By Darin Before the modern era of the FCS, one legendary coach defied the odds to put HBCU football on the national championship map. From the fields of Ohio to the hallowed sidelines in Tallahassee, Rudy Hubbard’s journey is a masterclass in perseverance, tactical brilliance, and history-making leadership. Discover how he led the Florida A&M Rattlers to an unprecedented NCAA Division I-AA title and secured his place among the icons of the gridiron.
Football Bio
February 1946 – Hubbard, Ohio – The famed head coach of the Florida A&M Rattlers, Rudy Hubbard. Per the National Football Foundation’s website bio, Coach Hubbard was the only HBCU head coach to win the Division I-AA (now FCS) national title, Rudy Hubbard posted 83 wins in his 12 seasons at Florida A&M. During his tenure at Florida A&M from 1974-85, Hubbard compiled an 83-48-3 overall record, the third most wins in school history behind fellow College Football Hall of Fame Coaches Jake Gaither (203) and Billy Joe (86). In 1978, Hubbard guided Florida A&M to a 12-1 record and capped the season by winning the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship, as the Rattlers defeated UMass, 35-28. Although a member of NCAA Division II’s Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, FAMU successfully petitioned the NCAA for Division I-AA classification, which took effect right before the 1978 season began. Coach Rudy Hubbard was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta in 2021.
Date: September 15, 1984
General note: Rudy Hubbard was born in Hubbard, Ohio in 1946. He played running back at Ohio State University from 1964 to 1968. After graduation, Hubbard was hired as an assistant coach by Woody Hayes, making him the first African American coach at OSU. In 1974, he took over the head coaching duties at Florida A&M University. Between 1974 and 1984, Hubbard amassed a record of 83-48-3 including two Black College National Championships (1976 and 1978) and an undefeated season in 1977. Hubbard was inducted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
Conclusion
Rudy Hubbard’s impact on college football transcends mere statistics. By successfully navigating the transition to Division I-AA and immediately capturing the national title, he proved that HBCU programs could compete and win at the highest levels of the NCAA. His 83 wins and his 2021 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame serve as a permanent testament to a coaching career defined by excellence and historic “firsts.”
Accolades and Accomplishments
- National Champion: Won the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship (1978).
- HBCU Trailblazer: Only HBCU head coach to win a Division I-AA/FCS national title.
- Hall of Fame: Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2021).
- Career Wins: Recorded 83 victories at Florida A&M (1974–1985).
- Winning Legacy: Ranks third in all-time wins at FAMU, following legends Jake Gaither and Billy Joe.
- Historic Season: Led the Rattlers to a dominant 12-1 record in 1978.
