Coach
Frank
Kush

Frank Kush’s name is inseparable from the rise of Arizona State football. Born in Windber, Pennsylvania, in 1929, he was an All-American lineman at Michigan State and a national champion before serving in the U.S. Army. Kush joined Arizona State in 1955 as an assistant under Dan Devine and was promoted to head coach in 1958. Over the next two decades, he built the Sun Devils from a modest program into one of the most respected teams in the nation. From 1958 to 1979, Kush compiled a record of 176–54–1, earning 19 winning seasons, nine conference championships, and six bowl victories. His teams were known for their toughness, discipline, and relentless conditioning—traits that mirrored their coach. Under Kush, 38 players earned All-America honors and 128 went on to the NFL, including notable names like Danny White, Mike Haynes, and John Jefferson. The pinnacle of Kush’s success came in the early 1970s, when Arizona State became a national power. The 1975 season was especially historic, as the Sun Devils went 12–0 and defeated Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl to finish ranked second in the nation. Kush earned national Coach of the Year honors that season, solidifying his place among the elite coaches of college football. Despite his success, Kush’s career ended abruptly in 1979 following allegations of player mistreatment and interference in an internal investigation. He went on to coach professionally in the CFL, NFL, and USFL before reconciling with ASU later in life. Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995, Kush remains the winningest coach in school history. The field at Sun Devil Stadium now bears his name—an enduring reminder of the man who built Arizona State football.