Who is Frank Solich? Nebraska honors legendary coach & 1994 national championship team before Colorado game

Frank Solich was the man of the moment as Nebraska Cornhuskers fans dived into nostalgia ahead of their primetime showdown against the Colorado Buffaloes. Their football program honored the former head coach and the legendary 1994 national championship team.

The atmosphere was already electric. Memorial Stadium reached a fever pitch when members of the 1994 squad took the field, greeted by 86,000 fans. The iconic Nebraska walk-out music, “Sirius” by The Alan Parsons Project, echoed through the stadium.

Solich, who coached Nebraska from 1998 to 2003, received a special tribute. During an early timeout, a plaque from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame was presented to Solich.

This emotional moment also marks 30 years since Nebraska's 1994 national title win. Solich was the running backs coach then and played a crucial role in the team's success. He will soon be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Frank Solich's coaching history

Solich's coaching career is nothing short of legendary. He began his journey in the Nebraska high school ranks at Omaha Holy Name High School in 1966. In 10 years, the Pennsylvania native had captured consecutive Class A state titles at Lincoln Southeast (1976 & 1977).

He joined his alma mater to work under Tom Osborne as an assistant coach. Over the next two decades, Solich was a key element in three national championships and 11 conference titles, chiseling future stars like Ahman Green and Lawrence Phillips under his tutelage.

When Osborne retired in 1997, Solich took the reins. He led the Cornhuskers to six consecutive bowl games, including an appearance in the 2001 national championship game. His 58-19 record at Nebraska was better than Osborne and Bob Devaney's first six years.

Solich’s Nebraska term didn’t end well as he was controversially fired in 2003. He then moved to Athens, offering his services to the Ohio Bobcats from 2005 to 2021, resurrecting their football program.

After multiple bowl appearances, Solich became the winningest coach in MAC history with 115 wins. In 2021, Solich retired with a 173-101 overall coaching record to focus on his health but remains an influential figure at Ohio University, where the field is now named in his honor.