Roger Theder

In Memory of Roger Theder

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Theder, Cal coach from 1978-81, dies at 77

BERKELEY, Calif. — Former California football coach Roger Theder has died. He was 77. The school said Theder died Saturday from complications from Parkinson’s disease. Theder spent 10 seasons on the Cal coaching staff, including a four-year stretch as head coach from 1978-81.


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The people were special

“Dick Vermeil, Mike White, Bill Walsh, Roger Theder, Jack Christiansen, Rod Rust, Ray Handley–gosh, we had NFL coaches who were not good coaches, but extremely great coaches.” John Ralston

Panthers coach Rivera was inquisitive Cal player

“Rivera played two years each for head coaches Roger Theder and Joe Kapp at Cal. During a conference call with Bay Area media members Wednesday, Rivera said Theder and Kapp each has been “a huge influence in my life.”

Roger Theder has made name as ‘quarterback guru’

“To be great at that position, he says, you need three things: toughness, intelligence and mechanics. “If a kid has a good arm – even if he throws it all over the place – and if he’s tough and he’s smart, I can make him a great quarterback.”

Theder a mentor to 49ers QB Kaepernick

“Theder has worked with NFL caliber talent several times in a football life spanning more than 40 years. He was an assistant at Stanford who worked with Jim Plunkett, who was drafted by New England and later won two Super Bowls with the Oakland Raiders. A few years later, he worked with Steve Bartkowski, who became an exceptional talent with the Atlanta Falcons.”

QB guru tutored 49ers backups Kaepernick, Johnson

“A renowned quarterback guru who lives in Orinda, Theder, 72, trained both Kaepernick and Johnson during their high school careers”

QB guru on 49ers rookie Colin Kaepernick: ‘He’s a can’t-miss kid’

“Kaepernick: “The absolute best I’ve ever had. He’s a can’t-miss kid. … He strikes me as the same kind of person as Andrew Luck.”

California is the place to be for QBs

“Theder’s roster of stars is also very impressive. Ken Dorsey the quarterback that led Miami to a national championship is one that Theder gave private lessons to. Adam Smith (Duke), Marc Gullion (Miami), Chris Hurd (Washington State) and Matt Silva (Army) have also been coached by Theder.
Trent Edwards (Stanford) and Drew Olsen (UCLA) two of the Golden State’s best incoming freshmen are also had private attention from Theder.
Theder’s group for the class of 2003 is a virtual who’s who of quarterbacks this season.
Included in Theder’s class of 2003 are Kyle Wright, Sam Keller, Dennis Dixon, T.C. Ostrander, J.C. Lewis and Brandon Ting.”

Ex-Cal coach Theder doing what he was meant to do as QB guru

“The list of Theder’s past and current students is a who’s who of Northern California quarterbacks. Trent Edwards, Ken Dorsey, Kyle Wright, Sam Keller, Drew Olson, Dennis Dixon, T.C. Ostrander, Josh Johnson, Corbin Louks, Colin Kaepernick and Willie Tuitama are just a handful of the names on the list.”

This professor always hands out passing grades / Ex-Cal coach now a guru to young QBs

“This is Theder‘s classroom, his orchestra pit and his new life. Sure, the former Cal head coach and NFL offensive coordinator has always been around the game. He has drawn up some of the Bay Area’s most creative and innovative game plans.”