ROBERT (BOB) DEVANEY

Bob Devaney had a life-long love affair with the game of football. He attended Arthur Hill High School where he excelled on the gridiron, graduating in 1933. He went to Alma College where he was captain of the football team in 1938. Devaney then gained experience the next 14 years coaching footballl in the high school ranks. He began his journey at Big Beaver and shifted to Keego Harbor. He then became an assistant coach under Herb Korf at Saginaw High for one season (1945). Devaney moved to Alpena where his teams won 52 and lost 9 in seven seasons. He then got his opportunity to coach in the collegiate ranks as he accepted a job at Wyoming. He guided the Cowpokers to a 35-10-5 record and his squad’s won or shared the Skyline Conference championship all five years he was there. He then accepted the head coaching position at the University of Nebraska in 1962, putting the Cornhuskers on the college football map as they competed against the top college powers in the country. His teams played in seven bowl games in nine years, including the 1971 Orange Bowl game, a 17-12 win over a Bert Jones-led Louisiana State University team. Nebraska was ranked No.1 in ’71 and Devaney was voted Coach of the Year. In 1972, the ‘Huskers were again Orange Bowl victors, this time against a mightly Alabama team. Nebraska spanked the Crimson Tide 38-6 to finish with a perfect 12-0 record. The Cornhuskers had won 32 straight without a defeat and Devaney again received Coach of the Year accolades as his squad finished No.1 in the nation. Devaney announced his retirement the following January after his team polished off Notre Dame 40-6 in the Orange Bowl. He stepped down as the winningest coach in the nation with a 101-20 record with two ties in 11 years. His lifetime record was 136-30-7 for a .806 winning percentage. He took Nebraska teams to nine bowl games in 11 years, including two national championship teams and three undefeated seasons. Devaney was inducted into the Arthur Hill Letterwinners Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1961.