Bo Schembechler

Glenn E. "Bo" Schembechler (born April 1, 1929) coached the University of Michigan college football team from 1969-1989, and is widely considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. He led the Wolverines to 17 bowl games in 21 years, placing him ninth in all-time bowl appearances, and never posted a losing season. He was voted national Coach of the Year in 1969 by both the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America. Coaching at Miami (Ohio) (1964-69) and Michigan, he won a total of 235 games. Only Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne recorded 200 victories in fewer games. From 1969 to 1978, Schembechler and the Wolverines had a fierce rivalry, dubbed the "10-Year War," with another coaching legend, Woody Hayes (who was Schembechler's mentor) and his Ohio State Buckeyes. At Michigan, he won a school-record 194 games, lost only 48, and tied five for a winning percentage of .796. In Big Ten Conference play, he was better still, winning 143 games, losing 24 and tying three for a winning percentage of .850. His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles, and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances. He is a member of the 'Cradle of Coaches' at Miami (Ohio).

Related Topics:
April 1 - 1929 - University of Michigan - College football - Wolverines - Miami (Ohio) - Joe Paterno - Tom Osborne - Woody Hayes - Ohio State - Big Ten Conference - Rose Bowl

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Schembechler was athletic director at Michigan from 1988 to 1990. Just before the 1989 NCAA basketball tournament, men's basketball head coach Bill Frieder announced that he was taking the head coach position at Arizona State University, starting at the end of the season. Schembechler immediately fired Frieder, famously saying that "a Michigan man is going to coach Michigan" in the NCAA tournament. He appointed assistant basketball coach Steve Fisher as interim head coach. To seemingly vindicate Schembechler's decision, Fisher improbably led Michigan to six straight victories in the tournament and the 1989 national championship.

Related Topics:
NCAA basketball tournament - Steve Fisher

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From 1990 to 1992, Schembechler was president of the Detroit Tigers professional baseball club. In 1991, he notably presided over the firing of aging but beloved Tigers' Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell. The move was universally decried by fans and the press. Management at the Tigers' flagship radio station WJR later claimed responsibility for the sacking, but Schembechler and club owner Tom Monaghan were denounced for the decision. http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=108&category=sports

Related Topics:
Detroit Tigers - Ernie Harwell - WJR - Tom Monaghan

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