Jack Lengyel

Jack Lengyel (born March 29, 1935) is a former American football coach and college athletics administrator. He is best known for rebuilding the Marshall University football program after the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people, including most of the Thundering Herd football team, coaches, staff, and boosters.

Lengyel was hired as head coach in 1971, replacing Rick Tolley, who was among the victims of the crash. He had previously served as an assistant coach at several universities. Despite the immense challenges of rebuilding a program devastated by tragedy and NCAA rules restricting freshman eligibility at the time, Lengyel led the Thundering Herd to a 5-6 record in his first season. The team's emotional 15-13 victory over Xavier on November 13, 1971, at Fairfield Stadium is considered one of the most significant wins in program history.

Lengyel coached Marshall for four seasons (1971-1974), compiling a record of 9-33. While his overall record was not stellar, his efforts in rebuilding the program were widely praised. After leaving Marshall, Lengyel served as the athletic director at several universities, including Missouri, Rutgers, and Navy.

His story and the Marshall team's resurgence were the subject of the 2006 film We Are Marshall, in which he was portrayed by Matthew McConaughey. Lengyel has remained involved with Marshall University and the football program in the years since his coaching tenure.