Honoring a Legacy: Frank Kush and the Arizona State University Football Program

Frank Kush, a legendary figure in the world of college football, has left an indelible mark on the Arizona State University (ASU) football program. As the head coach from 1958 to 1979, Kush led the Sun Devils to nine conference titles and achieved a 6-1 record in bowl games. His players went on to achieve great success, with 128 being drafted into professional leagues, 17 making NFL Pro Bowl appearances, and 10 being selected in the first round of the NFL and AFL drafts. The ASU Alumni Association and the Sun Devil Club will honor Coach Kush and the 1958-1979 teams at the Legends Luncheon on October 28.

Key Takeaways:

• Frank Kush coached the ASU football program for 22 years, transforming the team into a university and moving it from the Western Athletic Conference to the Pacific-10 Conference.
• Under Kush's leadership, the Sun Devils achieved nine conference titles, went 6-1 in bowl games, and produced 128 drafted players, 17 NFL Pro Bowl appearances, and 10 first-round NFL and AFL draft selections.
• Kush-coached players have been inducted into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame 22 times and have a combined 10 first-round NFL and AFL draft selections.
• The event will feature video highlights and stories from former players about Coach Kush, who was named the 1975 National Coach of the Year and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
• The Sun Devil Stadium football field was named after Coach Kush in 1996, a testament to his lasting impact on the program.
• Kush has maintained relationships with hundreds of former student-athletes, alums, media, and ASU affiliates through his position with the Sun Devil Club.
• The current student body at ASU exceeded Kush's 1955 estimate by "astronomical" numbers.
• Kush advises today's students to "get involved with your roommates, classmates, etc." and to form associations that reach beyond graduation.
• More than 200 former Sun Devil football players, including notable figures such as Bob Breunig, Ron Erhardt, and Mike Haynes, will return to honor Coach Kush.

Statistics:

• 128 ASU football student-athletes drafted by teams in the National, American, and World Football Leagues.
• 17 NFL Pro Bowl appearances by Kush-coached players.
• 10 first-round NFL and AFL draft selections by Kush-coached players.
• 22 inductees into the ASU Sports Hall of Fame from the Kush-coached teams.
• 9 conference titles achieved by the Sun Devils under Kush's leadership.
• 6-1 bowl game record for the Sun Devils under Kush's leadership.

Sources:

• Arizona State University
• ASU Alumni Association
• Sun Devil Club
• College Football Hall of Fame
• ASU Sports Hall of Fame
• Podcast with Ron Erhardt ('59 B.S.) and Dan Kush ('78 B.S.E.)
• ASU Athletics website