Woody Hayes

Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes (February 14, 1913 – March 12, 1987) was head football coach at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio from 1951-1978. He was also a veteran of World War II, having been a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. Born in Clifton, Ohio, Woody played center on his Newcomerstown,Ohio high school football team and tackle at Denison University. Hayes led the Buckeyes to a record of 205-68-10 during his tenure as head coach. His Buckeye teams won three national championships and 13 Big Ten Conference titles. He led OSU to 11 Rose Bowl games, including four consecutive games from 1972-75. Woody considered his "greatest victory" the 42-21 win over USC during the 1974 Rose Bowl. He twice won National Coach of the Year honors. Hayes was considered "a legend in his own time." According to biographer Jerry Brondfield, Woody Hayes was "the subject of more varied and colorful anecdotal material than any other coach past or present, including fabled Knute Rockne." Hayes' basic coaching philosophy was that "nobody could win football games unless they regarded the game positively and would agree to pay the price that success demands of a team."

Related Topics:
February 14 - 1913 - March 12 - 1987 - Football - The Ohio State University - Columbus, Ohio - 1951 - 1978 - World War II - United States Navy - Clifton, Ohio - Newcomerstown,Ohio - Buckeyes - Big Ten Conference - OSU - Rose Bowl - 1972 - 75 - USC - Knute Rockne

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Woody's usually conservative style of football (especially on offense) was often described as "three yards and a cloud of dust"; in other words, a "crunching, frontal assault of muscle against muscle, bone upon bone, will against will." He was one of the first major college head coaches to recruit African-American players and hire African-American assistant coaches. Archie Griffin, the two-time Heisman trophy winner, was one of many celebrated running backs that played for Coach Hayes. Many notable football coaches, such as Lou Holtz, were at one time assistants to Woody. As a coach and an educator, Hayes was one of the first to heavily use the motion picture as a teaching and learning tool. Woody Hayes was also memorable as a professor that could be seen walking across campus, stopping, and taking the time to visit with students. When talking to these young people, Hayes was remarkable in that he treated all of them equally and with respect, without regard to race or economic class. Because of his enthusiasm for coaching and winning, many across the nation consider the following maxim to be true: "What Vince Lombardi was to professional football, Woody Hayes was to college football."

Related Topics:
Archie Griffin - Lou Holtz - Motion picture - Vince Lombardi

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Woody Hayes had majored in English and history as an undergraduate at Denison. He would often use illustrations from historical events to strongly make a point in his coaching and teaching. When Hayes was first hired to be the head coach at OSU, he was also made a "full professor of physical education." Woody had earned his M.A. degree in educational administration from Ohio State prior to his offer of employment. The classes that he taught on campus were usually full, and he was called "Professor Hayes" by students (in addition to the usual "Coach Hayes").

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Hayes was notorious for his temper when on the football field, which eventually cost him his position at OSU following the 1978 Gator Bowl. During that game, he hit Clemson player middle guard Charlie Bauman on the sidelines after Bauman had made a spectacular game-clinching interception in the closing seconds of the contest. Bauman was tackled by three Ohio State players including Art Schlichter, the quarterback who threw the errant pass intended for Ron Springs. Woody is therefore viewed by many as a tragic figure.

Related Topics:
Gator Bowl - Clemson - Art Schlichter

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Woody Hayes coached high school football at Mingo Junction, Ohio and New Philadelphia, Ohio. Before joining OSU, Hayes coached collegiate football at Denison University (his Alma Mater) for three years and at Miami University (Ohio) for two. Hayes' lifetime record of 238-72-10 places him sixth in all-time NCAA Division I-A coaching victories. Woody was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983. During the early part of 1986, Coach Hayes delivered an emotional Commencement Address at The Ohio State University in Columbus.

Related Topics:
OSU - Denison University - Miami University - NCAA - College Football Hall of Fame

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To many students that were privileged to have known him, Hayes was a great friend and teacher. After his death in 1987, the following story was commonly heard on the streets of Columbus: "Whenever you hear rolling thunder in the heavens, look up and smile--for it must be Woody Hayes coaching God's football team!"

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