Hall of Fame College Football Coach. He served as head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns from 1957 until 1976. An innovative force in the collegiate ranks, he devised the "Flip-Flop Winged-T" and the "Wishbone" schemes which propelled the Longhorns to three National Championships (1963, 1969 and 1970). The youngest of six siblings, his mother died from cancer while he was an infant. He would live with his grandparents until the age of five following his father's remarriage. A child of the "Depression", he worked as a cotton picker in order to provide income for his family. During World War II, Royal enlisted with the United States Air Corps and distinguished himself as a player for their football squad. He was discovered by recruiters from the University of Oklahoma and after the war, he found himself playing quarterback under Bud Wilkinson with the Sooners. He achieved All-American status and became one of the school's most productive all-time players. After graduating from Oklahoma with a degree in Business, he was drafted by the New York Bulldogs during the 1950 NFL Draft, however he went directly into his coaching career, initially as an assistant at North Carolina State, followed by Tulsa. Royal reached the professional level, as he served a one-year stint as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos (1953), and moved onto Mississippi State (1954 to 1955) and the University of Washington (1956). During his tenure at Texas, he guided the Longhorns to 16 bowl games and was victorious in 7, while producing more-than 12 All-Americans. He was named Coach of the Year twice by the American Football Coaches Association (1963 and 1970) and totaled a 184 win 60 loss 5 tie regular season career record. After retiring as coach in 1976, he stayed on to serve as athletic director until 1979. From 1980 until 1990, he remained at Texas serving in various capacities. He was named to both the University of Texas Hall of Honor and Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. He was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1996, Texas' home field was renamed after Royal.
Hall of Fame College Football Coach. He served as head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns from 1957 until 1976. An innovative force in the collegiate ranks, he devised the "Flip-Flop Winged-T" and the "Wishbone" schemes which propelled the Longhorns to three National Championships (1963, 1969 and 1970). The youngest of six siblings, his mother died from cancer while he was an infant. He would live with his grandparents until the age of five following his father's remarriage. A child of the "Depression", he worked as a cotton picker in order to provide income for his family. During World War II, Royal enlisted with the United States Air Corps and distinguished himself as a player for their football squad. He was discovered by recruiters from the University of Oklahoma and after the war, he found himself playing quarterback under Bud Wilkinson with the Sooners. He achieved All-American status and became one of the school's most productive all-time players. After graduating from Oklahoma with a degree in Business, he was drafted by the New York Bulldogs during the 1950 NFL Draft, however he went directly into his coaching career, initially as an assistant at North Carolina State, followed by Tulsa. Royal reached the professional level, as he served a one-year stint as head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos (1953), and moved onto Mississippi State (1954 to 1955) and the University of Washington (1956). During his tenure at Texas, he guided the Longhorns to 16 bowl games and was victorious in 7, while producing more-than 12 All-Americans. He was named Coach of the Year twice by the American Football Coaches Association (1963 and 1970) and totaled a 184 win 60 loss 5 tie regular season career record. After retiring as coach in 1976, he stayed on to serve as athletic director until 1979. From 1980 until 1990, he remained at Texas serving in various capacities. He was named to both the University of Texas Hall of Honor and Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. He was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1996, Texas' home field was renamed after Royal.
Bio by: C.S.
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