Inductees

Arguably the finest offensive line coach in the history of professional football, Jim Hanifan was born in Compton, CA and attended Covina High School. His storied coaching career began when he took a position as assistant coach at Yuba Junior College from 1959 to 1961. He was named head coach at Charter Oak High School in Covina, CA and served in that capacity for two seasons. He made the jump back to the junior college ranks in 1964-65 before moving to the University of Utah from 1966-69. He coordinated the passing game at his alma mater, California, in 1970-71 and then made the move south to San Diego as an offensive line coach at San Diego State in 1972.

The NFL came calling in 1983 when Hanifan was hired as the offensive line coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. While with the Cardinals from 1973-78, he was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 1977. Hanifan was the head coach from 1980-85 and posted winning seasons from 1982-84. He was the Atlanta Falcons offensive line coach for three years before moving to the Washington Redskins, 1990-1996. He returned to St. Louis for the third time in 1997 to head up the Rams’ offensive line coaching duties. During his 31 year NFL career, Hanifan helped mold the careers of several of the greatest NFL offensive linemen of all time.