Rice's Fifth Athletic Director:
5.
Bo Hagan was Rice Head Football Coach and
Athletic Director after Jess Neely retired in
1967 – until he resigned in November of
1970.
South Carolina 1949/50
Roger Roitsch, of LaGrange, Texas, was ALL-SWC guard and 1970 All-American candidate, Tri-captain of the Rice Football Team, featured in this photo with Rice University Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Harold “Bo” Hagan.
South Carolina Football QB “Bo” Hagan along with other South Carolina pitchers on a SC staff that went 16-9-1 in baseball. Bill "Country" Camp in center of photo along with Hagan, Frank Sherer and Grady Faircloth.
Harold Benjamin "Bo" Hagan (October 8, 1925 – January 22, 2002) was an American football and baseball player, football coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as head football coach at Rice University from 1967 from 1970, compiling a record of 12–27–1. Before serving as head coach, Hagan was the backfield coach at Rice for 11 seasons. Hagan was the athletic director at the University of South Carolina from 1975 to 1976.
Hagan was a high school football coach in Atlanta before serving as freshmen football coach at the Georgia Institute of Technology under Bobby Dodd from 1951 to 1953. He moved to Southern Methodist University in 1954, where he worked for two seasons as backfield coach with Woody Woodard. In 1956, Jess Neely hired Hagan as his backfield coach at Rice University. He assisted Neely for 11 seasons before succeeding him as head coach after the 1966 campaign.
From the Rice Thresher October 20, 1961:
Coach Hagan Rebel From Georgia Tech.
Harold “Bo” Hagan, a backfield coach for the Owl football squad, has often been described as “one of the top young coaches in American college football.” He is noted for his “razor sharp mind for gridiron tactics—a mind developed under the tutelage of Georgia tech’s Bobby Dodd, the Owls’ foe in Atlanta three weeks ago.
At the age of thirty-five, Hagan remarks, “I can hardly remember a time when I didn’t want to be a football coach. The first time I ‘coached’ a team was when I was in the fourth grade.” Since then, Hagan’s football career has certainly prospered. He was an all-round schoolboy athlete in his home-town of Savannah, Georgia, before attending the University of South Carolina, where he became an All-American quarterback.
After becoming Head Freshman Coach at Georgia Tech, Hagan moved to SMU for the 1953 and 1954 seasons under the Mustang mentor, Woody Woodward. From there, he came to Rice in 1955, as Jess nelly’s backfield coach. Known for his coaching methods, Hagan believes that organization is the key to success. He indicates that most schools get the same type of material, but “show me a school that’s winning consistently and I’ll show you a staff that’s working ‘round the clock.”
Hagan’s coaching techniques resemble those of Dodd to a large degree. Says the coach, “I guess Bobby Dodd had more influence on my coaching than anyone else. He’s also an advocate of the Neyland (U. of Tennessee) defense of “make the other team work for you.” If “Bo” Hagan approaches the Dodd-Neyland school in coaching, he is sure to be a successful head coach of the future.
From the Rice Thresher December 1, 1966:
Hagan follows ‘Dean of Coaches’
Bo Hagan, Jess Neely’s newly appointed successor as Rice’s head football coach, is a man who should make subtle, but noticeable changes in the appearance of intercollegiate athletics at Rice.
A dynamic, energetic person who still embodies the integrity long associated with Jess nelly, Hagan, a favorite of the players, should mix knowledge of the game, ability to communicate with his players, and dignity into a winning combination.
Having come to Rice ten years ago from SMU, the popular backfield coach had formerly served under Bobby Dodd at Georgia tech, in the company of Ray Graves and Frank Broyles, both of whom have since become head coaches.
Ending speculation that Rice might be planning to de-emphasize football, Hagan announced the University had consented to an increase both in the coaching staff and in the number of athletic scholarships offered.
Concerning assistant coaches, Hagan said he had not yet decided who he would like to bring in nor who among the present staff he would ask to remain. He emphasized, however, that those currently on the staff would receive first consideration.
Concerning scholarships, Coach Hagan declined to specify the exact number he would like to give each year, but noted that the state schools in the (Southwest) conference were currently giving the legal maximum of fifty.
Rice would give, he said, a number “such as to compare with the other private schools in the conference.”
When asked about his philosophy of football, Coach Hagan answered that offense and defense are stereotyped in college football and offer few opportunities for variation. He prefers the “I” formation, however, with a passing attack to complement the running game. “You can’t win without throwing,” he said.
Optimistic about the team’s future, he said he felt Rice could compete with anyone in the Southwest Conference. He was pleased with the quality of players he is inheriting, but was somewhat concerned about the perennial problem of a lack of depth.
Although the other conference schools have been actively recruiting since the beginning of the week, Coach Hagan did not feel this would handicap Rice’s efforts.
“I think any further delay would complicate recruiting,” he said, “but as of now it isn’t too late.” He will shortly be leaving to join the rest of the staff in recruiting in the area within fifty miles of Houston, where he plans to concentrate his talent search.
He gracefully skirted the question of integrated athletics, but did say he would continue recruiting athletes who could meet Rice’s academic requirements, a policy Coach Neely had followed for several years.
Coach Neely, who was also present at the announcement, praised Hagan for his interest in his players and said he was very pleased with the appointment. “I don’t think the players know about this (Hagan’s appointment) yet, but I feel they’ll be delighted,” Coach Neely said.
The appointment came as the Board of Governors at its regular monthly meeting approved Hagan’s recommendation by a faculty committee headed by Dr. Alan J. Chapman. The committee made its selection after interviewing “a very large number” of applicants.
Hagan’s last season as Head Football Coach at Rice wasn’t actually a total disaster–Rice actually went 5-5 overall (3-4 SWC) to finish 4th overall, which was the Owls’ first non-losing season since 1963 under then-coach Neely. And Bo Hagan actually won his last three games as Rice Head Coach: 18-17 on the road at Texas A&M, 17-15 at Rice Stadium against TCU and finally in his last game 28-23 on the road at Baylor.
It is interesting to note that in 1970 Rice fielded successful teams in every sport in which athletic scholarships were then given: The football program (frosh and varsity) had a combined 9-6 won-lost record. The baseball team had their then best season ever, winning 19 games. Rice finished a strong third in the SWC track and field championships. And the Owl basketball and tennis squads both won SWC titles, the latter finishing second in the nation to UCLA.
But the fans weren’t in a patient mood. A campaign to fire Hagan arose, complete with petitions, letters to the editor . . . and bumper stickers.
From the Rice Thresher November 12, 1970:
Hagan Resigns as Head Coach
Harold B. (Bo) Hagan has resigned as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, effective December 1. This announcement came in the wake of four losing seasons. Hagan, head coach since the retirement of longtime Rice Head Coach Jess Neely, will direct the team the remainder of the season. No successor has been named.
In a prepared statement given to the press, Hagan said that the coaching staff had set “certain goals for our football team and they have not been reached.” He added that he had a strong desire for “Rice to be successful in football and to have an outstanding all-around athletic program.”
Hagan noted that any decision regarding the remainder of the current Rice staff will be up to the new Athletic Director. He said his own future plans are indefinite. Ending his statement, he said, “I regret that we did not achieve success on the scoreboard, but I know Rice can and will be competitive in the future.” Hagan would not make any further statements.
Released at the same time was a statement by the tri-captains of the football team, Bucky Allshouse, Roger Roitsch, and Brownie Wheless. Stating that they wished to issue a statement for the entire squad, they said, “All of us deeply regret the decision Coach Hagan has made to step down as Head Coach of football. He is a fine gentleman who has worked extremely hard, along with his staff, to help us become better athletes and good citizens. Certainly no one can fault Coach Hagan or his assistants for a great effort to build a strong program for the university and to try and have a winning team.”
The captains believe that they have been prepared as well as possible, and noted that hey have given maximum effort against strong opposition.
Dr. Norman Hackerman, university president, said that the decision made by Hagan was his own. Hackerman in an interview said that a new appointment will be made with the proper advise and consultation. “The Sports Committee will submit names and resumes, as will alumni. When we have a list of names, we will, after much thought, contact our choices one at a time. As soon as one accepts (we will go down the list), we will name our coach.” Hackerman indicated that the decision will be made “with all due dispatch. I wish we could name him now.” Hackerman said he had no names yet.
The Committee on Outdoor Sports, which has members from the faculty, alumni, and Board of Governors will supply names for the job. The final choice is left to Dr. Hackerman, with the approval of the Board of Governors.
Dr. (Alan) Chapman, chairman of the committee (a former Rice track letterman in 1944 and 1945 under coaches Bill Wallace and Cecil Grigg; and former SWC president from 1965-1967, and later NCAA President (1973-1974) who also taught Mechanical Engineering for 30 years), commented that he was sorry to see Hagan go. “He is the type of man who is needed in collegiate athletics in general,” he said. “We have not started looking for other people yet.”
Both Hagan and Chapman indicated that the recruitment program should not be hurt. The files on high school players are being kept up-to-date, and the new coach should have no trouble stepping in.
Dr. Rorschach, secretary of the committee, said, “I am sorry that he couldn’t make a go of it. It’s a tough, thankless job. I like Mr. Hagan. He had a good team and is a fine man. It will be hard to find a man for the job.” The original sub-committee which worked with Pitzer on the selection of Hagan consisted of Chapman, Rorschach, Dr. Jim Castenada (now master of Will Rice), Dr. Frank E. Vandiver (now provost) and the late Mr. Robert Ray.
Rice’s past home schedules used to look like this:
1969 Rice Home Football Season sign
Biographical details
Born: October 8, 1925
Savannah, Georgia
Died: January 22, 2002 (aged 76)
Greenville, South Carolina
Rice Owls (Southwest Conference) (1967–1970)
1967 Rice 4–6 (2–5) 7th
1968 Rice 0–9–1 (0–7) 8th
1969 Rice 3–7 (2–5) T–6th
1970 Rice 5–5 (3–4) T–4th
Hagan's Football Head Coach record at Rice:
12–27–1 (7–21)
Overall Total: 12–27–1