Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes

Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was born February 14, 1913 to Wayne and Effie Hayes in Clifton, Ohio (a small farm community in Clark and Greene Counties between Springfield and Dayton). At a young age Woody and family moved to Newcomerstown, Ohio in rural Tuscarawas County. As an adult Woody Hayes lived primarily in Upper Arlington, Ohio, an upper class Columbus suburb.

Hayes graduated from Denison University with a B.A. in English and History in 1935 and from OSU with a M.A. in Educational Administration. Woody was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities from OSU in 1986.

Woody Hayes served in the US Navy from 1941 to 1946, interrupting his football coaching career for World War II. His football coaching career spanned several decades:

Assistant coach, Mingo Junction High School, 1935-1936
Assistant coach, New Philadelphia High School, 1937-1938
Head coach, New Philadelphia High School, 1939-1940
Head coach, Denison University, 1946-1948
Head coach, Miami University of Ohio, 1949-1950
Head coach, Ohio State University, 1951-1978

While at Ohio State, Woody Hayes coached the Buckeyes to a record of 205-68-10. His OSU teams won thirteen Big Ten titles and three national championships. Hayes had 241 victories total as a college head coach.

(Or perhaps it was 238 victories and four national championships. Or five championships? Your guide is getting conflicting information.)

Woody Hayes died on March 12, 1987 at the young age of 74. He may be gone but his legend lives on.