For 27 years (1975-2001), Jim Gladden coached football at Florida State where he was on coaching staff’s that elevated Florida State’s program into the most consistently successful in college football
history. Gladden joined then-head coach Darrell Mudra’s coaching staff in 1975 as a graduate assistant and was elevated to a full-time position in 1976 when the legendary Bobby Bowden took over the
program. He coached outside linebackers for Bowden from 1976 through 1995 and switched to defensive ends coach from 1996 until his retirement in 2001.
Gladden coached and recruited some of the
greatest names in Seminole history including NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, and FSU Hall of Famers Peter Boulware, Reinard Wilson, Andre Wadsworth and Jamal Reynolds.
A personable and highly
successful recruiter Gladden was also highly regarded for his ability to judge talent. Additionally, he coached FSU’s legendary punt block unit that blocked 80 over his tenure.
The Seminoles won
National Championships in 1993 and 1999 during Gladden’s tenure and played for titles three more times. While the fact that FSU earned a bowl berth in each of the last 23 years of his career is
stunning, even more impressive is Florida State’s record 14 straight Top 5 finishes from 1987-2000, which has never been matched in the history of the game.
