• Legendary Baylor coach to retire from AFCA leadership

    Grant and Donell Teaff

    In 1972, Grant Teaff was given the reins of a Baylor football program that had won a total of seven games in the previous five years. Over the next 21 years, he proceeded to win 128 games and earn eight bowl appearances — both still program records.

    In 1994, Teaff was given the reins of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), a small group of about 1,800 coaches with a full-time staff of just three employees. Over the next 21 years, he helped the AFCA grow to more than 30 staffers and 12,000 members, built a national headquarters here in Waco, and expanded the group’s educational and professional development opportunities.

    Earlier this week, Teaff announced that he will step down from his role as the AFCA’s executive director in February 2016. The 81-year-old Baylor legend (and author of six books) says that, with three more books to finish, he plans to spend more time writing.

    During his time at Baylor, Teaff won two Southwest Conference titles and was named SWC coach of the year twice. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1974 after leading the Bears to their first conference championship in 50 years. Teaff was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. A statue in his honor was dedicated at Floyd Casey Stadium in 2002 and rededicated last fall as part of the “I Believe” Walkway leading to McLane Stadium.

    Sic ’em, Coach Teaff!

    (Pictured above: Coach Teaff with his wife of almost 60 years, Donell. A longtime fixture in the Baylor community, Donell served as a Baylor Regent from 2000-09).