VIDEO: Joe Kohlbrand Played Five Seasons In NFL, Won Championships at Merritt Island and Miami

By  //  April 25, 2017

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Joe Kohlbrand was a member of both Merritt Island Mustang Class 4A state championship teams in the late 1970s, won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes and played five seasons for the New Orleans Saints.

2017 PROFESSIONAL INDUCTEE

MERRITT ISLAND GRADUATE

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It is no coincidence that winning football games and Joe Kohlbrand go hand in hand. Kohlbrand starred as an all-state defensive back for legendary head coach and Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Gerald Odom at Merritt Island.

Kohlbrand was a member of both Mustang Class 4A state championship teams in the late 1970s.

In 1978, the Mustangs defeated Pine Forest from Pensacola, 20-6 and in 1979, repeated as champs with 19-14 win over the same team from Pensacola.

Another reoccurring theme of Kohlbrand’s career was playing for legendary coaches.

He continued that trend in college, playing for both Howard Schnellenbereger and Jimmy Johnson at the University of Miami.

Kohlbrand would switch to defensive end in college where he played for the Hurricanes for three seasons, from 1982 to 1984.

2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country ClubRelated Story:
2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Set May 12 at Cocoa Beach Country Club

During his career for the Hurricanes, Kohlbrand registered 122 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. And, he left Miami with yet another championship ring.

The 1983 Hurricanes defense was considered one of the toughest in the nation, as they ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and No. 4 in total defense. However, the Canes started the season with a loss to the Florida Gators, but would win their next 11 games, and face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl for the National Championship.

Joe Kohlbrand played for the University of Miami for three seasons, from 1982 to 1984. During his career for the Hurricanes, Kohlbrand registered 122 tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble. And, he left Miami with yet another championship ring.

GREATEST GAME EVER

In what many called the greatest college football game ever played, Miami won 31-30, as the Cornhuskers failed to convert a two-point conversion with 48 seconds to play in the game. The win gave Miami the No. 1 ranking and Joe Kohlbrand yet another championship ring.

Kohlbrand entered the 1985 NFL Draft and was selected by the New Orleans Saints with the 206th overall selection in the eighth round.

While the Saints didn’t win a championship until 2010, long after Kohlbrand had retired, he was a part of a historic first in New Orleans.

He would appear in 72 careers games over the next five seasons for the Saints and register two career NFL sacks.

From the time they arrived in the league in 1967 until 1986, a span of 20 NFL seasons, the Saints, or “Aints” as they were referred to by many throughout the world of football, never finished with a winning season.

In fact, the Saints had never won more than eight games and they accomplished that feat just twice.

DAVID KILGORE: Four High School State Titles, Member of NCAA National Champs, USATF Athlete of the YearRelated Story:
DAVID KILGORE: Four High School State Titles, Member of NCAA National Champs, USATF Athlete of the Year

Enter another great coach in Kohlbrand’s career, Jim Mora, who took over in 1986, and in 1987 led the Saints to their first ever winning season with a 12-3 finish and their first trip to the NFL playoffs.

Kohlbrand played for winners throughout his career, learning from such coaching greats as Odom, Schnellenbereger and Mora.

It is no surprise that he has gone on to become a successful businessman.

Players and people like Joe Kohlbrand are simply another reason why so many have looked at Brevard County through the years and see so much potential in life and on the field.

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

JOE KOHLBRAND played five seasons in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saint, won a national championships at the University of Miami, and two state titles while at Merritt Island High School.
Joe Kohlbrand starred as an all-state defensive back for legendary head coach and Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer Gerald Odom at Merritt Island. Kohlbrand was a member of both Mustang Class 4A state championship teams in the late 1970s. In 1978, the Mustangs defeated Pine Forest from Pensacola, 20-6 and in 1979, repeated as champs with 19-14 win over the same team from Pensacola.
The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame was founded by Space Coast Daily in 2011. The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple.

THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12. 

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT the 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced, Induction Ceremony Set May 12

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced Thursday an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2017 Class of the Hall of Fame.

Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2017 class in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.

Special honorary recognition will also be bestowed upon individuals and teams that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.

Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and has so far inducted more than 100 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.

Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Vice President Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, Assistant Editor Alan Zlotorzynski, local youth sports advocate and promoter Mike Cadore, Friday Night Locker Room Founders Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, former Health First COO Larry Garrison, Cocoa Beach City Manager Jim McKnight and AAU Vice President Rusty Buchanan.

“The list of inductees for 2017 induction include athletes and coaches everybody knows – and some that may have been forgotten with the passing of time,” said Tom Palermo.

ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, LeadersRelated Story:
ICYMI: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Red Carpet Featured Prominent Athletes, Leaders

INDUCTION GALA & SPORTS AWARDS SET FOR MAY 12

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 12 at the Cocoa Beach County Club.

The festivities include a meet and greet with the area’s sports royalty, dinner and the induction proceeding which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.

The 2017 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the 2017 High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Community Credit Union, First Choice Medical Group, SOAR, Clear Choice Health Care, BioCellular Therapies, Savings Safari, Spectrum Sports, Friday Night Locker Room, Dr. Sangiv Patel, Dr. Mark Pinsky and Rock Paper Simple..

FOR INFORMATION about the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, or to make a reservation, e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017

• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES:  Joe Kohlbrand, Football; and Cory Philpot, Football

• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jason Arnold, Baseball; Michael Coffey, Bowling; Reggie Hannah, Basketball;  Paige Kearns, Swimming; and Charles Wilson, Football.

• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Kristen Gordon, Softball; Ray Herring, Jr. Football; Katie Jackson, Soccer; and Hunter Pingston, Football.

• AMATEUR/REC CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Richard Chapman, Little League; Todd Erickson, Softball; Al Genchi, Youth Soccer; and David Kilgore, Running.

• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Skip Arrich, Soccer; Tom Dooley, Baseball; Chuck Keener, Tennis; Steve Lamontagne, Golf; and Mike Soliven, Basketball.

• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEES: Jeff Carr, Eastern Florida State College; and Steve Englehart, Florida Tech.

• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEES: Linda Anderson, Athletic Director; and Les Stafford, Volunteer

• SPORTS OFFICIALS INDUCTEES: Neely Dunn and Bob Walton.

• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Hillard Grossman.

• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE : Gary Gregory, PAL Boxing.

• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics – Coach Cindy Dropeski, Athlete Chuck Conway and Volunteer Kathi Madden.

• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Cocoa High School 2016 Football State Champions.

• SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Jim Grimes, Basketball, Eastern Florida State College

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME

The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame is located in the main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus of Eastern Florida State College. Portraits and biographies of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices. Memorabilia items and related sports artifacts will be added to the display over time. (Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame image)