LaVell Edwards

1930-2016

The life of a BYU

coaching legend
The name LaVell Edwards will forever be
synonymous with Brigham Young University
football. The legendary College Football
Hall of Fame coach with 257 wins, 19
conference titles and a 1984 national
championship is widely regarded as
one of the countrys all-time greats.
Born Oct. 11, 1930

1950-1959
All-conference
offensive lineman
at Utah State
Marries his wife
Patti
Serves two years in
the U.S. Army
Starting in 1954,
first head coaching
job is at Granite
High School

1960-1969
Begins his long
tenure at BYU as a
defensive assistant,
hired by head
coach Hal Mitchell
to coach the
defensive line

1970-1979
The Cougars go 7-4
in his first season
as head coach in
1972
BYU finishes 5-6,
his only losing
season
Cougars win the
WAC title, earn
Fiesta Bowl birth
BYU leads nation
in passing offense;
Gifford Nielson is
All-American
Holiday Bowl birth
starts string of 17
straight bowl
appearances

1980-1989
Cougars win first
bowl game the
Miracle Bowl
in a 46-45 thriller
over SMU
Jim McMahon is a
consensus All-American; Cougars go 11-2

2000-2005
1990-1999
Detmer-led Cougs
beat No. 1 Miami
in Provo and
Detmer wins
Heisman Trophy

A 49-47 win over

New Mexico is
Edwards 200th
BYU goes 14-1,
climaxed by
Cotton Bowl
victory over
Kansas State

1984 National Championship

BYU finishes 13-0, winning the title
behind Sammy Baugh award-winner
Robbie Bosco; Edwards is named
Kodak Coach of the Year.
Passes Frank Kusch as
winningest WAC coach

Announces the
2000 season will
be his last;
Cougars go 6-6
but Edwards
257th win is a
dramatic 34-27
win over rival
Utah
Inducted into the
College Football
Hall of Fame with
an overall record
of 257-101-3

2010-2016

Edwards dies at
age 86

Sophomore Ty Detmer passes for 4,560

yards the third BYU quarterback to
surpass 4,000 yards (McMahon, Bosco)
Sources: BYU football almanacs, BYU athletics and Tribune reporting

The Salt Lake Tribune