Cornhusker Legend Devaney Dies Built Nebraska Into Football Power, Winning 2 National Championships

Bob Devaney, who began a winning Nebraska football tradition in the 1960s and won two national championships in the 1970s, died Friday at a Lincoln retirement home. He was 82.

Family spokeswoman Marilyn Mecham said Devaney died of cardiac arrest at 4:05 p.m. CDT at the Eastmont Towers. She said his wife, Phyllis, and son, Mike, were at his side.

The family was not talking to the media Friday but was expected to issue a statement today. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Devaney’s health prompted him to resign in June 1996 as athletic director emeritus. He had a slight stroke in March 1995 and was hospitalized for a heart attack in March 1997.

Still, he attempted to visit his campus office regularly, chatting with staff and visitors and sharing stories of his days of success.

Devaney stepped down as athletic director in January 1993, having built the athletic program to national prominence as he had done the football program.

“I have never looked at coaching, or athletic administration, as a job,” he said upon his reluctant retirement.

“It has always been a lot of fun for me, and that’s why I never really wanted to retire.”

Athletic director Bill Byrne, who succeeded Devaney, had tried to visit him earlier Friday.

“He was in some distress so we didn’t get to see him,” Byrne said. “It’s a sad day. The man was a legend and a giant. Everybody in Nebraska is going to miss him.”

Devaney came to Nebraska from Wyoming as football coach in 1962. He had a 35-10-5 record in five years at Wyoming and never had a losing season in compiling a 101-20-2 record over 11 years at Nebraska. The 1970 and 1971 teams won national championships. Some experts consider the 1971 team the best ever assembled.

Devaney handed the coaching reigns to his offensive coordinator, Tom Osborne, after the 1972 season.