Gas2No99 Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 That time Muhammad Ali sparred with a future Jets coach "He'd go a round or two with this guy, a round or two with that guy," said former Jets coach Rich Kotite of sparring with Muhammad Ali. "I'm sure he wouldn't remember me at all." George Gojkovich/Getty Images Dick Cinna-Mon-iESPN Staff Writer Before he became a football coach, Rich Kotite dabbled in boxing. Actually, it was more than dabbling. The Brooklyn-born Kotite attended the University of Miami and became the school's top heavyweight as a freshman. It's also where he met Muhammad Ali. Ali trained at Angelo Dundee's famed Fifth Street Gym, which wasn't far from the Miami campus. One thing led to another, and Kotite ended up sparring with the great Ali. Kotite was occasionally asked about it during his years as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets. He loved boxing, but he always downplayed his sessions with Ali. "They put something in the press guide, and all of a sudden it's like I was one of Muhammad Ali's major sparring partners," Kotite once said. "It's true, I did spar some with Ali -- he was still known as Cassius Clay then -- when I was a student at the University of Miami. But it was no big deal. He worked with so many people. He'd go a round or two with this guy, a round or two with that guy. I'm sure he wouldn't remember me at all. Probably none of the big-name pros I sparred with would remember me." Kotite, 73, coached the Jets in 1995 and 1996, compiling a 4-28 record. It was his last job in football. He lives a quiet life in Staten Island and doesn't do interviews. Ali died Friday night at the age of 74. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Ali the greatest Rich Kotite not the greatest 1-15 as the Jets head coach I sat at every game ........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastineau Lives Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 This explains a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BurnleyJet Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 Obviously Ali hit him to hard in the head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flushing Roots Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 12 hours ago, BurnleyJet said: Obviously Ali hit him to hard in the head. Not hard enough. Could have changed the course of Jet's history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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