Jack Lengyel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jack Lengyel

Lengyel in 2008
Biographical details
Born	(1935-03-04) March 4, 1935 (age 90) Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1959	Akron (assistant)
1961–1962	Heidelberg (assistant)
1963–1965	Cornell (assistant)
1966–1970	Wooster
1971–1974	Marshall
Baseball
1961–1963	Heidelberg
Lacrosse
1968–1970	Wooster
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1978–1980	Louisville (associate/acting AD)
1980–1983	Missouri (associate AD)
1983–1986	Fresno State
1986–1988	Missouri
1988–2001	Navy
2002	Temple (interim AD)
2002–2003	Eastern Kentucky (interim AD)
2004–2005	Colorado (interim AD)
Head coaching record
Overall	33–54 (football) 26–22 (baseball) 10–11 (lacrosse)

Jack Robert Lengyel, born on March 4, 1935, is an American who has done many things! He was a coach for college football and lacrosse. He also worked as a leader in college sports departments.

He coached football at the College of Wooster from 1966 to 1970. Later, he coached at Marshall University from 1971 to 1974. His total football coaching record was 33 wins and 54 losses. At Marshall, he took on a very tough job. He rebuilt the Thundering Herd football team after a tragic plane crash in 1970. This accident sadly killed almost the entire team.

Lengyel also served as an athletic director at several universities. These included California State University, Fresno (1983–1986), the University of Missouri (1986–1988), and the United States Naval Academy (1988–2001). He also stepped in as an interim athletic director for short periods at Temple University, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Colorado Boulder.

Early Life and Coaching Beginnings

Jack Lengyel's family name means "Polish" in the Hungarian language. He went to the University of Akron. In 1959, he was an assistant coach there. He was also a member of the Lone Star Fraternity.

In 1962, he earned a Master of Education degree from Kent State University. Before becoming a head coach, he was an assistant coach. He worked at Heidelberg College from 1961 to 1962. Then he coached at Cornell University from 1963 to 1965.

Coaching at Wooster

In 1966, Lengyel became the head football coach at the College of Wooster. He helped turn the team around. Before he arrived, the team had not won any games. Under his leadership, they started winning games in a row. He also coached lacrosse at Wooster. He led the lacrosse team for three seasons, from 1968 to 1970.

Rebuilding the Marshall Team

Lengyel was hired by athletic director Joe McMullen at Marshall University. This happened after a terrible plane crash on November 14, 1970. The crash killed the head coach, Rick Tolley, and 37 players. It also took the lives of 38 other people, including coaches, university staff, and flight crew.

Other coaches had turned down the job. Lengyel was chosen to lead the team. When he arrived at Marshall, he faced a huge challenge. He had to find new players from other sports, like baseball and basketball. He also allowed many students who weren't on scholarships to join the team. This helped him rebuild the football program.

His first season at Marshall was difficult. However, the team managed to win one game. They defeated Xavier 15–13. They scored the winning touchdown on the very last play of the game. His total record as head coach at Marshall was 9 wins and 33 losses.

Leading Sports Departments

After leaving Marshall, Lengyel worked in the business world for a while. He then returned to college sports. From 1978 to 1980, he was an associate director of athletics at the University of Louisville. He held the same role at the University of Missouri from 1980 to 1983.

He then became the athletic director at California State University, Fresno. He worked there from 1983 to 1986. After that, he returned to the University of Missouri. He served as their athletic director from 1986 to 1988.

Time at the Naval Academy

In 1988, Lengyel became the athletic director at the United States Naval Academy. He stayed there for 14 years. He retired from this role in 2001. In 2005, he received the John L. Toner Award. This award is given by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. It recognized his great service at Navy.

After retiring from Navy in 2001, he continued to help out. He served as an interim director of athletics for short periods. He worked at Temple University, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Colorado.

Lengyel also spent many years on the board of trustees for the Foundation of the United States Naval Academy. He has also worked as a vice president for XOS Digital. This company focuses on sports media and technology.

Helping Others After Tragedies

On January 12, 2008, a sad accident happened in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada. Seven members of a high school basketball team and their coach's wife died. Their van crashed with a truck while they were returning from a game. The weather conditions were snowy.

Lengyel saw similarities between this accident and the Marshall plane crash. On March 13, 2008, he traveled to New Brunswick, Canada. He paid for his own trip. He went there to help and support the grieving community.

Lengyel spoke publicly about the accident. He said that schools should not use small, multi-passenger vans to transport students. Soon after his comments, the New Brunswick government stopped using these vans.

In 2019, Lengyel was honored again. He was named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame's 150th Anniversary Team of Excellence.

Coaching Records

Football Coaching Record

Men's Lacrosse Coaching Record