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 Sometimes mere cold numbers really tell the story. Over 22 seasons as the Arizona State football coach, Frank Kush ran up a record of 176-54-1. He took over what basically was a small-college program in 1958 and turned it into a regular top-20 team by the 1970s.
His teams often were not as big as the opponents, but they usually were quicker and better conditioned. Seldom did Kush's teams lose a late lead. And year after year, Kush managed to come up with some of the nation's best skill-position players (Charley Taylor, Ben Hawkins, Woody Green, Danny White, Art and Ben Malone, John Jefferson). In a six-season span, from 1970 through 1975, his teams fashioned a 62-9 record, including a 5-0 mark in bowl games. 1975 was the capper: a 12-0 season, a Fiesta Bowl win over Nebraska and a consensus #2 ranking (#1 by The Sporting News).
The success of Kush's teams was instrumental in coming up with the money and support for Arizona State to put together what is considered one of the finest set of on-campus sport facilities at any university. The crown jewel was the expansion of Sun Devil Stadium to 70,000 seats. And this, in turn, was a crucial factor in wooing the Cardinals from St. Louis, eventually, Super Bowl XXX.
Listed as one of the top 10 sports stories in the Greater Phoenix area of the past 40 years
Tribune Newspapers, 8-6-95
Some Brief Highlights of Frank Kush's Extraordinary Career
- Came from a family of 15 children and grew up in a small mining town in Western Pennsylvania (Windber, PA)
- Was an All-American guard at Michigan State. The Spartans were national champions his senior year.
- His first coaching assignment was with an Army team at Fort Benning, Georgia.
- Came to Arizona State as an assistant to Dan Divine in 1955.
- Became head coach of the Sun Devils at the age of 29. Over the next 22 years:
His teams won 76% of their games and 9 conference titles.
ASU finished ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 poll four times: 1970, 1971, 1973,1975.
Won 21 consecutive victories over 3 seasons (1969-71), plus had winning streaks of 13 games (twice) and 12 games (twice).
6-1 record in post-season bowl games.
Named Coach of the Year in 1975.
Coached 30 All-Americans, including QB Danny White, DBs Mike Haynes and John Harris, WR John Jefferson, LBs Ron Pritchard, Bob Breuning and Larry Gordon, DE Al Harris and Woody Green.
129 of his players went on to play professionally.
- His is the 19th winningest Division I coach and has a better record than Woody Hayes, Earl Blaik, Darrel Royal, Dan Devine, Ara Parseghian and Pop Warner.
- Ranks 22nd in number of coaching victories and 7th in most victories at one school.
- Coached professionally in Canada and with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Outlaws.
- Has been Executive Administrator of Arizona Boys Ranch, a residential rehabilitation center for delinquent boys for 10 years.
- Serves on local Boards, annually gives speeches to community organizations, and still conducts an occasional football clinic for youth groups.
- Is a charter member of the NFFCHF Valley of the Sun Chapter, served as President for 4 years, and currently is Chairman of the Board.
- Received the National Football Foundation's Chapter Leadership Award in 1992.
- Inducted into College Hall of Fame 1995.
- Inducted into Polish Hall of Fame 1996.
- Inducted into Michigan State University Hall of Fame 2000.
- Returned to ASU as a Special Assistant to the Athletic Director 2000.
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