2008 Woodie Awards
Fry proteges take lessons to build successful programs
Mike Nelson
Issue date: 10/13/05 Section: Sports
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Great leaders of our time all know one thing: To know where you're going, you have to know where you've been.
Former Hawkeye Head Coach and college football hall of famer Hayden Fry stands among elite company. His unique approach to the college game brought wins to Iowa City and two trips to the Rose Bowl.
Fry doesn't just have a legacy for winning games, however. Many of today's great coaches worked or played for Fry at one time.
After Fry retired in 1998, speculation swirled about which of his prodigies would takeover. Although there was talk of bringing in former Hawkeye Bob Stoops, then the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators, the job fell to Kirk Ferentz, an offensive line coach under Fry years before.
Stoops went on to win a national championship at Oklahoma in 2000, leaving many Hawkeye fans to wonder "what if" but Ferentz quelled the speculation putting together 10-win seasons the past three years.
Stoops and Ferentz aren't the only former Fry assistants to have success of their own.
Former Hawkeye offensive coordinator Bill Snyder took over the abysmal Kansas State Wildcats in 1989. The Wildcats have gone 131-62-1 since then.
Barry Alvarez, another former Hawkeye assistant, became head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. He's brought three Rose Bowl victories to Madison, including back-to-back victories in 1999 and 2000. Alvarez will step down as head coach next season to assume a full-time role as UW athletic director, a position he's held part-time for the past couple seasons.
Another Hawkeye alum, former lineman Bret Bielema, is waiting in the wings to supplant him.
In 1994 Dan McCarney, a defensive line coach under Fry, took over the then struggling Iowa State Cyclones. The 2001 Big 12 Coach of the Year has steadily brought success to Ames, guiding them to victories in the Independence Bowl and Insight.com Bowl.
A recent former Hawkeye assistant to earn a head coaching spot is Mike Stoops, who is in his first season with the Arizona Wildcats. The jury is still out on whether or not he'll have the success of other former Hawkeyes but judging by the successful past of his predecessors, he'll be just fine.
Former Hawkeye Head Coach and college football hall of famer Hayden Fry stands among elite company. His unique approach to the college game brought wins to Iowa City and two trips to the Rose Bowl.
Fry doesn't just have a legacy for winning games, however. Many of today's great coaches worked or played for Fry at one time.
After Fry retired in 1998, speculation swirled about which of his prodigies would takeover. Although there was talk of bringing in former Hawkeye Bob Stoops, then the defensive coordinator for the Florida Gators, the job fell to Kirk Ferentz, an offensive line coach under Fry years before.
Stoops went on to win a national championship at Oklahoma in 2000, leaving many Hawkeye fans to wonder "what if" but Ferentz quelled the speculation putting together 10-win seasons the past three years.
Stoops and Ferentz aren't the only former Fry assistants to have success of their own.
Former Hawkeye offensive coordinator Bill Snyder took over the abysmal Kansas State Wildcats in 1989. The Wildcats have gone 131-62-1 since then.
Barry Alvarez, another former Hawkeye assistant, became head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. He's brought three Rose Bowl victories to Madison, including back-to-back victories in 1999 and 2000. Alvarez will step down as head coach next season to assume a full-time role as UW athletic director, a position he's held part-time for the past couple seasons.
Another Hawkeye alum, former lineman Bret Bielema, is waiting in the wings to supplant him.
In 1994 Dan McCarney, a defensive line coach under Fry, took over the then struggling Iowa State Cyclones. The 2001 Big 12 Coach of the Year has steadily brought success to Ames, guiding them to victories in the Independence Bowl and Insight.com Bowl.
A recent former Hawkeye assistant to earn a head coaching spot is Mike Stoops, who is in his first season with the Arizona Wildcats. The jury is still out on whether or not he'll have the success of other former Hawkeyes but judging by the successful past of his predecessors, he'll be just fine.