Former Husker player and coach Frank Solich is on pace to become MAC's winningest coach
Ohio coach Frank Solich is approaching his 75th birthday, looking and sounding as if he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
By News Channel NebraskaDETROIT — Ohio coach Frank Solich is approaching his 75th birthday, looking and sounding as if he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“I’ve got great energy, and I wouldn’t trade what I’m doing for anything,” the former Husker player and coach said. “There will be a day when it doesn’t make sense for me to coach, but I don’t feel like that day is coming yet.”
Solich is expected to become the Mid-American Conference’s all-time winning coach this season while his Bobcats are the league’s preseason favorites. He has won 106 games at Ohio, and he is five victories away from breaking the record set by Herb Deromedi at Central Michigan from 1978-1993.
With 164 wins at the highest level of college football, Solich trails three active coaches in career victories: North Carolina’s Mack Brown, Alabama’s Nick Saban and TCU’s Gary Patterson. And like few coaches in college football, he has been in the same place for 15 years. Only three active coaches — Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, Patterson and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham — have been at the same school longer than Solich.
“He’s a legend, and we all feel fortunate to play for him,” safety Javon Hagan said. “He’s always so positive and doesn’t speak negatively about anybody or anything.”
Only one example is how Solich reflects on the abrupt end of his coaching career at Nebraska.
A nine-win season in 2003 and a 58-19 record over six seasons following in the footsteps of national championship winning coach Tom Osborne wasn’t enough for Solich to keep his dream job with the Huskers.
“I don’t dwell on what happened because if I did, I wouldn’t be the guy I am,” he said. “I’m able to move on. If you don’t have that ability, this business can get you. Nebraska has struggled, no question, but I think Scott Frost will get that ship turned around.”
Solich’s challenge this season is to take a team that has won 34 times — including its last two bowl games — the past four seasons and lead it to the school’s first MAC title since 1968.
Nathan Rourke, a dual-threat quarterback with two years of starting experience, gives the program a great shot at ending the drought.
“They don’t give rings out in preseason,” said Rourke, who combined for nearly 3,300 yards passing and rushing last years while throwing for 23 touchdowns and running for 15 scores. “We’ve been picked to win it three years in a row, and it’s time to put the work in to do it.”