The Cradle of Coaches is a nickname given to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for its history of producing successful sports coaches, especially in football. Bob Kurz, a former Miami sports communications worker, popularized the term in a 1983 book, though the school's association with the nickname goes as far back as the early 1960s. The university inducts former coaches into the Cradle of Coaching Association for their feats as alumni.
Notable coaches The program's largest cohort are football coaches Earl Blaik, Paul Brown, Woody Hayes, Bill Arnsparger, George Little, Weeb Ewbank, Sid Gillman, Ara Parseghian, Bo Schembechler, John Pont, Carmen Cozza, Bill Mallory, Joe Novak, Ron Zook, Dick Crum, Paul Dietzel, Bill Narduzzi, Randy Walker, John Harbaugh, Nobby Wirkowski, Gary Moeller, Larry Smith, Dick Tomey, Terry Hoeppner, and Sean McVay.
Sean McVay coached the Los Angeles Rams to the World Championship on February 13, 2022, a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. John Harbaugh coached the Baltimore Ravens to the World Championship on February 3, 2013, a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Weeb Ewbank coached the New York Jets to the World Championship on January 12, 1969, a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
Miami has also produced notable basketball coaches Darrell Hedric, Randy Ayers, Herb Sendek, Thad Matta and Sean Miller. Hedric, currently a scout for the Toronto Raptors, is an Ohio and Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Famer and holds the record for Miami victories. Ayers was a four-year starter for Miami, leading the team to back-to-back NCAA appearances in 1977 and 1978, and later served as a head coach for Ohio State and assistant coach in the National Basketball Association. Sendek began his head coaching career at Miami and led the RedHawks to the postseason in each of his three seasons. Matta, formerly the head coach at Ohio State, was an assistant under Sendek for one memorable year that included a regular-season MAC championship and NCAA tournament appearance, and also for one year under then-head coach Charlie Coles. University of Tennessee basketball coach Ray Mears is also a graduate of Miami. Baseball Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston is also a graduate of Miami. Additionally, hockey coach George Gwozdecky served as head coach at Miami prior to leaving for Denver, where he won two national championships.
History In the fall of 1959, Bob Kurz, Sports Information Director and a recent graduate (1958), recounted that several Miami graduates were making history on the football field. Louisiana State University under Paul Dietzel (1948) was listed as number 1 in the country. Northwestern University under Ara Parseghian (1948) was number 2; Earl Blaik (1918) was leading Army to an undefeated season, while in professional football Paul Brown (1930) was guiding the Cleveland Browns, and Weeb Eubank (1928) was leading the Baltimore Colts. Both pro teams were on top of their divisions. Kurz coined the Cradle of Coaches term as a derivative from another nickname of Miami University, the Mother of Fraternities.
The Cradle of Coaches was the subject of a sports documentary film that aired on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (Ohio) in 2015. The film captured the story of John Harbaugh's induction as well as perspective from other members.
Cradle of Coaches Association inductees Induction year Name Sport (current coaching position) Miami class of 1992Weeb Ewbank Football 1928 1992 Bob Kurz Football 1958 1992Bill Narduzzi Football 1959 1992John Pont Football 1952 1993Paul Brown Football 1930 1993 Mel Knowlton Football 1937 1993Ara Parseghian Football 1949 1994Bill Arnsparger Football 1950 1994Paul Dietzel Football 1948 1994 Jack Llewellyn Football 1995Jack Faulkner Football 1995 Joe Codiano Football 1995Bill Mallory Football 1957 1996John Brickels Football 1996 Hal Paul 1996Dick Shrider Basketball 1997Jerry Hanlon Football 1956 1997John McVay Football 1997 Frank Shands 1998Carmen Cozza Football, baseball 1952 1998 Marvin Moorehead 1998 Ernie Plank Football 1950 2001Dick Crum Football 2001Darrell Hedric Basketball 1955 2001 Lou Kaczmarek Football 1950 2001 Rich Voiers Basketball 1957 2001Walter Alston Baseball 1935 2001Earl Blaik Football 1918 2001 Leann Davidge Tennis 2001Woody Hayes Football 2001 Raymond Ray 2001George Rider Football, baseball, basketball, track, cross country 2001 William Rohr Basketball 2002 Peggy Bradley-Doppes Volleyball (UNC Wilmington Director of Athletics) 2002 Denny Marcin Football (New York Jets) 1964 2002 Nick Mourouzis Football (DePauw) 1959 2002 Jim Rose Basketball 1951 2002 Marvin McCollum Basketball 1948 2002Ron Zook Football 1976 2004 Rodger Cromer 2004 Carol Clark Johnson 2004 Clarence McDade 2004 Ron Niekamp Basketball (Findlay) 1972 2004Bo Schembechler Football 1951 2006 George Dales 2006George Gwozdecky Ice Hockey (University of Denver) 2006Danny Hall Baseball (Georgia Tech) 2006 Bob Kappes 2006 Stephen Strome 2006 Randall Whitehead 2008Terry Hoeppner Football 2008Randy Walker Football 2011Jerry Angelo Football 1971 2011 Elaine Hieber 2011 Dave JenningsSwimming 2011 Rob Patrick 2011 Gary Quisno 2011 Pam Wettig 2014John Harbaugh Football (New York Giants) 19842016Todd Spohn Diving 1986 2017Sean McVay Football (Los Angeles Rams) 2008
Super Bowl-winning former head coach John Harbaugh was inducted in their Hall of Fame in 2014.
The Cradle of Coaches sculpture group A sculptural group called The Cradle of Coaches, by sculptor Kristen Visbal, was erected at Miami University between 2009 and 2011, with additions in 2014 and 2023. It consists of ten 120% lifesize statues of Earl Blaik, Paul Brown, Carm Cozza, Paul Dietzel, Weeb Ewbank, John Harbaugh, Ara Parseghian, John Pont, Bo Schembechler, Thomas Van Voorhis, and Sean McVay.
See also List of Miami University people Miami RedHawks
References
External links Cradle of Coaches Archive, Miami University Libraries