Jerry Claiborne
Encyclopedia
Jerry Claiborne was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Virginia Tech (1961–1970), the University of Maryland, College Park
(1972–1981), and his alma mater
, the University of Kentucky
(1982–1989), compiling a career college football
record of 179–122–8. Claiborne was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 1999.
and the University of Kentucky
and was named the College of Education’s Outstanding Senior. Claiborne played halfback under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
at the University of Kentucky. In 1950 he became the head football and basketball coach at Augusta Military Academy in Fort Defiance
, Augusta County, Virginia
. His teams won the Virginia State basketball championship in 1950 and the football championship in 1951. The following year he left to become Bryant’s assistant coach at Kentucky, following Bryant in the same capacity to Texas A&M
and Alabama
before he moved up to become a head coach.
from 1961 to 1970 with an overall record of 69–32–2. The Hokies would not be as successful in football again until current coach Frank Beamer
, who played for Claiborne at Virginia Tech, built the program into a powerhouse in the mid-1990s.
When Claiborne began coaching at the University of Maryland
, the Terrapins had only won nine games in the previous five years. Claiborne led Maryland to a winning season after only his second year with the team. He coached Maryland for ten years and ended with a 77–37–3 record, including an undefeated regular season in 1976, before losing to Houston
in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Beginning in 1973, his teams made it to six consecutive bowl games. In 1980, he added one more bowl appearance for a total of seven. Under Claiborne, Maryland won the ACC Championship
three times (1974, 1975, and 1976).
After the 1981 season at Maryland, Claiborne followed in the footsteps of Bear Bryant
and went from College Park, Maryland
, to Lexington, Kentucky
; the home of the University of Kentucky
. In Claiborne's case, Kentucky was his alma mater. The University of Kentucky had just come off of four straight losing seasons. They offered Claiborne the head coaching position largely to help clean up a program that had been racked by numerous recruiting violations during the tenure of previous head coach Fran Curci
.
Claiborne took over as head coach of Kentucky in 1982. After starting with a losing season record of 0–10–1, he reached bowl games in his second and third seasons, posting records of 6–5–1 in 1983 and 9–3 in 1984 after which the Wildcats finished the season ranked #19 in the final AP poll. The Wildcats win in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
over Wisconsin
would be the Wildcats last until winning the 2006 Music City Bowl
over Clemson
. Claiborne led the Kentucky program for eight years, ending with an overall record of 41–46–3. He retired after posting a 6–5 record in the 1989 season.
did more for integration in sixty minutes than Martin Luther King did in twenty years." http://books.google.com/books?id=_o7XpDhUd-QC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=%22jerry+claiborne%22+integration&source=web&ots=qCnwV_FQ6E&sig=uUhhpRvVkMDXR5FfsRfclv70rZg (After a 1970 42-21 loss in Birmingham to USC
, and having Cunningham score two touchdowns and gain 131 yards, the integration of the Alabama football team was accelerated.)
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Virginia Tech (1961–1970), the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
(1972–1981), and his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
(1982–1989), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 179–122–8. Claiborne was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 1999.
Early years
Claiborne attended the Hopkinsville High SchoolHopkinsville High School
Hopkinsville High School is a four-year public high school located in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with over 1,000 students. It is operated by the Christian County Public Schools school district.-History:...
and the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and was named the College of Education’s Outstanding Senior. Claiborne played halfback under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
at the University of Kentucky. In 1950 he became the head football and basketball coach at Augusta Military Academy in Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance
Fort Defiance may refer to:Canada*Fort Defiance , winter quarters for American Captain Robert GrayUnited States* Fort Defiance, Arizona, an unincorporated community* Fort Defiance , formerly Roop's Fort, located in Susanville...
, Augusta County, Virginia
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. His teams won the Virginia State basketball championship in 1950 and the football championship in 1951. The following year he left to become Bryant’s assistant coach at Kentucky, following Bryant in the same capacity to Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
before he moved up to become a head coach.
Head coach
Claiborne was head coach for the Virginia Polytechnic InstituteVirginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
from 1961 to 1970 with an overall record of 69–32–2. The Hokies would not be as successful in football again until current coach Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer
Frank Beamer is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , a position he has held since 1987. From 1981 to 1986, Beamer served as the head coach at Murray State University...
, who played for Claiborne at Virginia Tech, built the program into a powerhouse in the mid-1990s.
When Claiborne began coaching at the University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, the Terrapins had only won nine games in the previous five years. Claiborne led Maryland to a winning season after only his second year with the team. He coached Maryland for ten years and ended with a 77–37–3 record, including an undefeated regular season in 1976, before losing to Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Beginning in 1973, his teams made it to six consecutive bowl games. In 1980, he added one more bowl appearance for a total of seven. Under Claiborne, Maryland won the ACC Championship
ACC Championship Game
The Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game is an American college football game held on the first Saturday in December by the Atlantic Coast Conference each year to determine its football champion. The game pits the champion of the Coastal Division against the champion of the Atlantic Division in a game...
three times (1974, 1975, and 1976).
After the 1981 season at Maryland, Claiborne followed in the footsteps of Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
and went from College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, to Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
; the home of the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
. In Claiborne's case, Kentucky was his alma mater. The University of Kentucky had just come off of four straight losing seasons. They offered Claiborne the head coaching position largely to help clean up a program that had been racked by numerous recruiting violations during the tenure of previous head coach Fran Curci
Fran Curci
Fran Curci is a former American football player and coach. He was an All-American quarterback at the University of Miami in 1959...
.
Claiborne took over as head coach of Kentucky in 1982. After starting with a losing season record of 0–10–1, he reached bowl games in his second and third seasons, posting records of 6–5–1 in 1983 and 9–3 in 1984 after which the Wildcats finished the season ranked #19 in the final AP poll. The Wildcats win in the 1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl
1984 Hall of Fame Classic Bowl was the seventh installment of the Hall of Fame Bowl. The game featured the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference and the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference. Wisconsin was ranked #20 in the AP poll prior to the game...
over Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
would be the Wildcats last until winning the 2006 Music City Bowl
2006 Music City Bowl
The 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl featured a contest between the Clemson Tigers and the Kentucky Wildcats. Clemson entered the game with a record of 8-4 after having been ranked in the AP poll for most weeks of the season, as high as #10; Kentucky was 7-5 and unranked...
over Clemson
Clemson Tigers football
The Clemson Tigers football team is an American football team from Clemson University in South Carolina. It competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. Claiborne led the Kentucky program for eight years, ending with an overall record of 41–46–3. He retired after posting a 6–5 record in the 1989 season.
Significant achievements
- Claiborne coached four Academic All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
ns and eighty-seven all-conference academics. - Named the nation's Coach of the Year by the Sporting News in 1974.
- Named Southeastern ConferenceSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Coach of the Year in 1983. - Claiborne's Kentucky team won the College Football AssociationCollege Football AssociationThe College Football Association is the name of a now-defunct body through which American college football schools negotiated TV contracts with networks. The CFA was an alliance of 64 schools from the major conferences and selected independents....
Academic Achievement Award for the highest graduation rate of 90% in 1989. - The University of Kentucky named Claiborne into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 1992.
- In 1999 the Lexington, Kentucky's chapter of the National Football FoundationNational Football FoundationThe National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
was named after Claiborne. - Retired with a lifetime record of 179–122–8, ranking him fourth among active college coaches in victories when he retired.
Famous quote
It was Jerry Claiborne who said: "Sam CunninghamSam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
did more for integration in sixty minutes than Martin Luther King did in twenty years." http://books.google.com/books?id=_o7XpDhUd-QC&pg=PA139&lpg=PA139&dq=%22jerry+claiborne%22+integration&source=web&ots=qCnwV_FQ6E&sig=uUhhpRvVkMDXR5FfsRfclv70rZg (After a 1970 42-21 loss in Birmingham to USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and having Cunningham score two touchdowns and gain 131 yards, the integration of the Alabama football team was accelerated.)