Head Coach
Replacing Allie Sherman as head coach one week before the start of the 1969 season, Alex led the Giants to wins in their first four games. This included an opening day win over a Viking team that would go 12-2 and play in Super Bowl. In 1970 New York would improve to a 9-5 record, their first winning season since 1963, and narrowly miss the playoffs with a loss to the Rams on the last day of the season.
Alex was the best short-yardage runner in the league during his playing days. The New Jersey native joined with Frank Gifford to form football's most devasting halfback tandem. Alex scored 10 touchdowns in 1956, along with two more in New York's championship game triumph over the Chicago Bears.
He still holds Giants career records for rushing attempts (1,213), rushing yardage (4,805) and rushing TDs (39).
RAY WIETECHA
Offensive Line Coach
"Today, this one-time All-Star center for the Giants is now serving as the offensive line coach for his former team. Ray played for the Giants ten seasons (1953-62).
He and his wife, Joan, make their home in Spring Lake, New Jersey, having moved there from Green Bay. Ray was a coach under the late Vince Lombardi for several years before returning to the Giants. The Wietechas have four children, William (Bill), Barbara, Donna and Darren.
Recalling the person whom he best remembers is easy for Ray. He says, without a moment's hesitation, 'Vince Lombardi, because he's a legend and I coached for him in Green Bay.'
Asked to recall his biggest thrill, Ray went back a few years to when he was a standout center for the Giants and they were playing the Colts for the championship in 1958. That is the famous overtime game, the first in the NFL's history. It was decided by the Colts when Alan Ameche plunged over from the one-yard line after 8:15 of the overtime period. The Colts won that game 23-17. Of course, Ray would have preferred that the score would have been different, but it was quite a thrill, nonetheless."
-Bob Du Vall, Football Digest, October 1972
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