Former South Carolina football coach nominated for College Football Hall of Fame
In only seven seasons, Jim Carlen won what at the time was the second most games in the history of Gamecocks football.
Now, for his work in Columbia, West Virginia and at Texas Tech, the late coach has been nominated for the College Hall of Fame.
His name was one of seven FBS coaches to make the list released Tuesday. Carlen died in 2012.
“Led teams to eight bowl games and 13 winning seasons in 16 years as head coach,” Carlen’s bio reads. “1973 National Coach of the Year…Three-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year… Coached Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers at South Carolina.”
He went 45-36-1 in Columbia, with a peak of back-to-back 8-4 seasons led by Rogers. Those teams reached the Gator Bowl and Hall of Fame Classic.
Known as a gruff man, he was dismissed with five years left on his contract following a 6-6 season that ended with a stunning three-game losing streak.
When he left, only Rex Enright had won more games with the program (64 in 15 seasons). Steve Spurrier has since surpassed that. Only three other USC coaches can match the three bowls Carlen led the Gamecocks to.
Carlen’s career record was 107-69-6. He led WVU to a 10-1 record in 1969, his fourth season on the job, and then departed for Lubbock Texas. By Year 4, he had that program at 11-1 and in the Gator Bowl.
