Akron Alum Jack Lengyel Named to NFF 150th Anniversary Team

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IRVING, Texas– Former University of Akron football player Jack Lengyel (1954-56) has been named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame's 150^th Anniversary Team of Excellence.

One of 30 honorees, Lengyel joins NFF Board members who played football and have gone on to great success in life. Captained by NFF Chairman Archie Manning, the anniversary team features familiar names from the college and professional football ranks: Troy Aikman (UCLA), Roger Goodell (Washington & Jefferson), Archie Griffin (Ohio State), Jerry Jones (Arkansas), Roger Staubach (Navy), and Lynn Swann (USC). The complete team is listed below.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Lengyel earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Akron in 1958 and master's degree in education from Kent State in 1962. He lettered in four sports for the Zips– football, swimming, track, and lacrosse.

Lengyel began his football coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Akron, in 1959 under Joe McMullen. He moved on as an assistant at Heidelberg for two years before taking another assistant coaching spot at Cornell (N.Y.) in 1963.

After three years at Cornell, Lengyel was named the head coach at the College of Wooster in 1966. He guided the Fighting Scots to 24 victories in his five years as head coach, including an 8-1 season his final year. Lengyel also served as the head lacrosse coach at Wooster for three years.

In 1971, Lengyel was hired as the head coach at Marshall and tasked with the huge responsibility of rebuilding the football program after most of the coaches and players were killed in a plane crash on November 14, 1970, returning from a game against East Carolina. He was forced to recruit players from other sports on campus and use a large number of walk-ons to build a roster for the 1971 season. Lengyel was instrumental in petitioning the NCAA to lift the ban on freshman players. Even though the football team managed only two wins in 1971, Lengyel helped guide the program and the school through one of the worst sports disasters in American history.

After leaving Marshall, Lengyel worked in the private sector for a few years before returning to college athletics as the associate athletic director at Louisville in 1978. He moved on as associate athletic director at Missouri in 1980 before becoming athletic director at Fresno State in 1983. After serving four years with Bulldogs athletics, Lengyel returned to Missouri as athletic director in 1986. He spent two years with the Tigers before embarking on a 14-year run as athletic director at Navy. He retired from Navy in 2001, only to return as an interim athletic director at Temple, Eastern Kentucky, and Colorado between 2002-05.

Lengyel received the 2005 John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation for his years of service at Navy. He has held leadership posts in numerous professional organizations including the National Association of College Directors of Athletics, the 1-A Directors of Athletics Association, the College Football Association, the NCAA, the Big Eight Conference, and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Lengyel was the 1990 recipient of Akron's Mike Krino Varsity "A" Achievement Award, given annually to a former UA letterwinner who has reach a high level of achievement in his occupational field.

In 2018, Lengyel was the recipient of the American Football Coaches Association's Tuss McLaughry Award, the AFCA 's highest honor.

Lengyel is currently the vice president of business development for XOS Digital/Catapult, a sports media and technology company. He is married to Sandy Lengyel, and they have three children: David Lengyel, Lt. Col., U.S. Marine Corps (retired); Peter Lengyel, retired Commander, U.S. Navy; and Julie Logan, a jewelry designer.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

As college football embarks on its 150^th season in 2019, the NFF shared its plans to pay homage to the sport and its legacy of creating educational opportunities; building leaders; and enriching communities. For the full NFF release, click here.

Under first-year head coach Tom Arth, Akron returns 51 letterwinners. UA opens the 2019 season at Illinois on August 31. The home opener is slated for Sept. 7 against UAB.

Season ticket plans for the 2019 season—which include a ticket to all six home games as well as a parking pass– can be purchased now (starting at only $60 each) by calling or texting 888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets) during business hours (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

Group tickets start at $10 each (with a minimum of 15 people).

NFF 150^th Anniversary Team

Archie Manning, Team Captain
Troy Aikman (UCLA)
Carl Allegretti (Butler)
Barry Alvarez (Nebraska)
Ray Anderson (Stanford)
Bill Battle (Alabama)
Joe Castiglione (Maryland)
Kevin Clifford (Wabash [IN])
Gene DeFilippo (Springfield [MA])
Bill Emerson (Penn State)
Bob Epling (Furman)
Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern)
Jack Ford (Yale)
Thom Gatewood (Notre Dame)
Rick George (Illinois)
Roger Goodell (Washington & Jefferson [PA])
Archie Griffin (Ohio State)
Jeff Immelt (Dartmouth)
Jerry Jones (Arkansas)
Lincoln Kennedy (Washington)
Robert Kraft (Columbia)
Jack Lengyel (Akron)
Ronnie Lott (USC)
Kevin Plank (Maryland)
George Pyne (Brown)
Corby Robertson (Texas)
Roger Staubach (Navy)
Lynn Swann (USC)
John Swofford (North Carolina)
Rod West (Notre Dame)

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Alum Jack Lengyel Named to NFF 150th Anniversary Team

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