Bob Devaney

Robert Simon Devaney (April 13, 1915 – May 9, 1997) was a college football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career record of 136–30–7 (.806). Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers won consecutive national championships in 1970 and 1971 and three consecutive Orange Bowls.

Devaney also served as the athletic director at Nebraska from 1967 to 1993, and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1981.

Devaney graduated from Alma College in 1939, where he played end on the football team. Devaney coached high school football in Michigan at Big Beaver, Keego Harbor, Saginaw, and Alpena, before joining the Michigan State Spartans staff as an assistant coach under Biggie Munn and continuing under Duffy Daugherty.

Devaney's first college head coaching job was at the University of Wyoming, where he went 35–10–5 (.750) in five seasons (1957–1961). The Cowboys won the Sun Bowl in his second season and won or shared the Skyline Conference title in his final four seasons in Laramie. Devaney was released from his contract by the university's board of trustees in February 1962,^[1][2] and was hired at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at an annual salary of $17,000.^[3]

Devaney was the fourth choice of Nebraska's athletic director,

Consecutive 6–4 seasons followed in 1967 and 1968; allegedly known as a drinker,^{[citation needed]} Devaney became subject to a whispering campaign about whether he had peaked. However, he had brought in an innovative offensive thinker as an assistant coach, Tom Osborne. Devaney and Osborne revamped the offensive scheme, an I formation with an unbalanced line, and upgraded the recruiting effort. Nebraska began the 1969 season at 2–2 start and in its fifth game needed a last-minute comeback at home to beat a Kansas team that finished the season with only one win. But the Huskers kept winning and concluded the regular season at 8–2, then routed Georgia 45–6 in the Sun Bowl. This set the stage for the highlight of Devaney's coaching career.^{[citation needed]}

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Following the 1972 season, Devaney stepped down as head coach at age 57 and hired his protégé to succeed him, offensive coordinator Tom Osborne. Devaney's overall record at Nebraska was 101–20–2 (.829) in 11 seasons, with nine bowl appearances and two national championships. His teams won or shared eight Big Eight Conference titles. His record in his final three seasons was 32–2–2 (.919), and his career college head coaching record at Wyoming and Nebraska was 136–30–7 (.806) in 16 seasons.

Devaney served as athletic director at Nebraska from 1967 to 1992 and as athletic director emeritus until 1996. The university's volleyball/wrestling/gymnastics arena, the Bob Devaney Sports Center, is named for him.

Devaney died of a heart attack at age 82 in 1997,^[14][15] and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park in Lincoln.

Assistant coaches under Devaney who have become college or professional head coaches:

• Lloyd Eaton: Wyoming (1962–1970)
• Tom Osborne: Nebraska (1973–1997)
• Carl Selmer: Miami (FL) (1975–1976)
• Warren Powers: Washington State (1977), Missouri (1978–1984)
• Jim Walden: Washington State (1978–1986), Iowa State (1987–1994)
• Monte Kiffin: NC State (1980–1982)

• Bob Devaney at the College Football Hall of Fame