Muddy Waters

Bio

Frank "Muddy" Waters is one of the most respected coaches in Michigan football history. Muddy's efforts resulted in one of the nation's most powerful and respected college programs. At Hillsdale, his teams were a nationally ranked small college team 12 times, and from 1953-57, Hillsdale won 34 games in a row, setting a Division II record. His teams earned trips to the playoffs twice and played in the 1957 Holiday Bowl. Waters was selected NAIA Coach of the Year in 1957. the same year Hillsdale was recognized by the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club as the nation's outstanding small college team. In 1973, Hillsdale's football stadium was named Frank Waters Stadium. In 1974, Waters began building a football program at Saginaw Valley State College. The next year they were recognized as a varsity team and by 1979 he had led them to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. That year he was selected Michigan Coach of the Year, marking the eighth time in his illustrious career that he won the award. He concluded his coaching career with a three-year stint at Michigan State and was later inducted into the NAIA and Hillsdale College Athletic Halls of Fame. Outside of coaching, Waters remained very involved in the game of football. He was a four-time chairman of the NAIA Football Advisory Committee, and was president of the NAIA Football Coaches Association.