John Hayden Fry was a prominent American college football coach and player. He held head coaching positions at Southern Methodist University (SMU), North Texas State University, and most notably, the University of Iowa, where he coached from 1979 to 1998. Fry amassed a career coaching record of 232–178–10. He also played college football at Baylor University. His contributions to the sport led to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
1903: Tied School Record for Wins
In 1983, Iowa's nine wins overall tied the school record for wins in a single season set in 1903.
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February 28, 1929: Hayden Fry's Birth
On February 28, 1929, John Hayden Fry was born. He later became a prominent American college football player and coach.
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1946: State Championship at Odessa High School
In 1946, Hayden Fry led Odessa High School to the Texas state high school championship, earning all-state honors as a quarterback.
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1947: Played at Baylor University
In 1947, Hayden Fry began playing football at Baylor University.
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1950: Baylor University Football
From 1947 to 1950, Baylor had a 26-13-2 record during Fry's four years playing there.
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1951: Graduation from Baylor
In 1951, Hayden Fry graduated from Baylor University with a degree in psychology.
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1951: Teacher and Assistant Coach at Odessa High School
In 1951, Hayden Fry worked as an American history teacher and assistant football coach at Odessa High School.
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1952: Joined the U.S. Marine Corps
In 1952, Hayden Fry joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
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1952: Joined U.S. Marine Corps
In 1952, Hayden Fry served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
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1953: Marine Corps Championship
In 1953, Hayden Fry played with the Quantico Marines football team, winning the Marine Corps championship and playing in the Poinsettia Bowl.
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February 1955: Discharged from Marines
In February 1955, Hayden Fry was discharged from the Marines with the rank of captain.
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1955: Returned to Odessa High School
In 1955, Hayden Fry returned to Odessa as a teacher and assistant football coach and later became head coach.
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1958: Assistant Coach at Baylor
After the 1958 season, Hayden Fry was hired as an assistant coach at Baylor.
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1959: Iowa's First Bowl Win Since 1959
In 1982, Iowa defeated Tennessee to earn Iowa's first bowl victory since 1959.
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1959: Hawkeyes Last Rose Bowl
Since Iowa had last been to the Rose Bowl in 1959, the Hawkeyes got the conference's berth in the 1982 Rose Bowl.
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1960: Gator Bowl
In 1960, Baylor finished the year with a one-point loss to Florida in the Gator Bowl. Fry's secondary led the nation in pass defense.
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1961: Assistant Coach at Arkansas
In 1961, Hayden Fry was the offensive backfield coach at Arkansas.
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1962: Head Coach at SMU
In 1962, Hayden Fry became the head football coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
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1962: Head Coach at Southern Methodist University
In 1962, Hayden Fry was hired as the head football coach at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
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1966: Jerry LeVias Debut at SMU
In 1966, Jerry LeVias made his debut at SMU, becoming the first black player signed to a football scholarship in the Southwest Conference. Fry received abuse for recruiting a black player.
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1966: Southwest Conference Title
In 1966, SMU had an 8–2 record and won its first Southwest Conference title in 18 years. The team lost in the Cotton Bowl Classic and finished the year ranked No. 10.
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1967: LeVias all-conference selection
In 1967, SMU had a down year, but Jerry LeVias was again an all-conference selection.
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1968: Defeated Oklahoma in Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl
In 1968, SMU defeated Oklahoma in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. LeVias was selected as an all-conference player for the third time.
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1969: Start of Down Years
From 1969 to 1971, Fry's Mustangs had a 12-20 record, jeopardizing Fry's job.
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1971: Start of Down Years
From 1969 to 1971, Fry's Mustangs had a 12-20 record, jeopardizing Fry's job.
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1972: Fired from SMU
In 1972, after a 7-4 season, Hayden Fry was fired from his position as head coach at SMU.
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1972: Fired from SMU
In 1972, after a 7–4 season, Hayden Fry was fired at SMU, preventing the Mustangs from a bowl berth.
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1973: Hired as Coach and AD at North Texas State
Before the 1973 season, Hayden Fry was hired as the coach and athletic director at North Texas State University and won a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title.
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1973: Turned North Texas' Program Around
From 1973 to 1978, Hayden Fry compiled a 40-23-3 record over six seasons, turning North Texas' program around.
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1973: Head Coach at North Texas State
In 1973, Hayden Fry became the head coach at North Texas State University.
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1977: Winning Season at North Texas
In 1977, North Texas had a 10-1 record, contributing to Fry's success in turning the program around.
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1978: Hired as Iowa's Head Football Coach
After the 1978 season, Hayden Fry was hired as Iowa's 25th head football coach.
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1978: Successful Seasons at North Texas
From 1973 to 1978, Hayden Fry compiled a 40-23-3 record over six seasons, turning North Texas' program around.
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1978: Hired by University of Iowa
In 1978, Hayden Fry was hired as the head football coach at the University of Iowa.
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1979: Losing Season
In 1979, Iowa had a losing season, raising questions about Fry's future with the team.
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1980: Losing Season
In 1980, Iowa had another losing season, raising questions about Fry's future with the team.
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1981: Most Big Ten Wins
From 1981 to 1987, Iowa's 62 victories were the most of any Big Ten team in that span.
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1981: Beginning of Successful Period for Iowa Football
From 1981 to 1991, Iowa's football program experienced a period of significant success under Hayden Fry, marked by high winning percentages, numerous bowl game appearances, and Big Ten titles.
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1982: Peach Bowl Berth and Win
In 1982, after starting the season with an 0-2 record, Iowa earned a berth in the Peach Bowl, defeating Tennessee to earn Iowa's first bowl victory since 1959.
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1982: Rose Bowl Berth
Since Iowa had last been to the Rose Bowl in 1959, the Hawkeyes got the conference's berth in the 1982 Rose Bowl.
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1983: Gator Bowl Invitation
In 1983, Iowa's Hawkeyes had a 9-2 record overall and a 7-2 mark in the Big Ten, earning an invitation to the Gator Bowl.
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1985: Routing Texas in Freedom Bowl
In 1984, the Hawkeyes set the stage for the 1985 season by routing Texas, 55–17, in the Freedom Bowl.
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1985: Big Ten Title
In 1985, Iowa won its first outright Big Ten title in 27 years and secured Fry's second Rose Bowl berth and a top ten final ranking.
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1986: Winningest Coach in Hawkeye History
In 1986, a win over Iowa State was Fry's 53rd at Iowa, vaulting him past Forest Evashevski to become the winningest coach in Hawkeye history.
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1987: Holiday Bowl Victory
In 1987, Iowa had a 9–3 record and returned to San Diego for the Holiday Bowl. A second straight Holiday Bowl victory gave Iowa another ten win season.
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1987: SMU Program Shut Down
In 1987, SMU's football program was shut down due to massive misconduct, related to the slush fund that Fry had opposed.
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1988: Fry's tenth season at Iowa
In 1988, Hayden Fry marked his tenth season at Iowa, becoming the first coach to lead the Hawkeyes for a decade. The team finished with a 6–3–3 record and played in the 1988 Peach Bowl, marking their eighth consecutive bowl game appearance. This season was also the 100th anniversary of Iowa football.
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1989: Coach TV show launch
In 1989 the sitcom TV show Coach, named after Fry, aired for nine seasons on ABC. The show starred Craig T. Nelson as Hayden Fox.
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1989: Jim Leavitt Hired as Grad Assistant
In 1989, Jim Leavitt was hired as a graduate assistant coach at Iowa, giving him one of his first breaks in college football.
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1989: Debut of TV show Coach
In 1989, the television show Coach, starring Craig T. Nelson as "Hayden Fox," debuted. The character was loosely based on Hayden Fry. However, Iowa had a disappointing season in 1989, finishing 5-6 and missing a bowl game.
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1990: Third Big Ten Title and Rose Bowl Berth
In 1990, Hayden Fry secured his third Big Ten Conference title and Rose Bowl berth for Iowa. Despite a loss to Minnesota, Iowa earned the Rose Bowl trip due to regular-season victories over other top contenders.
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1991: Fans expect better year
Although the Hawkeyes lost in Pasadena for the third time under Fry, many fans expected 1991 to be an even better year.
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1991: End of Iowa's successful football run
From 1981 to 1991, Iowa's football program experienced a period of significant success under Hayden Fry, marked by high winning percentages, numerous bowl game appearances, and Big Ten titles.
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1991: Tying school record for wins and Fry's 100th victory at Iowa
In 1991, Iowa posted a 10–1 record, but a loss to Michigan cost Fry a fourth Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth. Iowa's season ending win against Minnesota in 1991 was win number ten on the season, tying the school record for wins in a season and Fry's 100th victory at Iowa. The Hawkeyes accepted a third invitation to the Holiday Bowl, and the 13–13 tie with BYU gave Iowa a 10–1–1 final record and a top ten finish in the final AP rankings.
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1993: 200th Coaching Victory
In 1993, after a slow start, the Hawkeyes rebounded to earn an Alamo Bowl berth, with the final win of the 1993 season marking Hayden Fry's 200th career victory.
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1994: Struggling Season and Criticism
In 1994, Iowa struggled to a 5-5-1 record, leading some to question Hayden Fry's future as coach.
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1994: Hawkeyes struggle
In 1994, the Hawkeyes struggled to a 5–5–1 record. Critics questioned if Fry's coaching career was at an end.
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1995: Sun Bowl Victory
In 1995, the Hawkeyes finished with a 7-4 record, defeating Washington in the Sun Bowl.
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1997: Coach TV show end
In 1997 the sitcom TV show Coach, named after Fry, ended after airing for nine seasons on ABC. The show starred Craig T. Nelson as Hayden Fox.
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November 22, 1998: Fry Announces Retirement
On November 22, 1998, Hayden Fry announced his retirement from the University of Iowa, after secretly undergoing radiation treatments for prostate cancer during his final season.
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1998: Retirement from Iowa
In 1998, Hayden Fry retired from his position as the head football coach at the University of Iowa.
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2002: Interest in Baylor Coaching Position
In 2002, Hayden Fry reportedly showed interest in the open head coaching position at Baylor University, his alma mater.
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2003: Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
In 2003, Hayden Fry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.
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2003: Induction into College Football Hall of Fame
In 2003, Hayden Fry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
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2005: Amos Alonzo Stagg Award
In 2005, Hayden Fry received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award from the American Football Coaches Association.
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2009: Hayden Fry Way
In 2009, First Avenue in Coralville, Iowa was co-named Hayden Fry Way in his honor.
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December 30, 2010: Induction into Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
On December 30, 2010, Hayden Fry was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
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2011: Recognition at Rose Bowl
In 2011, Hayden Fry was recognized for his Rose Bowl Hall of Fame induction during the Rose Bowl game.
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January 2016: Announcement of Fry Statue
In January 2016, it was announced that Coralville's City Council was set to vote on an agreement with a company to design and create a life-sized bronze statue to honor Hayden Fry.
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May 2016: Unveiling of Statue at Fry Fest
In May 2016, it was announced that the statue would be unveiled at Fry Fest 2016 on September 2.
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September 1, 2018: Ferentz Passes Fry in Wins
On September 1, 2018, Kirk Ferentz surpassed Hayden Fry as the coach with the most wins in Iowa school history, tying Fry's tenure of 20 seasons.
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December 17, 2019: Hayden Fry's Death
On December 17, 2019, John Hayden Fry passed away. He had a significant impact as a college football coach.
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