Dr. Darrell Mudra (2000) - Hall of Fame

Dr. Darrell Mudra

Induction:
2000

One of the biggest challenges in college football is rebuilding a team from the bottom up. Darrell Mudra was known around the country for turning teams into playoff contenders. He was nicknamed "Dr. Victory" because of successful stints at virtually every college coaching job he took on.

He started his coaching career at Adams State in 1959, leading his team to the Mineral Bowl in 1962. In 1963, he became head coach at North Dakota State, turning a 0-10 football team into 1964 Mineral Bowl Champions, winning his first national championship in 1965. He then coached the University of Arizona, guiding it to the 1968 Sun Bowl, then leaving to coach Florida State for two years before going to Eastern Illinois to win his second national championship.

The 1951 graduate of Peru State coached the University of Northern Iowa team from 1983-87. Mudra compiled a 43-16-1 record with UNI, leading the Panthers to two Gateway Conference Titles and two trips to the NCAA Division I-AA semifinals in 1985 and 1987. His efforts during the 1985 season earned him Kodak Region 4 Coach of the Year. At the end of the 1987 season, the Panthers were ranked fourth in the country.

In his 28 years of coaching, Mudra netted a 200-81-4 record, leading teams to six bowl appearances and four I-AA playoff appearances. His 200 wins rank him second on the all-time NCAA Division I-AA coaching list. In 2000, Mudra was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, having already being inducted into Peru State, North Dakota State, Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois Halls of Fame.