Rudy Hubbard facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1946 (age 78–79) Hubbard, Ohio, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1965–1967 | Ohio State |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1968–1973 | Ohio State (assistant) |
| 1974–1985 | Florida A&M |
| 2008–2011 | James S. Rickards HS (FL) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 83–48–3 (college) 12–25 (high school) |
| Bowls | 5–0 |
| Tournaments | 2–0 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 NCAA Division I-AA (1978) 2 black college national (1977–1978) 2 SIAC (1977–1978) |
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| Awards | |
| Florida A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame (1990) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2021 (profile) |
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Rudy Hubbard (born in 1946) is a famous former American football player and coach. He was the head football coach at Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, from 1974 to 1985. During his time there, his team won 83 games, lost 48, and tied 3.
Coach Hubbard led the Florida A&M Rattlers to win the very first NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship in 1978. They also won two "black college national championships" in a row, in 1977 and 1978. Before coaching, Hubbard played college football at Ohio State University from 1965 to 1967. After graduating in 1968, he became an assistant coach for the Buckeyes for six seasons. In 2008, Hubbard returned to coaching at the high school level for four seasons. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2021.
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Early Life and College Days
Rudy Hubbard was born in 1946 in Hubbard, Ohio. This was a small town known for its steel mills. He went to Ohio State University and played as a running back for their football team from 1965 to 1967.
After he graduated in 1968, the head coach, Woody Hayes, hired him as an assistant coach. This was a big moment because Hubbard became the first African-American coach on the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. He stayed with the Buckeyes for six seasons. Then, in 1974, he became the head coach at Florida A&M University.
Coaching Success at Florida A&M
Coach Hubbard's first year at Florida A&M in 1974 saw the Rattlers win 6 games and lose 5. But things quickly improved! In 1975, they had a great season with 9 wins and only 2 losses.
Championship Seasons
From 1977 to 1979, the Rattlers had an amazing record of 30 wins and only 5 losses.
- In 1977, they had a perfect season, winning all 11 of their games.
- In 1978, the Rattlers went 12–1. They won the first-ever NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship. This championship game was held in Wichita Falls, Texas, where they beat the UMass Minutemen 35–28. Florida A&M is still the only Historically Black College to have won this NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship.
In 1979, the Rattlers won 7 games and lost 4. A highlight of that season was when they beat the Division I Miami Hurricanes 16–13.
Overall Record and Achievements
Rudy Hubbard coached the Rattlers for 12 seasons. His overall record was 83 wins, 48 losses, and 3 ties. This makes him the coach with the third-most wins in Florida A&M history. The Rattlers also won two Black college football national championships under his leadership, in 1977 and 1978. During his time, FAMU moved from being a Division II team to a Division I-AA team.
Players Who Made It Big
Many players who played for Coach Hubbard at FAMU went on to play in the National Football League (NFL). Some of these players include:
- Frank Marion (linebacker)
- Ralph Hill (offensive lineman)
- Tony Samuels (tight end)
- Clarence Hawkins (running back)
- Greg Coleman (punter)
- Gene Atkins (defensive back)
- Tyrone McGriff (guard)
- Nate Newton (a Pro Bowl offensive lineman)
Also, Vince Coleman, who was a kicker for FAMU's football team and a star baseball player, went on to have a great career in Major League Baseball.
Life After College Coaching
After the 1985 season, Rudy Hubbard left his head coaching job at Florida A&M. He took a long break from coaching and worked as a financial advisor. In 1990, he was honored by being inducted into the Florida A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Coach Hubbard returned to coaching. He became the head football coach at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he lives. He coached there for four years, with a record of 12 wins and 25 losses. He stepped down from that position after the 2011 season.
Coaching Record Summary
Rudy Hubbard's college coaching career at Florida A&M resulted in an overall record of 83 wins, 48 losses, and 3 ties. He led his teams to 5 bowl game wins and 2 NCAA Division I-AA playoff wins.
