in five years. The following year, he enrolled at Northern Michigan University (NMU) to work on a master's degree in physical education. He also became graduate assistant and defensive backs coach at the school. In 1967, Haege became coach of both the Sheboygan Redwings (of the Central States Football League) and the football team at Two Rivers High School. He also, according to The Des Moines Register, coached Sheboygan High School in 1967. Haege led the Redwings to a record of 3–7, and brought Two Rivers, which had not won more than two games in a season in the prior decade, to a mark of 7–1–1.
The next year, Haege left the Redwings, but stayed at Two Rivers, and led them to an 8–0 record and the conference championship, which was their first unbeaten, untied season in more than two decades. They were also ranked the third-best "big school" in the state at the end of the season (state playoffs did not yet exist). Haege left to become offensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1969.
Wisconsin was on a 22 conference game losing streak when Haege joined, and had not won a game in several years. Haege took the entire team to church prior to their game against Iowa on October 11, and when they played, they won 23–17 to end the losing streak. Wisconsin won a total of three games in the 1969 season. Late in the season, he was told his contract would not be renewed. In January 1970, he was told he was offered a new contract; however, when he went to accept it, Haege was told the offer had been pulled. When asked about it, his only comment was "Now I've really learned my lesson!"