Cradle of Coaches

Last updated September 25, 2025

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.^[1] The university inducts former coaches into the Cradle of Coaching Association for their feats as alumni.

Notable coaches

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.

Sean McVay coached the Los Angeles Rams to the World Championship on February 13, 2022, a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.^[2] John Harbaugh coached the Baltimore Ravens to the World Championship on February 3, 2013, a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.^[3] Weeb Ewbank coached the New York Jets to the World Championship on January 12, 1969, a 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.^[4]

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.

History

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 Blaik (1918) was leading Army to an undefeated season, while in professional football 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. Kurz coined the Cradle of Coaches term as a derivative from another nickname of Miami University, the Mother of Fraternities.^[1]

The Cradle of Coaches was the subject of a sports documentary film that aired on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (Ohio) in 2015.^[5] The film captured the story of John Harbaugh's induction as well as perspective from other members.