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Michigan Football: Top 10 greatest coaches in program history

By Quinn Douglas

University of Michigan's head coach Lloyd Carr wonders what is going on during his teams loss to Ohio State University at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 19, 2005. Ohio State won the game 25-21. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
University of Michigan's head coach Lloyd Carr wonders what is going on during his teams loss to Ohio State University at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 19, 2005. Ohio State won the game 25-21. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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4 Nov 2000: A general view of the Michigan Wolverines helmet during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The Wildcats defeated the Wolverines 54-51.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
4 Nov 2000: A general view of the Michigan Wolverines helmet during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Ryan Field in Evanston, Illinois. The Wildcats defeated the Wolverines 54-51.Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

3. Fritz Crisler: 1938-1947

  • Career Record: 71-16-3
  • Awards and Accolades: 1943 & ’47 Big Ten Champions, 1947 National Championship, 1947 AFCA Coach of the Year

The man who helped create Michigan’s iconic winged helmet was coach Fritz Crisler. Crisler played college football for legendary coach Amos Alonzo Stagg at the University of Chicago from 1919 to 1921. He would join Stagg’s staff as an assistant following graduation and stayed for seven seasons. Crisler would become head coach at Minnesota in 1930, but following two dismal seasons, left to coach the Princeton Tigers. While at Princeton, his teams won two national championships before being lured away to Michigan in 1938.

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Crisler never won less than six games in a season throughout his entire Michigan career and only finished below second in the Big Ten twice. He finally brought his first Big Ten Championship to Ann Arbor in 1943 as Michigan finished the year 8-1 and 6-0 in conference. In 1948, Crisler and the “Mad Magicians” finished the season 10-0 and won the Big Ten Championship, and with a Rose Bowl win over USC, won its first national championship since 1933

Following Michigan’s Rose Bowl victory, Crisler stepped down and named former Michigan player and assistant coach Bennie Oosterbaan his replacement. Crisler remained at the university as the athletic director, which he started as in 1941 and would remain in the position until his retirement in 1968.

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