Tyrone Willingham

College coach infobox
Name = Tyrone Willingham


Caption =
DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1953|12|30
Birthplace = flagicon|North Carolina Kinston, North Carolina
DateOfDeath =
Sport = Football
College = Washington
Title = Head Coach
CurrentRecord = 11–30
OverallRecord = 76–82–1
BowlRecord = 1–5
Awards = 2002 Coach of the Year
2008 American Football Coaches Association President
Championships = 1
CFbDWID = 2525
Player = Y
Years = 1975-77
Team = Michigan State
Position = QB / WR
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1977
1978-79
1980-1982
1983-1985
1986-88
1989-91
1992-94
1995-2001
2002-2004
2005-"present"
CoachTeams = Michigan State (GA)
Central Michigan (DB)
Michigan State (DB/ST)
NC State (DB/ST)
Rice (WR/ST)
Stanford (RB)
Minnesota Vikings (RB)
Stanford
Notre Dame
Washington
FootballHOF =

Lionel Tyrone Willingham, or Ty Willingham (born December 30, 1953 in Kinston, North Carolina) is the head football coach at the University of Washington. He is one of only a few African American head coaches in major college football.

Early career

A football/baseball player and 1977 graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in PE, Willingham held assistant coaching positions at his alma mater (1977, 1980–82), as well as at Central Michigan (1978–79), North Carolina State (1983–85), Rice (1986–88), and Stanford (1989–91). When Stanford Coach Dennis Green was hired as the Minnesota Vikings head coach in 1992, Willingham followed him as running backs coach (1992–94).

Head coaching positions

tanford

Following the 1994 season, Willingham was appointed head coach of the football program at Stanford. In his seven seasons (1995-2001) as coach, he led the Cardinal to a 44-36-1 record, a Pac-10 conference championship and four bowl game appearances, including the 2000 Rose Bowl. His 44 wins were the most by a Stanford coach coach since John Ralston who left the school after the 1971 season. On December 31, 2001, Willingham was hired as head coach at Notre Dame. [cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/123101aaa.html|title=Tyrone Willingham Named Notre Dame Football Coach|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=December 31, 2001|accessdate=2007-08-27]

Notre Dame

Willingham got off to an auspicious start at Notre Dame. He began the 2002 season by going 8–0, becoming the only first-year coach in Notre Dame history to win 10 games. For his efforts he was named the ESPN/Home Depot College Coach of the Year, [cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120902aab.html|title=Tyrone Willingham Named Home Depot National Coach Of The Year|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=December 9, 2002|accessdate=2007-08-27] the Scripps College Coach of the Year, the Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year and the George Munger Award College Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club. [cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121302aaa.html|title=Tyrone Willingham Wins George Munger Award for College Coach of the Year|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=December 13, 2002|accessdate=2007-08-27]

Subsequently, Notre Dame finished 5–7 in 2003 and were beaten badly in four of those losses, getting shut out twice in one season for the first time since 1960. In 2004, Notre Dame posted a 6–5 record regular season, including a 41–16 loss to Purdue and ending with Willingham's third consecutive 31 point loss to the University of Southern California for his fifth blowout loss by 30 points or more in his three seasons. The following Monday, November 30, after an overall record in South Bend of 21–15, Notre Dame terminated Willingham as head coach. [cite news|url=http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113004aab.html|title=Statement From Director Of Athletics Kevin White|publisher="UND.cstv.com"|date=November 30, 2004|accessdate=2007-08-27] Defensive coordinator Kent Baer served as acting head coach for the Insight Bowl, a 38-21 loss to Oregon State University.

Washington

On December 13 2004, Willingham was hired as the new head coach at Washington, succeeding Keith Gilbertson. The Huskies returned 19 of 22 starters from the previous season, in which they had gone 1-10 (0-8 in conference play). As chance would have it, Willingham found himself facing his former team on September 24, 2005. Notre Dame prevailed, 36–17. His first season at Washington ended with a 2–9 record (1–7 in conference play, tied for 9th place), capped by a scuffle after a close loss to Washington State that left Willingham "embarrassed" and vowing that it would not happen again. [ [http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=apple20&date=20051120 Search Results | Seattle Times Newspaper ] ]

His 2006 Washington team started October with a 4–1 record, with its most notable victory a stunning 29–19 upset over previously undefeated UCLA, before losing its next 6 games after starting quarterback Isaiah Stanback suffered a season ending foot injury in a loss to Oregon State in their sixth game. The Huskies ended the season at 5–7 (3–6 in conference play, 9th place), this time defeating state rival Washington State University (WSU) by 3 points. This win held WSU from defeating the Huskies for three years in a row, something the team has been unable to do in the history of the century-long rivalry.

The 2007 Huskies faced what a preseason CBS Sports opinion piece called "the toughest schedule in the country" [ [http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10299697 NCAA Football - CBSSports.com ] ] Washington went on to a 4–9 record overall (2–7 in conference play, 10th place). There was considerable debate after the season was over about whether Willingham should be fired as no other coach in the history of the program has had three straight losing seasons. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3190308 ESPN - UW Class of '66 law school grad pledged $200K if Willingham, AD fired - College Football ] ] In the end, it was decided that he would return for the upcoming season with the expectation that the team become more competitive. [ [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/huskies/2004054571_webty05.html Huskies | Willingham will return to coach Huskies | Seattle Times Newspaper ] ]

The 2008 season started off inauspiciously with #21 Oregon soundly beating Washington 44–10. This marks the first time Oregon has ever beaten Washington five times in a row in the history of the century-long rivalry. The second game against #15 BYU was a nail biter and Washington scored the final touchdown in the final minute. The PAT would have tied the game, however, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called against Jake Locker (QB) who had thrown the ball up in the air in celebration after scoring the touchdown. This moved the PAT attempt to 35 yards which was blocked and the BYU escaped with a 28-27 victory. The third game was a sound beating (55-14) by the #3 Oklahoma Sooners, giving the overmatched Huskies their greatest margin of defeat at home since 1929. In the fourth game, the Huskies lost to Stanford leaving them as the only team in a BCS conference without a victory. The Huskies were without a sack leaving them as the only school without a sack at this point of the season. It was the second 0-4 start in the last 5 years and only the fourth time ever in the history of the program. In the fifth game, Arizona put Washington away early and ended with a 48-14 wipeout of the Dawgs. This was the biggest margin of victory by Arizona over Washington ever. The 0-5 start was the second time in the history of the program. By the Stanford game, a large number of boosters and fans began to call for his immediate resignation or replacement. Several websites such as www.byebyety.com have cropped up, all dedicated to his termination as coach of the Huskies. Washington athletic director Scott Woodward indicated after the Arizona game that he is inclined not to make a change during the season.

Personal

Willingham attended Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina and was a student and a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball.Fact|date=September 2008

Willingham currently serves as President on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Trustees. Willingham is married and has three children, Cassidy, Kelsey and Nathaniel, with his wife, Kim. Cassidy was a gymnast at the University of Denver from 2003 to 2006.

Coaching record

CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Stanford Cardinal
conf=Pac-10
startyear=1995
endyear=2001CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1995
name = Stanford
overall = 7–4–1
conference = 5–4
confstanding = 4th
bowl = yes
bowlname = Liberty Bowl
bowlopp = East Carolina
bowloutcome = L 19–13
bcsbowl =
ranking = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1996
name = Stanford
overall = 7–5
conference = 5–3
confstanding = 3rd
bowl = yes
bowlname = Sun Bowl
bowlopp = Michigan State
bowloutcome = W 38–0
bcsbowl =
ranking = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1997
name = Stanford
overall = 5–6
conference = 3–5
confstanding = T–7th
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 1998
name = Stanford
overall = 3–8
conference = 2–6
confstanding = T–8th
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship = conference
year = 1999
name = Stanford
overall = 8–4
conference = 7–1
confstanding = 1st
bowl = yes
bowlname = Rose Bowl
bowlopp = Wisconsin
bowloutcome = L 17–9
bcsbowl =
ranking = 24CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2000
name = Stanford
overall = 5–6
conference = 4–4
confstanding = 4th
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2001
name = Stanford
overall = 9–3
conference = 6–2
confstanding = T–2nd
bowl = yes
bowlname = Seattle Bowl
bowlopp = Georgia Tech
bowloutcome = L 21–14
bcsbowl =
ranking = 17CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name=Stanford
overall=44–36–1
confrecord=32–25CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Notre Dame Fighting Irish
conf=Independent
startyear=2002
endyear=2004CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2002
name = Notre Dame
overall = 10–3
conference = —
confstanding =
bowl = yes
bowlname = Gator Bowl
bowlopp = North Carolina State
bowloutcome = L 28–6
bcsbowl =
ranking = 17CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2003
name = Notre Dame
overall = 5–7
conference = —
confstanding =
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2004
name = Notre Dame
overall = 6–6
conference = —
confstanding =
bowl = yes
bowlname = Insight Bowl
bowlopp = Oregon State
bowloutcome = L 38–21CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name=Notre Dame
overall=21–16
confrecord=CFB Yearly Record Subhead
name=Washington Huskies
conf=Pac-10
startyear=2005
endyear=CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2005
name = Washington
overall = 2–9
conference = 1–7
confstanding = 10th
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2006
name = Washington
overall = 5–7
conference = 3–6
confstanding = 9th
bowl = noCFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2007
name = Washington
overall = 4–9
conference = 2–7
confstanding = 10th
bowl = no
ranking = CFB Yearly Record Entry
championship =
year = 2008
name = Washington
overall = 0–5
conference = 0–3
confstanding = 10th
bowl = no
ranking = CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
name=Washington
overall=11–30
confrecord=6–23CFB Yearly Record End
overall = 76–82–1
bcs =
poll =
polltype =

References