Miami (Ohio) is famous for producing great football coaches, and Harry makes an attempt at ranking the Top 5.
Woody Hayes, pictured here at center watching film in 1969, is just one of many great coaches to have called Miami (Ohio) home at some point.
Most of the time, when a school calls itself something, it's either stupid, untrue or both.
UMass' opponent this week, Miami (Ohio), is different. The school bills itself as "The Cradle of Coaches." Why? You're about to find out, as this week's High Five features the Top 5 football coaches to call Miami (Ohio) their home at some point.
5. Jim Tressel
1986-2000: Youngstown State (135-57-2, 4 National Titles)
2001-2010: Ohio State (94-22, 1 National Title)
Overall: 229-79-2
The numbers are daunting, and 12 wins from Ohio State are missing because of NCAA violations. Say what you want about The Vest's PR strategy, or morals for that matter, but the man won at a ridiculous rate. Ohio State won at least a share of the Big Ten title in Tressel's final six seasons, never losing more than once in league play over that period. I find it hard to believe Terrelle Pryor's tattoos had a lot, or even anything, to do with that record. The way Tressel managed the scandal that ultimately cost him his job was extremely poor — I wrote a paper in college for a PR class about how poor it was — and a lot of people will remember him only for that. That is a shame.
4. Weeb Ewbank
1954-1962: Baltimore Colts (61-52-1, 2 NFL Championships)
1963-1973: New York Jets (73-78-6, 1 Super Bowl)
Overall: 134-130-7
While the overall numbers aren't going to knock your socks off, Ewbank did win two NFL titles with the Colts, then turned around and beat them in Super Bowl III when Joe Namath guaranteed victory. If the Jets lose that game, Namath is a clown (OK, he kind of still is a clown) and Ewbank isn't even on this list. But they won, by many accounts, because Ewbank outcoached Don Shula.
Plus, Weeb Ewbank is one of the Top 5 names ever. That alone puts him ahead of The Vest.
3. Bo Schembechler
1963-1968: Miami (Ohio) (40-17-3)
1969-1989: Michigan (194-48-5)
Overall: 234-65-8
We can argue all day whether Schembechler ranks above or below the next coach on this list. On the plus side, he never got fired for punching a player. On the minus side, he never won a national title either. However, he won at least a share of 13 Big Ten titles in 21 seasons. That's just absurd. Schembechler was 2-8 in Rose Bowls, likely what cost him a chance an elusive national championship, but don't let that take away from what many would consider one of best coaches the sport has ever seen.
P.S. — He's number three on this list. That's why this whole Cradle Of Coaches thing is no joke.
2. Woody Hayes
1946-1948: Denison (19-6)
1949-1950: Miami (Ohio) (14-5)
1951-1978: Ohio State (205-61-10, 5 National Titles)
Overall: 238-72-10
Woody Hayes was known for many things, but two stood out. Winning football games and a bad temper. The latter eventually cost him the chance to do the former, but Hayes racked up plenty of wins and championships before it did. Hayes' Buckeyes teams won shares of five national titles, and were the undisputed champions in 1968, when they vanquished USC and Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson in the Rose Bowl to capture the crown. Hayes won shares of eight Big Ten championships as well, including six straight toward the end of his career. Hayes was fired after punching an opposing player during the 1978 Gator Bowl.
1. Paul Brown
1941-1943: Ohio State (18-8-1, 1 National Title)
1944-1945: Great Lakes Naval Training Station (15-5-2)
Overall College: 33-13-3
1946-1962: Cleveland Browns (47-4-3, AAFC, 4 Titles, 111-44-5, NFL, 3 Titles)
1968-1975: Cincinnati Bengals (7-20-1, AFL, 48-36 NFL)
Overall Pro: 213-104-9
Mention the words Ohio and coaching in the same sentence and Paul Brown inevitably comes up in the paragraph. The numbers aren't as important as the legacy as to why Brown's No. 1 on this list. His direct "descendants" on his coaching tree include Don Shula, Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll and the aforementioned Ewbank. Those four have ten Super Bowl titles between them. Brown was instrumental in the creation of the Bengals, and the team is still in his family. It plays in Paul Brown Stadium. You could make a case for Brown as one of the most influential figures in the history of football, if not the most. That is why he's tops on this list.