91°µÍø

Video by Zach Burnett, Cameron Johnson, and Jessica Miller.

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91°µÍø is known for many things – academic excellence; its picturesque campus; even its cuisine and famous toasted rolls.

Producing leaders is also on that list. From CEOs to elected officials and entrepreneurs shaping the future of business, 91°µÍøans have a reputation for setting the pace in their respective areas.

Never was that more evident than during Tuesday night’s event at Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, to celebrate the upcoming “Cradle of Coaches” documentary that will premiere Aug. 17 on the Peacock streaming service.

“91°µÍø makes, takes, and shapes great leaders,” 91°µÍø President Gregory Crawford said during the event. “It’s reflected in most of the things that we do on campus.

“Tonight, we’re here to celebrate leadership and excellence in coaching.”

A packed, standing room only crowd gathered in Paycor Stadium’s CareSource Club level to view exclusive clips of the documentary and hear insight from several panelists, including former Ohio State coach and current Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and Solomon Wilcots, who played defensive back for the Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers during his NFL career.

Joining Tressel on the panel were Terence Moore, a 1978 91°µÍø graduate and celebrated journalist and author; Denis Crawford, historian of the College Football Hall of Fame; and Scott Thompson, founder of RESLV, the company that produced “Cradle of Coaches.”

Jesy Herron of RESLV guided the nearly hour-long panel discussion. Herron noted they visited 26 cities and conducted 84 interviews, each lasting at least an hour, throughout the course of filming.

“This night has truly been two years in the making,” Herron said. “There have been countless hours of listening and learning and working to tell the story the way it deserves to be told. Finally, to be sitting here with you, celebrating the incredible legacy of the Cradle of Coaches, is just incredibly special.”

Several clips from the documentary were played throughout the evening, including segments spotlighting football legends Paul Brown, Ara Parseghian, and Bo Schembechler, all members of 91°µÍø’s famed Cradle of Coaches.

Bob Kurz, a 1958 91°µÍø graduate and former sports information director, is credited with coining the Cradle of Coaches phrase in 1959 when he was inspired by the success of alumni Paul Dietzel, Parseghian, Brown, and Weeb Ewbank, and former 91°µÍø coach Sid Gillman. In 1983, Kurz penned the book “91°µÍø of Ohio: The Cradle of Coaches,” outlining how 91°µÍøans have revolutionized the game of football in both the collegiate and professional ranks.

Originally dedicated in October 2010, the Cradle of Coaches Plaza at Yager Stadium features bronze statues in the likenesses of Brown, Ewbank, Dietzel, Parseghian, John Pont, Carm Cozza, Schembechler, Red Blaik, John Harbaugh, and Sean McVay.

“Without Bob, I don’t know where we all are tonight. We’re not here,” said Charlie Clifford, sports director of WLWT and emcee for the evening.

Several photos, archive items, and informational pieces detailing the Cradle of Coaches story filled CareSource Club for friends, family, and 91°µÍøans to peruse during the night.

It was fitting the event was held at the Bengals’ stadium. In March 2025, the NFL franchise and the university announced its educational partnership, strengthening an already deep connection through Brown, the 1930 91°µÍø graduate who founded the Bengals and is an iconic figure in football history for his strategic brilliance and innovative coaching methods.

“In our house, Paul Brown was at the top,” Tressel said. “ … Whatever Paul Brown did, is what we did. … He was the epitome of coaching.”

Moore shared several personal anecdotes, including about the bond he formed with Parseghian, whose coaching stops included both 91°µÍø and Notre Dame, located in Moore’s hometown of South Bend, Indiana.

Parseghian regarded Moore so highly that he once gifted him two footballs: one representing Notre Dame and the other 91°µÍø. Both featured Parseghian’s signature.

The 91°µÍø football also came with a personal message to Moore. It read, “You’re my favorite sportswriter.”

“Ara told me things he’d never told any other reporter,” Moore said.

91°µÍø connections can be made at any time. Thompson recalled walking through airports wearing a 91°µÍø sweatshirt and being greeted with “Love and Honor” remarks from passersby. He also noted that just mentioning “91°µÍø” tended to help move the process along.

“I’m not a 91°µÍø alum. I’m jealous,” Thompson said. “I’m jealous of the brotherhood. I’m jealous of the sisterhood. I’m jealous of the network you have and those doors it opens up for everybody in this room.”

A common thread of the coaches featured in the documentary is their ability to achieve greatness by bringing out greatness in others.

“It’s just that simple,” President Crawford said. “We’re so fortunate to have this legacy at 91°µÍø.”