Charles McClendon facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 17, 1923 Lewisville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 2001 (aged 78) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1949–1950 | Kentucky |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1952 | Vanderbilt (assistant) |
| 1953–1961 | LSU (assistant) |
| 1962–1979 | LSU |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 137–59–7 |
| Bowls | 7–6 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 SEC (1970) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA Coach of the Year (1970) Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1992) 2× SEC Coach of the Year (1969, 1970) |
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| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1986 (profile) |
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Charles Youmans McClendon (born October 17, 1923 – died December 6, 2001) was a famous American college football player and coach. People often called him "Cholly Mac". He was the head football coach for Louisiana State University (LSU) from 1962 to 1979. During his time, his team won 137 games, lost 59, and tied 7. In 1986, McClendon was honored by being added to the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Charles McClendon was born in Lewisville, Arkansas, on October 17, 1923. He loved football from a young age. He played college football at the University of Kentucky. There, he played for a very well-known coach named Bear Bryant.
Coaching LSU: A Legendary Career
McClendon started his coaching journey as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt University in 1952. The next year, in 1953, he joined LSU as an assistant coach. He worked under head coach Gaynell Tinsley. When Paul Dietzel became the head coach in 1955, McClendon stayed on his staff.
In 1958, McClendon helped Coach Dietzel lead LSU to its first ever national championship. This was a huge achievement for the team! After the 1961 season, Dietzel left LSU. He chose McClendon to take over as the new head coach.
Early Success and Bowl Games
For his first 12 years (1962–1973), McClendon's teams were very strong. They often finished high in the national rankings. LSU played in many important bowl games during this time. These included two Sugar Bowls, two Cotton Bowl Classics, and two Orange Bowls.
From 1969 to 1973, LSU won nine games in five seasons in a row. This showed how consistently good the team was. However, they only won one Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship in 1970. They also won just one bowl game out of four during this period. That win was the 1971 Sun Bowl against Iowa State.
In 1964, LSU had a memorable game against their rivals, Ole Miss. LSU won 10-9 with a surprising two-point conversion. Coach McClendon was so focused, he didn't even realize they had scored until the fans cheered loudly!
Challenges and Championships
In 1969, LSU had a great season, winning 9 out of 10 games. They were ranked fifth in the country. However, the Cotton Bowl chose another team, Notre Dame, instead of LSU. This made LSU fans upset. As a result, LSU decided not to play in any other bowl games that year.
This situation led to a two-year football series between LSU and Notre Dame. Each team won on their home field. Notre Dame won in 1970, and LSU won in 1971.
Even with all their success, McClendon's LSU teams had a tough time against two rivals. They had a challenging record against Ole Miss. They also struggled against Bear Bryant's Alabama Crimson Tide.
The year 1970 was special because it was the only time McClendon beat both Ole Miss and Alabama in the same season. That year, his team also won the SEC title. This was the first time LSU had an undefeated record in SEC play since 1961. McClendon was named AFCA Coach of the Year for his amazing work. However, LSU lost the 1971 Orange Bowl to Nebraska, who became national champions.
Later Years and Retirement
McClendon's best years at LSU ended around 1973. That year, the Tigers started with a fantastic 9–0 record. But they lost to Alabama, which cost them the SEC title. They also lost to Tulane and Penn State in the Orange Bowl.
In his last six seasons (1974–1979), LSU's performance was not as strong. They had a few challenging seasons. In 1975, LSU had its first losing season since 1957.
Despite some ups and downs, McClendon stayed as coach. He was even set to become the president of the American Football Coaches Association. His final game as LSU's coach was a victory. LSU beat Wake Forest 34–10 in the Tangerine Bowl in 1979.
Charles McClendon coached LSU for 18 seasons, which is the longest time any coach has led the team. He holds the record for most wins (137) and most losses (59) in LSU football history.
Life After Coaching
After leaving LSU, Charles McClendon continued to be involved in football. From 1980 to 1981, he became the executive director of the Tangerine Bowl. This bowl game is now known as the Citrus Bowl.
He also served as the president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1979. Later, he was their executive director from 1982 to 1994.
Charles McClendon passed away on December 6, 2001. Nine months after his death, on September 9, 2002, LSU honored him. They named their practice facility the Charles McClendon Practice Facility. His death came just two days before LSU won its first outright SEC title in 15 years.
Head Coaching Record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LSU Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (1962–1979) | |||||||||
| 1962 | LSU | 9–1–1 | 5–1 | 3rd | W Cotton | 8 | 7 | ||
| 1963 | LSU | 7–4 | 4–2 | 5th | L Bluebonnet | ||||
| 1964 | LSU | 8–2–1 | 4–2–1 | 4th | W Sugar | 7 | 7 | ||
| 1965 | LSU | 8–3 | 3–3 | T–6th | W Cotton | 14 | 8 | ||
| 1966 | LSU | 5–4–1 | 2–3 | 6th | |||||
| 1967 | LSU | 7–3–1 | 3–2–1 | 6th | W Sugar | ||||
| 1968 | LSU | 8–3 | 4–2 | T–3rd | W Peach | 19 | |||
| 1969 | LSU | 9–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | 7 | 10 | |||
| 1970 | LSU | 9–3 | 5–0 | 1st | L Orange | 6 | 7 | ||
| 1971 | LSU | 9–3 | 3–2 | 6th | W Sun | 10 | 11 | ||
| 1972 | LSU | 9–2–1 | 4–2–1 | 4th | L Astro-Bluebonnet | 10 | 11 | ||
| 1973 | LSU | 9–3 | 5–1 | 2nd | L Orange | 14 | 13 | ||
| 1974 | LSU | 5–5–1 | 2–4 | 9th | |||||
| 1975 | LSU | 5–6 | 1–5 | T–6th | |||||
| 1976 | LSU | 7–3–1 | 2–4 | T–7th | |||||
| 1977 | LSU | 8–4 | 4–2 | T–3rd | L Sun | ||||
| 1978 | LSU | 8–4 | 3–3 | T–4th | L Liberty | ||||
| 1979 | LSU | 7–5 | 4–2 | T–3rd | W Tangerine | ||||
| LSU: | 137–59–7 | 62–41–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 137–59–7 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
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See also
- List of presidents of the American Football Coaches Association
