Ralph Jordan
James Ralph "Shug" Jordan (September 25, 1910 - July 17, 1980) was the winningest football coach at Auburn University. The university's Jordan-Hare Stadium is named in his honor. Jordan was named National Coach of the Year in 1957 when Auburn was voted national champions by the Associated Press.
Born in Selma, Alabama, Jordan was nicknamed "Shug" as a child because of his love for sugar cane. A 1932 graduate of Auburn, he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball while there and was voted the Most Outstanding Athlete in 1932. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. After graduation, he became the head basketball coach, and an assistant football coach at Auburn. In ten seasons (1934-42, 1945-1946) as the head basketball coach, he compiled a record of 95-77. In addition to being the winningest football coach in Auburn history, Jordan ranks fifth in wins among Tigers basketball coaches.
During World War II, he saw significant action in North Africa and Sicily before being wounded in the invasion of Normandy and receiving a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He continued in action in the Pacific theater after recovering.
Prior to being hired as Auburn's head football coach in 1951, he spent one season as an assistant coach of the Miami Seahawks of the All-America Football Conference, then four years as an assistant at the University of Georgia. In his first season, he coached the Tigers to a 5-5 record improving on the previous five straight losing seasons. After six years of Jordan's leadership, Auburn won its first SEC and AP national championships in 1957 with an undefeated record.
In 1971, Jordan's tutelage led quarterback Pat Sullivan to the Heisman Trophy. The next year, Jordan's Tigers upset heavily-favored, arch-rival Alabama in the Iron Bowl - a victory which became known by the nickname "Punt Bama Punt". In 1973, the university renamed Cliff Hare Stadium to Jordan-Hare Stadium in his honor making it the first stadium in the U.S. to be named for an active coach. When Jordan retired after the 1975 season he had amassed an enviable record of 176-83-6 for a .675 percentage and 22 winning seasons out of the 25 he had coached.
Basketball Coaching Record
| TEAM | YEAR | WINS | LOSSES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | 1933-1934 | 2 | 11 |
| Auburn University | 1934-1935 | 4 | 13 |
| Auburn University | 1935-1936 | 10 | 7 |
| Auburn University | 1936-1937 | 11 | 4 |
| Auburn University | 1937-1938 | 14 | 5 |
| Auburn University | 1938-1939 | 16 | 6 |
| Auburn University | 1939-1940 | 7 | 10 |
| Auburn University | 1940-1941 | 13 | 6 |
| Auburn University | 1941-1942 | 11 | 6 |
| Auburn University | 1945-1946 | 7 | 9 |
| CAREER TOTAL (BASKETBALL) | 10 years | 95 | 77 |
Football Coaching Record
| TEAM | YEAR (Bowl Game) | WINS | LOSSES | TIES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | 1951 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1952 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1953 (Gator Bowl) | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Auburn University | 1954 (Gator Bowl) | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1955 (Gator Bowl) | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Auburn University | 1956 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1957 (SEC and National Co-Champions) | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1958 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Auburn University | 1959 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1960 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1961 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1962 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| Auburn University | 1963 (Orange Bowl) | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1964 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1965 (Liberty Bowl) | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Auburn University | 1966 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1967 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1968 (Sun Bowl) | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1969 (Bluebonnet Bowl) | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1970 (Gator Bowl) | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1971 (Sugar Bowl) | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1972 (Gator Bowl) | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1973 (Sun Bowl) | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1974 (Gator Bowl) | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Auburn University | 1975 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| CAREER TOTAL (FOOTBALL) | 25 years | 176 | 83 | 6 |
Honors and awards
- SEC Coach of the Year - 1953, 1957, 1963, 1972
- National Coach of the Year - 1957
- Alabama Sports Hall of Fame - 1969
- Alabama Academy of Honor - 1972
- National Football Foundation Hall of Fame - 1982
- Senior Bowl Hall of Fame - 1993
References
- Ralph Jordan. (2007, February 17). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:30, February 20, 2007 [1]
External links
| Preceded by: Earl Brown |
Auburn University Head Football Coach 1951–1975 |
Succeeded by: Doug Barfield |