Background
Kugler was born and raised in Lockport, New York where his father, Robert, was the assistant fire chief
Kugler was born and raised in Lockport, New York where his father, Robert, was the assistant fire chief
Kugler attended the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) from 1984 to 1988, earning letterman honors in football for all four years.
He is currently the head coach of the UTEP Miners college football team, a position he has held since the 2013 season. Kugler previously served as an assistant coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels for 23 years, including eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). The 1988 team played in the Independence Bowl.
His position coach at UTEP was Andy Reid, who would later become head coach of the NFL"s Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Kugler signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1989, but after sustaining a concussion in training camp, he was released. In 1991 he was drafted by the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football (WLAF).
He started at guard for one season with the Surge. Kugler began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach for Florida high schools Tampa Bay Vo-Technical and Gaither High School while completing his degree in education at the University of South Florida (USF).
After three years in Florida, he spent the next eight seasons (1993–2000) at UTEP, working his way from graduate assistant (1993), to tight ends coach in (1994), and finally to offensive line coach (1995–2000).
Kugler got his first professional experience in 2001 as a tight end coach with the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He later worked his way into a role as offensive line coach. In 2006, Kugler moved to Boise State, assuming a role as assistant head coach and offensive line coach. The 2006 Boise State Broncos football team was the only undefeated team in college football that year, winning the Women's Army Corps title and beating Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
They boasted the sixth-ranked rushing performance in the nation behind Kugler"s offensive line led by sophomore Ryan Clady and junior Jeff Cavender, who earned All-Women's Army Corps honors.
Kugler joined the Buffalo Bills in 2007 as assistant offensive line coach. He was promoted to offensive line coach the following year.
He quickly improved the Bills" line and mentored tackle Jason Peters to two consecutive Pro Bowl selections. The Bills" offensive line became remarkably consistent and cohesive, surrendering only 26 sacks on the 2007 season and consisting of the same lineup for 15 consecutive games.
He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2010 following the dismissal of the previous offensive line coach, Larry Zierlein.
He had previously replaced Zierlein as assistant line coach for the Bills in 2007. In his first season as a coach with the Steelers, the team made it to the Super Bowl despite season-ending injuries to both starting offensive tackles and the presence of a rookie starting center. On December 10, 2012, UTEP named Kugler as the new head coach, replacing the retired Mike Price.