David Shula

Born David Donald Shula on May 28, 1959 in Lexington, Kentucky to Dorothy and Don Shula, he has one brother Mike (Quarterback Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars) and three sisters Annie, Sharon and Donna. The family moved to Detroit in 1960, then on to Baltimore in 1963 and finally to Miami Lakes, FL in 1970. Dave met his wife Leslie while they both attended Dartmouth College; they married in 1982. Dave and Leslie have three sons Daniel, Chris and Matt.

Dave was a star athlete and student at Chaminade High School. In addition to being Salutatorian of his class, he was selected to be part of the All- County football and baseball teams for Broward County. Dave’s excellence in academics and sports continued at Dartmouth College where he received numerous awards as a student athlete including New England football player of the year in 1980 and playing in the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier college all-star football game.

National Football League
Dave Shula started his NFL experience, as you would expect the son of an NFL Head Coach with the basics. His dad taught him about the true glamour of professional football. Coach Don Shula had his son painting blocking sleds and practice field goal posts, doing the team’s laundry and carrying out the duties as “ball boy,” at the tender age of eleven. By the time Dave was 16 he had graduated to charting plays and keeping “stats”.   

In 1981 Dave Shula joined the NFL “for real” as a player for the Baltimore Colts under Head Coach Mike McCormick. He was a wide receiver and kick return specialist making the team as an undrafted free agent; ironically Dave’s father also played and coached for the Baltimore Colts. This was only the beginning of the history making relationship between the NFL’s most unique father and son.

During that season Dave saw his father on the opposite sideline for the first time as the opposing team’s Head Coach. He lined up two times that season against his dad’s Miami Dolphins. The following season Dave changed gears from player to coach. He teamed up with his father, as the receivers coach of the Dolphins for the last 5 games of the year including a trip to the Super Bowl against the Washington Redskins. In 1986 Dave coached in the NFL Pro Bowl game and was promoted to Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator of the Dolphins. Dave was involved with 64 Dolphin wins from 1982 thru 1988. In 1987 Dave and his dad coached the college all-stars in the Senior Bowl, putting yet another unique twist to the Shula relationships. They were coaching an all- star player none other than his brother Mike, a quarterback from the University of Alabama who just so happened to throw the winning touchdown pass.

The Dallas Cowboys lured Dave away in 1989 as Offensive Coordinator where he was instrumental in the Cowboys positive turn around. The Cowboys played the Dolphins in 1989 where Dave now had to coach against his dad’s defense for the first time; another first for the Shula family and the NFL. 

Dave continued his progression in the NFL accepting an assistant coaching position with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1991 and becoming their Head Coach in 1992. Head Coach Dave Shula was 32, making him the youngest ever to achieve such a commanding position in the NFL’s modern era, beating out his father for that distinction by a few months. The Shula’s NFL history making was about to live it’s most dramatic moment. On Sunday October 2, 1994, father faced son as opposing National Football League Head Coaches for the first time ever, an unprecedented event for the NFL or any professional sports league.

In addition to serving on his dad’s staff for seven years Dave opposed his dad’s Miami Dolphins a total of six times twice as a player, twice as an assistant coach and twice as a Head Coach, carving a special place in the NFL history and record books.

Dave Shula’s coaching career crossed paths with many future Hall of Fame players,

Shula’s Steak Houses L.P.
Dave joined his dad again with Shula’s Steak Houses, L.P. in 1997 as Executive Vice President. At the time there were six Shula’s locations and with Dave on board Shula’s Steak Houses started an expansion process with its then three restaurant concepts. Shula’s Steak House, the original upscale Steak House themed after the Miami Dolphins’ perfect season; Shula’s on the Beach which offers more seafood than the original; and Shula’s Steak 2, a restaurant that is more sport, more casual, more steak. Since then Shula’s Steak 2 has been renamed to Shula’s 2 and a fourth concept, Shula’s 347 a mix between Shula’s Steak House and Shula’s 2 has joined the group.

In 2000 Dave was named President of Shula’s Steak Houses L.P. and has overseen the Shula’s expansion to the now 27 locations nationwide which continually rank as one of the Top Five Steak Houses in the USA, cementing its reputation as America’s Steak House. Making sure that the commitment to success through dedication, passion and execution transfers from football to restaurants, keeps Dave busy. He makes personal visits to all locations and is in constant communication with customers as well. He has made it his as well as the company’s mission to create “Raving Fans”. He is often quoted saying “the name may get you in the door but its the quality of the experience that will bring you back”.

In the fall of 2000, Dave Shula completed negotiations with Publix Super Markets to carry Shula’s Steak Sauce, Shula’s Barbeque Sauce and Shula’s Hot Sauce in all of their 600 plus stores. Dave’s passion for winning and his restaurant expertise are vital in determining future company success.

An accomplished speaker and Angus Beef expert he has appeared on seminar panels for the Certified Angus Beef association and he lectures on “Sports as a Business” across the country. Dave has transitioned his competitive nature towards the success of Shula’s Steak Houses L.P. and also into his private life as a golfer, tennis player and marathon runner. Dave has completed the Disney marathon in Orlando and the Boston Marathon.