Bo Schembechler Glenn Edward " Bo " Schembechler , Jr . ( April 1 , 1929 – November 17 , 2006 ) was an American football player , coach , and athletics administrator . He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989 , compiling a career record of 234 – 65 – 8 . Only Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne have recorded 200 victories in fewer games as a coach in major college football . In his 21 seasons as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines , Schembechler ' s teams amassed a record of 194 – 48 – 5 and won or shared 13 Big Ten Conference titles . Though his Michigan teams never won a national championship , in all but one season they finished ranked , and 16 times they placed in the final top ten of both major polls . Schembechler played college football as a tackle at Miami University , where in 1949 and 1950 he was coached by Woody Hayes , for whom he served as an assistant coach at Ohio State University in 1952 and from 1958 to 1962 . In his first ten years at Michigan , Schembechler ' s teams squared off in a fierce rivalry against Hayes ' s Buckeyes squads . During that stretch in the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry , dubbed the " Ten - Year War , " Hayes and Schembechler ' s teams won or shared the Big Ten Conference crown every season and usually each placed in the national rankings . In 1988 , Schembechler assumed the role of athletic director at Michigan , succeeding Don Canham , the man who hired him as football coach in 1969 . Schembechler retired as head football coach after the 1989 season . His longtime assistants , Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr , helmed the team for the next 18 years . Schembechler left the University of Michigan in 1990 to take a job as president of Major League Baseball ' s Detroit Tigers , which he held until 1992 . He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1993 . During his later years , Schembechler remained in Southeast Michigan and hosted a sports radio show . He died in 2006 at the age of 77 on the eve of that year ' s Michigan – Ohio State football game , a historic No . 1 versus No . 2 showdown . A consummate " coach ' s coach " , Schembechler combined superb technical command of the game with a fiery disposition . Schembechler ' s Michigan teams were known for their fundamentally sound , physical , and fierce style of play . Under his watch , the Wolverines traditionally featured strong defense , dominating offensive lines , and a power - running attack . In the words of one commentator , Schembechler coached a " remorseless and punishing " brand of football . If he perceived a weakness in the opponent , his teams hammered at it time and time again . Though somewhat combative during games — he was prone to sideline outbursts — he was generally regarded by his peers as having great personal integrity . Early life . Schembechler was born and raised in Barberton , Ohio , a suburb of Akron . His nickname " Bo " came from his sister ' s attempts to say " brother " when they were young children . Schembechler ' s father was a firefighter . One of Schembechler ' s seminal experiences was seeing his father refuse to accept a stolen copy of a civil - service exam — despite the fact that the other applicant was reported to have received a stolen copy himself . Schembechler ' s father took the exam without having received the answers , missed one more question than the other applicant , and did not receive the promotion he coveted . Schembechler often told the story , saying the experience taught him more about integrity than any lecture ever could have . Hard work and integrity were two themes of Schembechler ' s career . Schembechler attended Miami University in Oxford , Ohio . He played football under two legendary , and completely different , coaches . Sid Gillman , his first coach at Miami , was an innovative offensive mind and one of the fathers of the modern passing game . His concepts helped to form the foundation for football ' s West Coast offense . Prior to Schembechler ' s last season , Gillman departed to become head coach at the University of Cincinnati . He was replaced by the renowned and fiery Woody Hayes , who could not have been more unlike Gillman . Hayes embraced the run , eschewed the pass , and demanded tough , physical play from his linemen . Rather than innovation , Hayes stressed repetition — he wanted his players to run each play flawlessly . Over the next forty years , Hayes ' impact on his young protege was clearly evident . Schembechler ' s teams at Michigan were molded in the spirit of Hayes ' Ohio State teams . Schembechler graduated from Miami in 1951 and earned his master ' s degree at Ohio State University in 1952 while working as a graduate assistant coach under Hayes , who had become OSU ' s head coach . After a tour of duty in the U . S . Army , Schembechler served as an assistant at Presbyterian College in 1954 , followed by a year as freshman coach at Bowling Green . When Schembechler ' s former college teammate Ara Parseghian , Hayes ' successor at Miami University , was hired as head coach at Northwestern in 1956 , Schembechler joined him and spent the next two seasons there as a defensive assistant . In 1958 , Hayes hired Schembechler to serve again on his staff at Ohio State . Schembechler spent five more years at Ohio State and became one of Hayes ' most trusted assistants . During that time the two cemented their lifelong friendship . Schembechler was fond of recounting the number of times that Hayes " fired " him , only to send a graduate assistant to fetch him after tempers had calmed . Schembechler , Hayes , Parseghian , and several of their " Cradle of Coaches " compatriots are the subject of the book " Fields of Honor " , written by coach John Pont ' s niece , Sally Pont . Miami University . In 1963 , Schembechler returned to Miami University to become head coach of his alma mater . Over the next six seasons , Schembechler led the Redskins ( now RedHawks ) to a 40 – 17 – 3 record , winning a pair of Mid - American Conference titles and finishing second three times . University of Michigan . Schembechler became Michigan ' s 15th head coach after the 1968 season , succeeding Bump Elliott . He was hired in 15 minutes . It took athletic director Don Canham that long " to sense the intensity , the enthusiasm of a man destined to be a winner . " Besides a stellar record at Miami he also " brought a unique five - man angle defense and a guarantee that he would make it work within five years . " At Michigan , Schembechler became one of college football ' s greatest coaches . He won a school - record 194 games , lost only 48 , and tied five for a winning percentage of . 796 . His teams never posted a losing season . In Big Ten Conference play , he had a record of 143 – 24 – 3 for a winning percentage of . 850 . His Michigan teams won or shared 13 Big Ten titles and made 10 Rose Bowl appearances . His 96 – 16 – 3 record during the 1970s was the best of any Division I coach . Schembechler led the Wolverines to a total of 17 bowl games , going 5 – 12 in 21 years , placing him ninth in all - time bowl appearances . He was voted national coach of the year in 1969 by both the American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America . Schembechler ' s greatest victory came in his first season , when he led the Wolverines to an upset victory over a standout Ohio State team coached by his old mentor , Woody Hayes . Hayes ' Buckeyes dominated the series during the late 1950s and for most of the 1960s as Michigan fielded a number of uncharacteristically mediocre teams . In 1968 , the year before Schembechler became head coach , Hayes made it clear how far Michigan had fallen behind its traditional rival , when the Wolverines lost 50 – 14 . At the end of the game , Hayes decided to pursue a two - point conversion rather than a simple kick for an extra point . Legend has it that when Hayes was asked why he " went for two , " he responded " Because I couldn ' t go for three . " The embarrassment of that outcome set the stage for the 1969 rematch . In 1969 , the Buckeyes entered the game as defending national champions and 17 - point favorites with the top ranking in the country and a 22 - game winning streak . Hayes ' 1969 squad included five first - team All - Americans . But Schembechler ' s 7 – 2 Wolverines dominated a team Hayes later considered his best , beating Ohio State 24 – 12 . In a single afternoon , Schembechler and his charges resurrected Michigan ' s football tradition and returned the program among college football ' s elite . Both Schembechler and Hayes , who remained personal friends until Hayes ' death in 1987 , agreed it was Hayes ' best team and Schembechler ' s biggest victory . Michigan ' s win over Ohio State in 1969 is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in college football history and the most significant win for a Michigan team ever . The Wolverines and Buckeyes proceeded to engage in a fierce " Ten Year War " that elevated an already storied Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry into one of college football ' s greatest annual grudge matches . For ten years the two dominated the Big 10 , splitting ten conference titles between them and finishing second eight times . They were so dominant that the Big Ten earned a nickname of " Big Two , Little Eight " during that era . After a decade of memorable on - field stratagems , sideline antics , and locker room psychological ploys , Schembechler held a 5 – 4 – 1 advantage . Schembechler ' s tenure at Michigan was also notable for the renewal of Michigan ' s rivalry with Notre Dame . Despite the fact that the two schools are located within 200 miles of one another and ranked first / second in both total wins and winning percentage in college football , they had not played each other since the 1940s . The resurrection of the rivalry was facilitated by Schembechler ' s close friendship with Ara Parshegian , Notre Dame ' s coach at the time of Bo ' s arrival . Schembechler , however , never had a chance to coach against his former mentor , as scheduling commitments prevented the series from resuming until 1978 , after Parshegian had left Notre Dame and was succeeded by Dan Devine . Despite Schembechler ' s success during the regular season , he was less successful in bowl games . His overall record was 5 – 12 , which includes a 2 – 8 record in the Rose Bowl . The Wolverines lost the 1970 Rose Bowl , their first bowl game under Schembechler , while he was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack on the previous day . Schembechler ' s Michigan teams went on to lose their next six bowl games before winning five of their last ten . Following the 1980 season , Schembechler gained the first of his two Rose Bowl victories by beating the Washington Huskies . The 1980 Michigan team featured the talents of Anthony Carter , a three - time consensus All - American . In 1980 Michigan stumbled early in the season , losing two of its first three games . As a result of the two losses , Michigan was eliminated from consideration for college football ' s national championship , finishing 4th in the end - of - season polls . But Schembechler maintained that his first Rose Bowl champions were the country ' s best team by season ' s end . They did not allow a touchdown over the course of their last five games , giving up nine points total . Perhaps spurred by Carter ' s success , Schembechler ' s teams began to pass more during the 1980s , but Schembechler never completely shed his image as a run - first offensive coach . At the same time , his teams continued to enjoy consistent success throughout the decade . Jim Harbaugh , a future NFL All - Pro quarterback and current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers , led Schembechler ' s 1985 team to a 10 – 1 – 1 record , a 27 – 23 win over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl , and a No . 2 ranking in the final polls , the highest finish ever for one of Schembechler ' s teams . Schembechler ' s last two teams went to the Rose Bowl , splitting two games with USC . Schembechler retired from coaching after the Rose Bowl in 1990 . He decided to retire at the relatively young age of 60 because of his history of heart problems and was succeeded by Michigan ' s offensive coordinator Gary Moeller , whom he handpicked . Schembechler was also the athletic director at Michigan from 1988 until early 1990 . Just before the 1989 NCAA basketball tournament , men ' s basketball head coach Bill Frieder announced that he was taking the head coach position at Arizona State University , effective at the end of the season . Insisting on those in the program being dedicated to the school , Schembechler immediately fired Frieder and appointed assistant basketball coach Steve Fisher as interim head coach , while famously announcing that " a Michigan man is going to coach a Michigan team " in the NCAA tournament . Ironically , Frieder was an alumnus of Michigan , while Fisher was not . Fisher led Michigan to six straight victories in the tournament and the 1989 national championship . Schembechler witnessed the championship game , an 80 - 79 overtime cliffhanger vs . Seton Hall , two days after his 60th birthday ( the semifinal victory over Big Ten rival Illinois was played on Schembechler ' s birthday ) . " Those Who Stay Will Be Champions " . Schembechler began his tenure as head coach at Michigan with a rallying cry to his players : " Those who stay will be champions ! " This slogan foreshadowed the challenges Michigan football players would endure from the dramatic culture change initiated by Schembechler , who emphasized toughness and introduced practices and conditioning far more rigorous than any the players had been exposed to before . His first training camp in 1969 saw around 140 players enter but a mere 75 emerging from the grueling camp and choosing to embrace Schembechler ' s system . Schembechler ' s subsequent successes and legacy of propelling the Michigan football program to further national prominence immortalized his promise to his players after accepting the head coaching position at Michigan . Every Michigan football player who played for Bo Schembechler and stayed at Michigan for four years left Michigan with at least one Big Ten championship ring . Furthermore , not once did any Michigan player under Bo endure a losing season during his tenure . As such , " Those Who Stay Will Be Champions " remains a beloved team slogan for the Michigan Wolverines and has been immortalized into the tradition and mythology of Michigan football . Offer from Texas A & M . On January 15 , 1982 , Texas A & M offered Schembechler nearly $ 3 million for 10 years — the richest contract in the history of college athletics at that time — to become the school ' s football coach and athletic director . Schembechler turned it down . " Frankly , I ' ve come to the conclusion that there are things more important in this world than money , " Schembechler said . " For that reason , I ' ve decided to stay at Michigan . " After Michigan . From 1990 to 1992 , Schembechler was president of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball . In 1991 , he presided over the firing of Tigers ' longtime broadcaster Ernie Harwell . The move was decried by fans and the press . Management at the Tigers ' flagship radio station WJR later claimed responsibility for the sacking , but Schembechler and club owner Tom Monaghan were denounced for the decision . After being fired by the Tigers , Schembechler maintained an office at the University of Michigan ' s football facility , which is named " Schembechler Hall " . Schembechler ' s former assistants , Gary Moeller ( 1990 – 94 ) and Lloyd Carr ( 1995 – 2007 ) , followed him as head coach . Schembechler was also active in numerous private charities . Schembechler also hosted a pre - game show on the Detroit ABC affiliate , WXYZ - TV along with Sports Anchor Don Shane named " Big Ten Ticket " . It was devoted to his analysis of the Wolverines , the Michigan State Spartans and other Big Ten Conference teams . On April 30 , 2005 , at Michigan ' s annual spring commencement , Schembechler was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree . Health problems . Schembechler had a long history of heart trouble . On December 31 , 1969 , the eve of his first Rose Bowl appearance , he suffered a heart attack , and had another in 1987 while he happened to be at University of Michigan Medical Center for tests . He had two quadruple heart bypass operations , the first in 1976 and the second following his second heart attack . During a taping of the WXYZ - TV program " Big Ten Ticket " in late October 2006 , Schembechler collapsed and was taken to the hospital . Following the episode , he had a heart pacemaker implanted into his chest to regulate his heartbeat . As late as a week before his death , he had stated his doctors were still adjusting the device , which covered about half his chest . On Thursday , November 16 , 2006 , and though he was not feeling well , Schembechler attended the funeral of his close friend and 1971 quarterback , Tom Slade . That night , Bo delivered his traditional Thursday night pep talk before the Ohio State game . According to " The Detroit News " : " Bo ' s speech was not about Ohio State , the Big Ten title or a national championship . The whole speech was about Tom Slade and how , if the players worked hard , listened to their coaches and stuck together as teammates , one day they might be as good a Michigan man as Slade . That was the goal at Michigan , not national championships . " Schembechler finished by exhorting them to remember " the team , the team , the team ! " Death . The next day , on November 17 , 2006 , Schembechler collapsed in a bathroom at WXYZ - TV just prior to the taping of " Big Ten Ticket " around 9 : 15 am . He was taken to Providence Hospital in Southfield , Michigan where he was pronounced dead at 11 : 43 am . At a press conference a few hours after his death , it was reported by his doctor , Dr . Kim Eagle of the University of Michigan Health System , that his death was from the terminal stage of heart disease , where the heart muscle itself does not respond to the pacemaker , a common cause of death for persons afflicted with severe heart disease . Schembechler died the day before one of the biggest games in the history of the Michigan – Ohio State football rivalry . He was not planning to attend the November 18 game in Columbus , because his doctors had advised him that attending the game might be too much stress for his heart . Instead , Bo and his wife , Cathy , had packed the car and had planned to drive to suburban Dayton , Ohio to watch the game with his former Miami teammate and best friend , Bill Gunlock . The University ' s Board of Regents approved a plan for the renovation and expansion of Michigan Stadium on the day of Schembechler ' s death . On November 21 , 2006 , the University of Michigan held a memorial service for Schembechler in Michigan Stadium . Approximately 20 , 000 fans , ex - players and coaches including former Schembechler player and assistant coach and current LSU head football coach Les Miles turned out during the middle of a work - day to pay their respects to Schembechler and to celebrate his life . Former Ohio State head coaches Earle Bruce and John Cooper attended , along with then current head coach Jim Tressel and his entire staff . Before his death , Schembechler had agreed to be an honorary pallbearer for former Michigan Wolverine and University of Michigan alumnus President Gerald Ford . Ford , himself a center at Michigan in the 1930s , died on December 26 , 2006 . A pew inside Washington National Cathedral was draped with a UM stadium blanket in Schembechler ' s memory . Air Force One flew low over Michigan Stadium as Ford ' s casket was en route from Washington , DC to Grand Rapids . Personal life . After Schembechler married Mildred ( Millie ) in 1968 , he adopted her three sons : Donald ( Chip ) , Geoffrey and Matthew . Schembechler and Millie then had a son together , Glenn III ( Shemy ) . Matt played football at Western Michigan University and Shemy works as a scout for the Seattle Seahawks . Chip died in a car accident in 2003 . Geoff owns a Domino ' s Pizza franchisee based out of Lowell , Massachusetts . Following Millie ' s death in 1992 , he founded the Millie Schembechler Adrenal Cancer fund at the University of Michigan which has provided the most advanced research for this rare form of cancer in the world . He married Cathy Aikens on November 27 , 1993 . Coaching tree . Played under : Coached under : Assistant coaches who became NCAA Division I head coaches :