The NCAA News - News and Features

May 26, 1997

Former Nebraska athletics director, football coach dies

Bob Devaney, longtime athletics director and former football coach at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, died May 9 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 82.

Before a memorial service May 14 in Lincoln, the Nebraska Legislature adopted a resolution honoring Devaney for his two national football championships and contributions to the state. In Washington, D.C., Rep. Jon Christensen of Nebraska paid tribute to him on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

After joining the Nebraska staff in 1962, Devaney finally severed his official relationship with the university in June 1996 when he retired as athletics director emeritus because of ill health.

The Nebraska athletics center, home of the men's and women's basketball teams, is named in his honor.

Devaney joined the staff as head football coach in 1962 and never had a losing season in 11 seasons at the helm. He led the Cornhuskers to two wire-service national championships -- in 1970 and 1971-- and a 101-20-2 record. His Cornhuskers won eight Big Eight Conference titles and played in nine bowl games, winning six.

In 1967, he became athletics director, and he relinquished his coaching duties in 1973 to his hand-picked successor, Tom Osborne. Devaney retired as AD and became athletics director emeritus in January 1993.

Under Devaney, the success of Nebraska's football teams led to an expansion of the football stadium from 34,000 seats to 76,000 seats. Every home football game since November 3, 1962, has been a sellout -- a continuing NCAA record.

Among his accolades were the Neyland Award for outstanding contributions to college football and induction into the National Football Hall of Fame. He was voted national coach of the year by the Football News in 1970 and by the TD Club of Washington, Football Writers Association of America and Walter Camp Foundation in 1971.

Before joining the Nebraska staff, Devaney was head coach at the University of Wyoming, where he compiled a 35-10-5 record in five years.