Kentucky Football Coach Has Quit, TV Station Says

Jerry Claiborne, who was 41-46-3 in eight years as University of Kentucky’s football coach, unexpectedly resigned today, according to a broadcast report.

WLEX-TV in Lexington reported that a news conference had been called this afternoon to announce the resignation. University officials would neither confirm nor deny the report of Claiborne’s resignation but did confirm that the news conference had been scheduled.

Claiborne could not immediately be reached for comment.

Claiborne, 61, was fourth among active NCAA Division I-A coaches in victories with 179, trailing only Michigan’s Bo Schembechler (234), Penn State’s Joe Paterno (219) and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (194). His overall record of 179-122-8 ranked in the Top 20 for career winning percentage.

Claiborne, a 1950 graduate of Kentucky, began his head coaching career at Virginia Tech in 1961. He was 61-39-2 in 10 years and took the Hokies to the Liberty Bowl in 1966 and 1968.

Following a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Colorado under Eddie Crowder in 1971, Claiborne took the top job at Maryland. In 10 seasons with the Terrapins, he compiled a 77-37-3 record which included seven bowl appearances.

Claiborne was named Kentucky’s 31st head football coach on Dec. 16, 1981.