Dick Crum (American football)

Dick Crum (born April 29, 1934) is a former American football player and coach. He served as head coach at Miami University (1974–1977), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1978–1987), and Kent State University (1988–1990), compiling a career college football record of 113–77–4. Crum is a 1957 graduate of Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio and received a master's degree from Case Western Reserve University.

Dick Crum
Biographical details
Born (1934-04-29) April 29, 1934
Playing career
1950sMount Union
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1968Mentor HS (OH)
1969–1973Miami (OH) (assistant)
1974–1977Miami (OH)
1978–1987North Carolina
1988–1990Kent State
Head coaching record
Overall113–77–4 (college)
50–9–1 (high school)
Bowls6–2
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 MAC (1974–1975, 1977)
1 ACC (1980)
Awards
MAC Coach of the Year (1974)
ACC Coach of the Year (1980)

Early years

Crum played football, mostly as a backup, at both Muskingum College and Mount Union College before graduating from the latter in 1957. After graduation, Crum was a teacher and assistant football coach at several high schools in Ohio, including Boardman, Sandusky, and Warren Harding. Crum's first head coaching job was at Mentor High School in 1963 where he compiled a 50–9–1 record over six years. He moved to the college ranks in 1969 when he was hired as an assistant coach by Bill Mallory at Miami University.[1]

College head coach

Miami of Ohio

When Mallory left for Colorado in 1974, Crum succeeded him as head coach at Miami, a post he held until 1977. He orchestrated several upset wins including victories over Kentucky in 1974, Purdue in 1975, and Indiana in 1977. Crum had three winning seasons in four years and won the Mid-American Conference three times. In his first two years, he led the Miami to the Tangerine Bowl twice, where they beat Georgia in 1974 and South Carolina in 1975. Those two Miami teams ranked in the final AP Poll at #10 in 1974 and #12 in 1975. In 1976, Miami's performance fell dramatically with a 3–8 finish. The team rebounded the next year with a 10–1 record. After the 1977 season, Crum accepted the head coaching position at North Carolina and was replaced by Tom Reed. During his four years at Miami, Crum developed future NFL standouts Rob Carpenter and Sherman Smith, future Miami and Northwestern head coach Randy Walker, and former Illinois head coach Ron Zook. Crum finished his stint at Miami with a record of 34–10–1.

North Carolina

Crum was hired as head coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978, succeeding Bill Dooley. His finest season there came in 1980 when he led the Tar Heels to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship—their last conference title to date—and an 11–1 record capped by victory over Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl. At North Carolina, Crum coached a number of future NFL players years including Lawrence Taylor, Harris Barton, Reuben Davis and Kelvin Bryant.[2]

Crum's later North Carolina teams were not quite as talented as his earlier ones. He was fired at the end of the 1987 season and was succeeded by Mack Brown. Crum finished his career at North Carolina with a record of 72–41–3. Until 2019, his 72 wins were the most in school history until Mack Brown (in his second tenure at North Carolina) surpassed him after a game against Duke.

Kent State

Crum served as the head coach at Kent State University from 1988 to 1990. He never put together a winning season in three years with the Golden Flashes and compiled a record of 7–26.

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Miami Redskins (Mid-American Conference) (1974–1977)
1974 Miami 10–0–15–01stW Tangerine1010
1975 Miami 11–16–01stW Tangerine1612
1976 Miami 3–82–47th
1977 Miami 10–15–01st
Miami: 34–10–118–4
North Carolina Tar Heels (Atlantic Coast Conference) (1978–1987)
1978 North Carolina 5–63–34th
1979 North Carolina 8–3–13–35thW Gator1415
1980 North Carolina 11–16–01stW Bluebonnet910
1981 North Carolina 10–25–12ndW Gator89
1982 North Carolina 8–43–3T–3rdW Sun1318
1983 North Carolina 8–44–22ndL Peach
1984 North Carolina 5–5–13–2–13rd
1985 North Carolina 5–63–45th
1986 North Carolina 7–4–15–22ndL Aloha
1987 North Carolina 5–63–46th
North Carolina: 72–41–338–24–1
Kent State Golden Flashes (Mid-American Conference) (1988–1990)
1988 Kent State 5–63–57th
1989 Kent State 0–110–89th
1990 Kent State 2–92–6T–7th
Kent State: 7–265–19
Total:113–77–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. Kurz, Bob (1983) "Miami of Ohio, the Cradle of Coaches" p. 173 Library of Congress Catalog Card number 83-50645
  2. "Tar Heels in the NFL Draft". Retrieved January 8, 2013.
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