Woody Hayes

Head Coach 1951-1978

For 28 years he was the heart and soul of Ohio State Football. A worshipper of tough men, he preached self-reliance, education and that the more you give, the more you get in return. He took the Buckeyes to heights never before achieved in the school’s rich football history and touched more than a few lives along the way.

Between 1951 and 1978, while Woody Hayes stalked the Ohio Stadium sidelines, the Buckeyes won five national titles (and narrowly missed out on four others), captured 13 Big Ten crowns and won 205 games, including 152 conference games. Twice the Buckeyes won a conference record 17-consecutive league games.

Under Hayes, the Buckeyes played in 11 bowl games, including eight Rose Bowls. Ohio State is the only Big Ten school to play in four-consecutive Rose Bowls, traveling to Pasadena following the 1972-73-74 and ’75 seasons.

Under Hayes’ guidance, 56 different Ohio State players garnered first-team All-America honors. Additionally, he coached three Heisman Trophy winners, three Outland Trophy recipients and two Lombardi Award honorees.

Four of Hayes’ teams notched unbeaten records and five others suffered just one loss. Between 1968 and 1970, the Buckeyes were 27-2 and won three Big Ten titles. From 1972 to 1977, OSU reeled off six-consecutive league championships and fashioned a combined record of 49-8.

The list of former Hayes assistants includes Bill Mallory, Glen Mason, Gary Moeller, Lou Holtz, Bo Schembechler, Earle Bruce and Joe Bugel, just to name a few.

Hayes recorded a lifetime record of 238-72-10. During his stay with the Buckeyes, Hayes twice won National Coach of the Year honors. And during the Hayes era, the Buckeyes led the nation in attendance 21 times and finished second in each of the other seven years.

Hayes, who grew up in Newcomerstown, Ohio, graduated from Denison in 1935. He spent his entire coaching career within the state of Ohio, coaching at Denison for three years and at Miami (Ohio) for two.

Hayes was a noted historian with a passion for military history. He held the rank of associate professor at Ohio State and took great pride in being able to teach during the offseason. He was as proud of his players’ high graduation rate as he was of their success on the football field.

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes was born Feb. 14, 1913, in Clifton, Ohio. He died March 12, 1987, but his influence lives through the many thousands of people he touched during his 28 years at Ohio State. Woody Hayes holds a special place in college football history.

All-Time NCAA I-A Victories

Joe Paterno* 337Robert “Bobby” Bowden*333Paul “Bear” Bryant 323Glenn“Pop” Warner 319Amos Alonzo Stagg 314LaVellEdwards 257 Tom Osborne 255LaVelle Edwards 257Lou Holtz* 243WoodyHayes 238Glenn E. “Bo” Schembechler 234HaydenFry 232

*indicates active coach
Source: NCAA Official Records Book

Woody Hayes at Ohio State

Won five national titles (1970, 1968, 1961, 1957 and 1954) Won13 Big Ten championships Won 205 overall and 152 conference gamesLed Ohio State to 11 bowl games (eight Rose Bowls) Took Ohio Stateto four-consecutive Rose Bowls (1972-75) Produced 56 first teamAll-Americans Coached three Heisman Trophy and three Outland Trophywinners Coached two Lombardi Award winners

Hayes’ Ohio State record by year

Year Overall Big Ten Big Ten FinishBowl Game National Finish1951 4-3-2 2-3-2 5th 19526-3 5-2 3rd 17th1953 6-3 4-3 4th 1954 10-0 7-0 1st Rose Bowl1st1955 7-2 6-0 1st 5th1956 6-3 4-2 4th (tied) 15th1957 9-1 7-0 1stRose Bowl 1st1958 6-1-2 4-1-2 3rd 8th1959 3-5-1 2-4-1 8th (tied)1960 7-2 5-2 3rd 8th1961 8-0-1 6-0 1st 1st (NFF) (2nd AP)1962 6-34-2 3rd (tied) 1963 5-3-1 4-1-1 2nd (tied) 1964 7-2 5-1 2nd 9th19657-2 6-1 2nd 1966 4-5 3-4 6th 1967 6-3 5-2 4th 1968 10-0 7-0 1stRose Bowl 1st1969 8-1 6-1 1st (tied) 4th1970 9-1 7-0 1st Rose Bowl1st (NFF)1971 6-4 5-3 3rd (tied) 1972 9-2 7-1 1st (tied) Rose Bowl9th1973 10-0-1 7-0-1 1st (tied) Rose Bowl 2nd1974 10-2 7-1 1st(tied) Rose Bowl 4th1975 11-1 8-0 1st Rose Bowl 4th1976 9-2-1 7-11st (tied) Orange Bowl 6th1977 9-3 7-1 1st (tied) Sugar Bowl11th1978 7-4-1 6-2 4th Gator Bowl