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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. Miami frequently inducts former coaches into the Cradle of Coaching Association for their feats as alumni.

Personnel

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.

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.

The Cradle of Coaches also was the subject of 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 - Super Bowl Champions

Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is known as the "Cradle of Coaches." The phrase was coined by former Miami (Ohio) sports information director Bob Kurz.

The success of coaches with Miami ties is well documented. Recently, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and LA Rams head coach Sean McVay, both Miami graduates, have coached Super Bowl champions. Three N.F.L. head coaches, who are also Miami University graduates, have coached their teams to victories on the sports biggest stage.

Harbaugh coached the Ravens to the World Championship on February 3, 2013, a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

McVay coached the Rams to the World Championship on February 13, 2022, a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.

Weeb Ewbank (Miami, 1924) coached the New York Jets to the World Championship on January 12, 1969, a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts.

Cradle of Coaches Association inductees

Super Bowl winning former head coach John Harbaugh was inducted in their Hall of Fame in 2014.

The Mother of Coaches

The McGuffey Reader, the Mother of Fraternities, The Miami Triad (Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Chi)..all these were attributed to Miami University (founded in 1809) in Oxford, Ohio.

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 (Red) Blaik (1918) was leading Army to an undefeated season while 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.

It was a short leap from the ‘mother’ moniker to a cradle: The next day Kurz wrote the phrase that has become synonymous with Miami University football, Miami of Ohio, the Cradle of Coaches. His book on the history of Miami's coaches was written in 1983.

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 one addition in 2014. 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

1. "Time Warner Cable Sports Channel will have an hour long documentary on the Cradle of Coaches". Miami University. January 1, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
2. Kurz, Bob (2002). Miami, Ohio - The Cradle of Coaches. Dayton Daily News.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
3. Robinson, Alan (4 February 2013). "Ravens Hold off 49ers to Capture 2nd Super Bowl Title". Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
4. Plaschke, Bill (February 13, 2022). "Los Angeles, You've Got Another Champion. Make Room for the Rams". Los Angeles Times.
5. Lyer, Vinnie (February 2012). ""No2: Super Bowl III."". Sporting News. Vol. 236, no. 2. p. 48.
6. "Miami (OH) to honor John Harbaugh". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 26, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
7. "Cradle of Coaches". Kristen Visbal. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.

External links

• Cradle of Coaches Archive, Miami University Libraries

v t e Miami University
Located in: Oxford, Ohio
Academics	College of Arts and Science Farmer School of Business Center for Performing Arts & Art Building
Centers, institutions and programs	Karl Limper Geology Museum King Library American Classical League
Campuses	Middletown Hamilton Voice of America Learning Center Dolibois European Center
Buildings	Alumni Hall Bachelor Hall Benton Hall Bishop Hall Collins Hall Elliott and Stoddard Halls McGuffey Hall Hall Auditorium Harris Hall Harrison Hall Hoyt Hall Kumler Chapel Laws Hall MacCracken Hall Ogden Hall Peabody Hall Pearson Hall Richard Hall Sesquicentennial Chapel Shriver Center Upham Hall Williams Hall Withrow Hall
Media	WMUB Miamian WMSR The Miami Student University Press
Traditions	Miami Triad Green Beer Day Public Ivies Mother of Fraternities Puddle Pull
Athletics	Teams Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Football Ice hockey Synchronized Skating Venues Goggin Ice Center Hayden Park Miami Field Millett Hall Yager Stadium Lore Cradle of Coaches Cincinnati (football rivalry)
People	Miami people (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) Robert Hamilton Bishop William Holmes McGuffey Phillip Shriver Marko Niketic Miami University people
National Register of Historic Places	William H. McGuffey House Dewitt Log Homestead Elliott and Stoddard Halls Langstroth Cottage Oxford Female Institute Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter House of Miami University Western Female Seminary Historic District Herron Gymnasium (former) Fisher Hall (former)
Founded: 1809 Students: 24,377 Endowment: 535 million Category

• Miami RedHawks football
• Coaches of American football