Charles McClendon

Charles “Cholly Mac” McClendon spent his entire coaching career in the SEC, most notably in 18 seasons as the head coach of the LSU Tigers from 1962-1979. He was 137-59-7 in 203 career games as the head coach at LSU and led the Tigers to the 1970 SEC championship with a perfect 5-0 record in the conference. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1970 and was 7-6 all-time in bowl games. McLendon had 16 winning seasons and just one losing season while at LSU, and he had nine teams finish a season ranked in the top-20 of the final Associated Press poll. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

McClendon remains the longest tenured head coach in program history, and holds the LSU records for most wins by a head coach, most bowl appearances and most bowl wins. McLendon also served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt and LSU before assuming the head coaching job with the Tigers. He passed away in 2001 at the age of 78.