Hall of Fame College Football Coach. He was best known as one of the winningest head coaches in college football history during his six decade tenure at Samford, West Virginia, and Florida State Universities. He played quarterback at the University of Alabama as a freshman but, in accordance with university policy at the time, was forced to give up his scholarship after marrying his high-school sweetheart. After leaving Alabama, he then transferred to Howard College (now Samford University) in his hometown, Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating from Howard in 1953, he became an assistant football coach there for two years before becoming the athletic director and head coach at South Georgia College from 1956 to 1958. In 1959, he came back to his alma mater as head coach, but he left the school three years later to become an assistant coach, first at Florida State University (1963–65) and then at West Virginia University (1966–69). He was promoted to be head coach at West Virginia in 1970. He had a 42–26 record at West Virginia and guided the Mountaineers to two bowl appearances before taking the head coaching position at Florida State in 1976. His tenure at Florida State lasted for the next four decades and resulted in two National Championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference championships with a win-loss record of 304-97-4. After a difficult 2009 season, he was let go as the head coach of the Seminoles and retired from coaching with a total of 377 wins, 129 losses, and 4 ties. He earned several awards including the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, and Amos Alonzo Stagg Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Hall of Fame College Football Coach. He was best known as one of the winningest head coaches in college football history during his six decade tenure at Samford, West Virginia, and Florida State Universities. He played quarterback at the University of Alabama as a freshman but, in accordance with university policy at the time, was forced to give up his scholarship after marrying his high-school sweetheart. After leaving Alabama, he then transferred to Howard College (now Samford University) in his hometown, Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating from Howard in 1953, he became an assistant football coach there for two years before becoming the athletic director and head coach at South Georgia College from 1956 to 1958. In 1959, he came back to his alma mater as head coach, but he left the school three years later to become an assistant coach, first at Florida State University (1963–65) and then at West Virginia University (1966–69). He was promoted to be head coach at West Virginia in 1970. He had a 42–26 record at West Virginia and guided the Mountaineers to two bowl appearances before taking the head coaching position at Florida State in 1976. His tenure at Florida State lasted for the next four decades and resulted in two National Championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference championships with a win-loss record of 304-97-4. After a difficult 2009 season, he was let go as the head coach of the Seminoles and retired from coaching with a total of 377 wins, 129 losses, and 4 ties. He earned several awards including the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, and Amos Alonzo Stagg Award. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Bio by: Mr. Badger Hawkeye
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