Dec. 7, 1999
Jerry Claiborne, who was a player, assistant coach, and headcoach at the University of Kentucky, will be inducted into the CollegeFootball Hall of Fame Tuesday night at the annual National FootballFoundation and College Hall of Fame dinner in New York City.
Claiborne is the fifth former Wildcat selected for induction,joining tackle Bob Gain, quarterback Vito “Babe” Parilli, Coach Paul”Bear” Bryant, and tackle Lou Michaels. A total of 15 players andcoaches will be among the 1999 class of inductees, including defensiveback Frank Loria, who played for Claiborne at Virginia Tech.
“When the letter (of notification) came I was tickled. Icouldn’t have been more surprised or excited, no question about that,”Claiborne said. “(Being chosen for) The Hall of Fame never reallyentered my mind, but I am sure happy to be selected.
“I’m not the only one who should be honored. From Coach Bryantto C. M. Newton (current UK director of athletics), I’ve had so manygood people and good players help me along the way. They’re just asmuch a part of this award as I am.”
Claiborne was honored by UK in September when the school hostedthe “Jerry Claiborne Hall of Fame Weekend” in conjunction with the homefootball game against Florida. Several representatives of the UKAthletics Department will attend the dinner tonight, including SeniorAssociate Athletics Director Larry Ivy, Associate Athletics DirectorsKathy DeBoer and Bob Bradley, Coach Hal Mumme, and AdministrativeAssistant Janetta Owens.
Claiborne began his athletics career as a four-sport lettermanat Hopkinsville (Ky.) High School, playing football, basketball, track,and tennis, and earned a scholarship at the University of Kentucky.
“When I was in high school, I just hoped to go to UK,” Claibornerecalled. “I could have jumped the moon when Coach Bryant offered ascholarship.”
Claiborne took full advantage of the opportunity. He earnedthree letters (1946, 1948-49) as a defensive back, blocking back, andend. He helped the Wildcats compile a 29-12-2 record during his fouryears at the school, playing in the 1947 Great Lakes Bowl and the 1950Orange Bowl. His nine interceptions in 1949 still stand as the UKsingle-season record. He also lettered one year in tennis, a secondlove he has continued throughout his lifetime.
Claiborne accumulated a 2.7 grade point average (on a 3.0grading scale) and graduated in 1950 with “High Distinction” inmathematics and physical education. He was named the Outstanding Seniorin the College of Education. His dedication to academics would bereflected in his coaching career.
“All along, I wanted to be a coach,” Claiborne said. “Early onin my career, I had the opportunity to work with Coach Bryant and someother great coaches.”
Claiborne began his coaching work at Augusta Military Academy inFt. Defiance, Va. As head football and basketball coach, he won a statechampionship in both sports in only two years.
He entered the collegiate ranks by returning to Kentucky as anassistant under Coach Bryant. Claiborne eventually spent 10 years as anassistant at Kentucky (1952-53), with Bryant at Texas A&M (1954-56),Missouri (1957), with Bryant again at Alabama (1958-60), and at Colorado(1971).
Claiborne’s first role as a collegiate head coach came atVirginia Tech. In 10 seasons, he guided the Hokies to a 61-39-2 recordand appearances in the 1966 and 1968 Liberty Bowls. His 1963 teamcaptured the Southern Conference championship and he was named SouthernConference Coach of the Year.
Claiborne’s next head coaching stop came at the University ofMaryland, where he turned around a struggling program. In 10 seasons,from 1972-81, Claiborne’s Terrapins went 77-37-3 and played in sevenbowl games. He was chosen the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of theYear three times (1973, 1975, 1976) and National Coach of the Year byThe Sporting News in 1974.
Another rebuilding job came his way when his alma mater camecalling in 1982. Claiborne returned to the Commonwealth as head coachof the Wildcats and took over a program recovering from the effects ofprobation. Facing the nation’s second-toughest schedule in 1982, theWildcats went 0-10-1, but the foundation was laid for success.
Claiborne fashioned one of the greatest turnarounds incollegiate football history when the 1983 Wildcats went 6-5-1, includinga trip to the Hall of Fame Bowl. Claiborne was honored as theSoutheastern Conference Coach of the Year. Kentucky improved to 9-3 thefollowing season and the Cats nipped Wisconsin in the Hall of Fame Bowl.For seven straight seasons, from 1983 until his retirement following the1989 season, Kentucky won at least five games every year. Only Bryantand Claiborne have accomplished that feat at Kentucky.
Claiborne retired with a career record of 179-122-8 in 28seasons as a head coach, including 11 bowl appearances. Claiborne endedhis career ranked 21st in NCAA history with 179 victories. He was namedconference coach of the year in all three leagues in which he coached.
Always committed to success in the classroom, Claiborne’splayers and teams registered numerous academic honors. Four of hisMaryland players and two Wildcats earned Academic All-America honorsunder Claiborne. Kentucky earned the 1989 Academic Achievement Award,given by the College Football Association, for having the nation’shighest graduation rate. Claiborne’s 1989 team set a then-SoutheasternConference record by placing 17 players on the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
“Seeing young people have success after playing football hasbeen the best part about my coaching career,” Claiborne said.
Following retirement, Claiborne lived in Lexington for severalyears before moving to Bowling Green. He lives in Bowling Green withhis wife, Faye. The Claibornes have four children – David, Jonathan,Katie, and Eileen.
THE 1999 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
Coaches
Jerry Claiborne, Virginia Tech 1961-70 / Maryland 1972-81 / Kentucky 1982-89
Don Coryell, Whitter 1957-59 /San Diego State 1961-72
Jim Young, Arizona 1973-76 / Purdue 1977-81 / Army 1983-90
Players
Ross Browner, Notre Dame, DE 1973, 1975-77
Chuck Dicus, Arkansas, End 1968-70
Chris Gilbert, Texas, RB 1966-68
John Hannah, Alabama, OG 1970-72
Billy Kilmer, UCLA, TB 1958-60
Steve Kiner, Tennessee, LB 1967-69
Chuck Long, Iowa, QB 1981-85
Frank Loria, Virginia Tech, DB 1965-67
Joe Palumbo, Virginia, MG 1949-51
Greg Pruitt, Oklahoma, RB 1970-72
Herschel Walker, Georgia, RB 1980-82
Ed White, California, DL 1965-68
