Frank Solich Frank Solich ( born September 8 , 1944 ) is an American football coach and former player . He is currently the head coach at Ohio University , a position he has held since the 2005 season . From 1998 to 2003 , Solich served as the head coach at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln , where he also played fullback under Bob Devaney in the mid - 1960s . Early Life and Playing Career . Solich grew up in Cleveland , Ohio , and graduated from Holy Name High School in 1962 , where he earned all - state , All - America , and all - scholastic honors . He was a part of Bob Devaney ’ s first recruiting class at Nebraska , and became a standout for the Huskers in the mid - 1960s , where he earned the nickname " Fearless Frankie " . An All - Big Eight fullback and co - captain of the Huskers ’ 1965 team , his playing career earned him induction into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1992 . In NU ' s 27 – 17 win over Air Force in 1965 , he ran for 204 yards on 17 carries , becoming the first Husker to run for 200 yards in a game , and subsequently the first Husker to be featured on the cover of " Sports Illustrated " . Coaching Career . High School . He began his career in the Ohio prep ranks , as head coach at Holy Name High School Parma Heights , Ohio in 1966 and 1967 . His 1967 team was state runner - up . Solich then moved to Lincoln Southeast for 11 years , where he compiled a record of 66 – 33 – 5 while capturing consecutive Class A state titles in 1976 and 1977 . Nebraska . Solich returned to college football at his alma mater in 1979 , spending 19 seasons at Nebraska as an assistant coach under Tom Osborne , four as the freshman team coach , and 15 seasons as running backs coach . In Solich ’ s 19 years as an assistant , the Huskers captured three national championships and 11 conference titles . He was the position coach for many of Nebraska ' s standout running backs of the 1980s and 1990s , including Tom Rathman , Calvin Jones , Ahman Green , and Lawrence Phillips . Osborne retired after the 1997 national championship season and named Solich as his successor . Solich directed the Huskers to six consecutive bowl game s , including his 2001 squad , which started 11 – 0 but was blown out by Colorado 62 – 36 in the last regular season game . Despite that loss and failing to qualify for the Big 12 championship game , the Huskers still made it into the national championship game ( ahead of # 3 Colorado and # 2 Oregon ) in the Rose Bowl against Miami . Nebraska was embarrassed 37 – 14 , and Miami was noticeably better than the Cornhuskers on both sides of the ball . Solich did win at least nine games in five of those six seasons , and finished among the top 10 teams in the nation three times . Solich compiled a 58 – 19 record ( . 753 ) at Nebraska . Solich ' s 1999 Huskers defeated the Texas Longhorns for the Big 12 championship . Solich was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2001 , and was one of seven finalists for the Paul " Bear " Bryant Award in 2001 , despite his Nebraska team suffering a then - Nebraska record for worst loss in the final game of the season , a 62 - 36 drubbing against Colorado . For the first five years as head coach , Solich served as his own offensive coordinator , as Osborne had for most of his tenure . His offenses centered on the option . He also utilized such plays as the Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass which became a highlight of Eric Crouch ' s Heisman Trophy - winning season in 2001 . The Huskers slumped to 7 – 7 in 2002 and Solich shook up his staff . He gave up offensive play - calling duties to newly hired offensive coordinator Barney Cotton and brought in Bo Pelini , the linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers , as defensive coordinator . 2003 began with Nebraska starting out 5 – 0 , but suffered three key losses later in the year : 41 – 24 to Missouri , 31 – 7 to Texas and 38 – 9 to Kansas State . After winning the final game of the regular season , Solich was fired by new athletic director Steve Pederson . Solich ' s 58 wins during his first six seasons as Nebraska ' s head coach exceeded those of his predecessors , Bob Devaney ( 53 wins ) and Osborne ( 55 wins ) , both of whom are in the College Football Hall of Fame . But Solich won only one Big 12 North title and conference championship in six seasons and had a 1 – 9 record on the road against ranked teams ( 0 – 9 in conference play ) , and the team had a drop - off in offensive production . Ohio University . After taking the 2004 season off , Solich was hired at Ohio University in Athens , and his impact on the football program was immediate . The renovation plans for the Ohio football facilities , which had begun eight years earlier and nearly complete ( prior to 2004 , the program was furnished with new coaches office , practice fields , a new 10 , 000 square - foot strength and conditioning center , enhancement to the team locker room , revitalization of Peden Stadium including installation of a state - of - the - art FieldTurf playing surface , improved and expanded seating complete with a popular concert - style berm at the south end zone ) was finished off with the last two projects ; new team meeting rooms and athletic training room . Fan interest in the program was revitalized and reached its highest since the 2001 season . Also , Ohio was selected to appear on national television 6 times for the 2005 football season , a record for the program . Frank Solich ' s first home game as coach of the Bobcats was a memorable one , as Peden Stadium brought in its largest crowd ever . On September 9 , 2005 , 24 , 545 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers , 16 – 10 . The Pitt - Ohio game also ranks among the most viewed regular season college football games ever on ESPN2 . The Bobcats ' 2005 record under Solich ( 4 – 7 ) was the same as the team ' s record in the previous year under Brian Knorr . However in 2006 , Solich led the Bobcats to a 9 – 5 record including a MAC East Division Title and a GMAC Bowl invitation . The bowl game ( which Ohio lost to Southern Miss , 28 – 7 ) was the program ' s first bowl appearance since 1968 . In the 2007 season , the Bobcats took a step backward and finished with a record of 6 – 6 . Two of those losses were by less than three points , and a third was a 28 – 7 loss to nationally ranked Virginia Tech . The Bobcats were one of 6 bowl eligible teams that missed the post - season . On July 18 , 2008 , Solich was given an extension of his contract through the 2013 season . In 2009 , Solich led the Bobcats to a 9 – 5 overall mark with another MAC East Championship appearance and an appearance in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl . That 2009 senior class amassed more wins ( 28 ) than any other Ohio football class in more than 40 years . In 2011 , Solich coached the Bobcats to a 10 – 4 record , another MAC East Division title , and their first ever bowl win . The Bobcats defeated the Utah State University Aggies 24 – 23 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl . It was Ohio ' s first ten win season since 1968 . During the 2012 season , Solich coached the Bobcats to a 7 – 0 start , which saw their first Associated Press Top 25 weekly ranking since 1968 , as well as a spot in the weekly coaches poll . Family . Solich married Pamela Wieck of Beatrice , Nebraska . They have two children , Cindy and Jeff .