
Bill Kollar
Defensive/Special Projects
College: Montana State
Hometown: Warren, Ohio
Experience: 34 years
Biography
Bill Kollar enters his eighth season and first as defensive/special projects coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Originally working as the club's defensive line coach, Kollar was hired by the team on Jan. 26, 2015.
Kollar has 37 years of coaching experience, including the last 32 seasons instructing defensive linemen at the NFL level. Before coming to Denver in 2015, he coached the defensive line for Houston (2009-14), Buffalo (2006-08), St. Louis (2001-05) and Atlanta (1990-2000).
Bill Kollar enters his eighth season and first as defensive/special projects coach for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Originally working as the club's defensive line coach, Kollar was hired by the team on Jan. 26, 2015.
Kollar has 37 years of coaching experience, including the last 32 seasons instructing defensive linemen at the NFL level. Before coming to Denver in 2015, he coached the defensive line for Houston (2009-14), Buffalo (2006-08), St. Louis (2001-05) and Atlanta (1990-2000).
Coaching Denver's defensive line for the previous seven seasons, Kollar contributed to a defense that ranked in the Top-10 in total defense on four occasions. In addition, the team collected a Top-10 scoring defense four times, including three Top-5 finishes (2015-16, '21).
Before arriving in Denver, Kollar spent six years with Houston, including his first five years with the franchise as assistant head coach/defensive line. During his tenure with the Texans, the team ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense (329.4 ypg) and third in the league in opponent third-down percentage (35.9).
Defensive ends Mario Williams, Antonio Smith and J.J. Watt combined for five Pro Bowls playing for Kollar in Houston. Watt, who was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press following the 2012 and 2014 seasons, led the league with 51 sacks during his four seasons under Kollar and became the first player in league history to post multiple campaigns with 20 or more sacks.
Kollar spent three years in Buffalo (2006-08), where he coached future All-Pro defensive tackle Kyle Williams and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Schobel. Williams started 43-of-48 games to begin his NFL career under Kollar, while Schobel was selected to play in consecutive Pro Bowls beginning in 2006 when he posted a career-high 14 sacks to rank second in the AFC.
Prior to his three-year stint with Buffalo, he spent five seasons coaching the defensive line in St. Louis. Defensive end Leonard Little ranked fifth in the NFL with 55.5 sacks during that span and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2003. Kollar's defensive line was instrumental in the Rams' 2001 Super Bowl run as the club ranked third in the NFL in rush defense (85.9 ypg) while tying for the seventh-most sacks (45) in the league.
Kollar spent more than a decade (1990-2000) coaching the defensive line for the Falcons, highlighted by an NFC Championship in 1998 and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII against Denver. Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman played two seasons (1994-95) for Kollar and totaled 16 sacks for the Falcons, including nine quarterback takedowns in 1995 to earn his seventh career Pro Bowl selection.
A defensive lineman for eight seasons with Cincinnati (1974-76) and Tampa Bay (1977-81) after being selected by the Bengals in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft, Kollar began his coaching career as a defensive assistant/special teams with the Buccaneers in 1984.
Kollar spent a year as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois in 1985 before being promoted to coach the defensive line and special teams for the Illini from 1986-87. He coached the same position for Purdue University from 1988-89 before beginning his NFL career with the Falcons in 1990.
An All-American defensive lineman at Montana State University, Kollar went on to earn Most Valuable Player honors at the 1974 Senior Bowl and was inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame in 2014.
Kollar and his wife, Jan, have two sons, Chad and Clint. He was born in Warren, Ohio.
PRO BOWL PLAYERS COACHED (6): DE Chris Doleman (1995), DE Leonard Little (2003), DE Aaron Schobel (2006-07), DE Antonio Smith (2011), DE J.J. Watt (2012-14), DE Mario Williams (2009).
*as primary position coach
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Denver Broncos
Defensive/Special Projects 2022
Defensive Line 2015-21
Houston Texans
Defensive Line 2014
Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Line 2009-13
Buffalo Bills
Defensive Line 2006-08
St. Louis Rams
Defensive Line 2001-05
Atlanta Falcons
Defensive Line 1990-2000
Purdue University
Defensive Line/Special Teams 1988-89
University of Illinois
Defensive Line/Special Teams 1986-87
Graduate Assistant 1985
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Defensive Asst./Special Teams 1984