Rudy Hubbard facts for kids
 |
|
| 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) |
|
| Awards | |
| Florida A&M University Athletics Hall of Fame (1990) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2021 (profile) |
|
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. His teams also won two black college football national championships in a row, in 1977 and 1978.
Before becoming a head coach, Hubbard played college football at Ohio State University from 1965 to 1967. After he graduated in 1968, he stayed at Ohio State for six years as an assistant coach under the legendary coach Woody Hayes. Later, in 2008, Hubbard returned to coaching at the high school level. He was the head coach at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee for four seasons.
In 2021, Rudy Hubbard was honored by being added to the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.
Contents
Rudy's Early Life
Rudy Hubbard was born in 1946 in Hubbard, Ohio. This was a small town known for its steel mills, located near Youngstown. He went to Ohio State University, where he played as a running back from 1965 to 1967.
After finishing college, Coach Woody Hayes hired Hubbard as an assistant coach in 1968. This was a big moment because Hubbard became the first African-American coach on the staff of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. He worked as an assistant coach for six seasons. Then, in 1974, he moved on to become the head coach at Florida A&M University.
Coaching Success at Florida A&M
When Coach Hubbard started at Florida A&M in 1974, his team had a record of 6 wins and 5 losses. But things quickly improved! In 1975, the Rattlers won 9 games and lost only 2.
From 1977 to 1979, the team had an amazing run, winning 30 games and losing only 5.
- In 1977, the Rattlers had a perfect season, winning all 11 of their games!
- In 1978, they continued their success with a 12-1 record. They won the very first NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship. This big 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 had a 7-4 record. They made a huge statement by beating the NCAA Division I Miami Hurricanes with a score of 16–13.
Coach Hubbard spent 12 seasons with the Rattlers. His overall record was 83 wins, 48 losses, and 3 ties. This makes him the third winningest coach in FAMU history! The Rattlers also won two Black college football national championships under his leadership, in 1977 and 1978.
During his time, FAMU changed from being in NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I-AA. They first became an independent team and then joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in 1980.
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, Ralph Hill, Tony Samuels, Clarence Hawkins, Greg Coleman, Gene Atkins, Tyrone McGriff, and Nate Newton. Also, Vince Coleman, who was a kicker for FAMU's football team and a great baseball player, went on to have a career in Major League Baseball.
After Coaching at FAMU
After the 1985 season, Rudy Hubbard finished his time as head coach at Florida A&M. He then took a long break from coaching and worked as a financial advisor, helping people with their money.
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 was hired as the head football coach at James S. Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he lives. After coaching for four years and having a record of 12 wins and 25 losses, Coach Hubbard decided to step down from his position at Rickards after the 2011 season.
Rudy's Coaching Records
Coach Rudy Hubbard had a very successful career, especially at Florida A&M University. Here's a summary of his college coaching record:
- Overall College Record: 83 wins, 48 losses, 3 ties.
- Bowl Games: He won all 5 of the bowl games his teams played in.
- Playoff Games: His teams won 2 playoff games in the NCAA Division I-AA tournament.
- Championships Won:
* 1 NCAA Division I-AA Championship (1978) * 2 Black College National Championships (1977, 1978) * 2 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championships (1977, 1978)
