| Jim Colletto | |
| Birth Date: | 4 October 1944 |
| Player Years1: | 1963–1965 |
| Player Team1: | UCLA |
| Player Positions: | Defensive end, fullback |
| Coach Years1: | 1967–1968 |
| Coach Team1: | UCLA (OL) |
| Coach Years2: | 1969 |
| Coach Team2: | Brown (OL) |
| Coach Years3: | 1970–1971 |
| Coach Team3: | Xavier (OL) |
| Coach Years4: | 1972–1974 |
| Coach Team4: | Pacific (CA) (OL) |
| Coach Years5: | 1975–1979 |
| Coach Team5: | Cal State Fullerton |
| Coach Years6: | 1980–1981 |
| Coach Team6: | UCLA (OL) |
| Coach Years7: | 1982–1984 |
| Coach Team7: | Purdue (OC) |
| Coach Years8: | 1985–1987 |
| Coach Team8: | Arizona State (OC) |
| Coach Years9: | 1988–1990 |
| Coach Team9: | Ohio State (OC) |
| Coach Years10: | 1991–1996 |
| Coach Team10: | Purdue |
| Coach Years11: | 1997–1998 |
| Coach Team11: | Notre Dame (OC) |
| Coach Years12: | 1999–2005 |
| Coach Team12: | Baltimore Ravens (OL) |
| Coach Years13: | 2006 |
| Coach Team13: | UCLA (AHC/OL) |
| Coach Years14: | 2007–2008 |
| Coach Team14: | Detroit Lions (OC/OL) |
| Overall Record: | 38–80–4 |
| Awards: | |
Jim Colletto (born October 4, 1944) is a former American football player and coach. He attended Monterey High School (1958–1962) where he was an all conference baseball and football player and starter on the varsity basketball team. At UCLA Colletto was all conference in baseball and football; where he led the team in rushing as a sophomore and as a senior defensive end was captain of the UCLA team that beat Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl.
He served as the head football coach at California State University, Fullerton from 1975 to 1979 and at Purdue University from 1991 to 1996, compiling a career college football record of 38–80–4. Colletto was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, replacing Mike Martz, who was fired on January 2, 2008. He was hired as the Lions' offensive line coach on January 29, 2007, after spending a year as the UCLA offensive line coach under Karl Dorrell. Prior to that he was offensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999 thought 2005. Colletto was previously the offensive coordinator at the University of Notre Dame for the 1997 and 1998 seasons and was the head coach at Purdue University from 1991 to 1996. During his six seasons at Purdue, Colletto's teams compiled a 21–42–3 record.
Colletto was a member of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship team.
Colletto was named Purdue University's head coach in December 1990, accepting the position while he was serving as the offensive coordinator for Ohio State.[1] Colletto came to Purdue with the goal of recruiting kids from the Chicago area, and keeping Purdue's quarterback tradition trending onward. During his introduction press conference, he stated that at the practice field, he planned to install a small cemetery in which he would place a tombstone for every school Purdue upset or beat on the road.[2] Colletto also provided up change on offense, as he brought his I formation with him from Ohio State.[3] During his first season as head coach, the Boilermakers improved winning two more games than they had the year before, and freshman tailback Corey Rogers was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[4]
In 1992, Colletto lost Rogers to academic ineligibility, and was forced to use a new running back. The Rogers suspension opened the door for what would become Purdue's all-time leading rusher, Mike Alstott.[5]
In 1993, Colletto was in some hot water when former player, Ryan Harmon sued Purdue, claiming that Colletto had physically and mentally abused him.[6]
In 1994, the Boilermakers got out to a 4–1–1 start, and were starting to gain national attention.[7] With Rogers and Alstott leading the way out of the Purdue backfield, Purdue racked up 1,206 and 17 rushing touchdowns in 6 games. However Purdue stumbled down the stretch, finishing the season 0–4–1. (1-3-1 due to Michigan state forfeiting all their 1994 games)
Colletto resigned in November 1996.[8]
Colletto was hired in December as Notre Dame's offensive coordinator in December 1996.[9]