Steve Greer (July 23, 1947 — December 13, 2021) was a college football
position coach and executive between 1971 to 2009. During his playing career in the 1960s, he was the AA Lineman of the Year twice while at
Greer High School and received
All-America selections while at the
University of Georgia. After briefly playing with the
Toronto Argonauts in 1970, he started coaching the
defensive line freshmen with the
University of Georgia the following year. He continued his freshmen coaching experience with the
offensive and defensive players at
Auburn University until 1973. After moving to varsity football in 1974, he primarily continued his defensive coaching career with both universities until 1993.
During this time period, Greer was the
recruiting coordinator and
defensive end coach with Georgia from 1979 to 1981. After starting an
administrative assistant role with Georgia in 1993, he resumed his recruiting coordinator position in 1994. Three years later, he became the Director of Football Operations. He remained in the role until he decided to leave the university in 2009. After his football tenure, Greer was with Jim Whitehead Tire Service during 2011. Greer joined the
South Carolina Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Early life and education
Greer's birth occurred in
Greer, South Carolina during July 23, 1947.[1]
During his childhood, he was a fruit packer and hunter.[2][3] He began playing football at
Greer High School in 1961.[4][5] With the team, Greer played in the 1963 Upstate Class AA championship.[6] That year, he was All-Southern and won the AA Lineman of the Year award.[7][8]
During 1964, he was named "outstanding lineman" after his South Carolina team won the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.[9][10] For that season, Greer was All-Southern and the AA Lineman of the Year.[11][12] At the 1965 North-South All-Star, he was Outstanding Lineman and won with the North.[13]
That year, Greer was on the freshman football team for the
University of Georgia.[14] He did not play in 1966 after
knee surgery.[15][16] Following his return to the team in 1967, Greer played at that year's
Liberty Bowl.[17][18] Additional bowl game appearances with Georgia were at the
Sugar Bowl and
Sun Bowl during 1969.[19][20] That year, he became their captain.[21] With the South, his team won the American Bowl and
Hula Bowl in 1970.[22][23]
Career
In May 1970, Greer joined the
Toronto Argonauts.[24] He played on the team during July 1970
before being cut that month.[25][26] In 1971, he was hired as a
graduate assistant with Georgia.[27] While there, Greer began his
defensive line coaching career in freshman football.[28] With his freshmen experience at
Auburn University from 1972 to 1973, Greer was an
offensive coach for one year and defensive coach for two years.[29]
Greer continued working as a defensive coach after moving to Auburn's varsity football team in 1974.[30][29] He remained in his position with the university until he became the
recruiting coordinator at Georgia during 1979.[31] With Georgia, he was also a
defensive end coach before ending both positions in 1981.[32] Greer resumed his defensive line experience with Georgia that year.[33] He remained there as their coach until 1993.[34]
Greer started his
administrative assistant role in 1993.[35] While in his position, he had become the recruiting coordinator by 1994.[36] In 1997, Greer became the Director of Football Operations and left as coordinator.[37][38] He remained as Director of Football Operations until he decided to leave Georgia in 2009.[39] Outside of football, Greer was with Jim Whitehead Tire Service during 2011.[40]