Sooners Mourn the Passing of Chuck Fairbanks

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma mourns the loss of Chuck Fairbanks, who compiled a 52-15-1 record as the Sooners' head coach from 1967-72. Fairbanks was 79 years old. He passed away in Scottsdale, Ariz., after succumbing to brain cancer.

"OU will always be proud to have the name of Chuck Fairbanks linked with our university's great athletic tradition," said University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren. "He was an avid OU supporter all of his life. Chuck Fairbanks was a true gentleman and a great role model for our students-athletes and for all of us."

"The University of Oklahoma fondly remembers Chuck Fairbanks," said OU vice president for intercollegiate athletics and director of athletics, Joe Castiglione. "Chuck provided stability and leadership for the program during a pivotal time in OU history and his lasting contributions to Oklahoma Football will always be appreciated."

Head coach Bob Stoops joined Castiglione in recalling the role that Fairbanks played in the evolution of OU Football's rich winning tradition.

"The Oklahoma Football family is saddened by the passing of Chuck Fairbanks, who holds a memorable place in Sooners' history," said Stoops. "His squads won three Big 8 championships and helped lay the foundation for the program's ongoing success with the installation of the wishbone-T offense. Chuck possessed an exceptional eye for talent, recruiting talented players like Heisman winner Steve Owens and enabling innovative assistant coaches like Barry Switzer to thrive.

"I was fortunate to have many opportunities to get to know Chuck over the years," Stoops continued. "He often visited his daughter in Norman around Thanksgiving, and I enjoyed our conversations when he attended practice. We offer our prayers and condolences to Chuck's family and the many individuals he touched during his time at the University of Oklahoma."

The 16th head coach in Oklahoma history, Fairbanks won three Big 8 Conference titles (1967, 1968 and 1972). He had 24 players earn all-league honors, while nine received All-America accolades. Fairbanks also coached the 1969 Heisman Trophy winner, running back Steve Owens. He posted a 3-1-1 bowl record with the Sooners playing in a pair of Sugar and Bluebonnet bowls and one Orange Bowl.

Fairbanks took over the Sooners' coaching reins after Jim Mackenzie passed away from a heart attack following the 1966 season. He immediately guided OU to a 10-1 record and a Big 8 title with the lone blemish on his rookie record coming by a narrow 9-7 margin vs. Texas. Fairbanks posted back-to-back 11-1 campaigns in 1971 and 1972 as the Sooners registered Sugar Bowl wins over Auburn and Penn State.

Fairbanks was the first OU coach to use the wishbone-T formation, a triple-option offensive attack that Texas used on its way to the 1969 national title. The wishbone-T became the backbone of OU's offensive dynasty for the next 20 years.

In 1973, Fairbanks left OU to coach in the NFL for the New England Patriots. During his six-year tenure as New England's head coach, Fairbanks produced a 46-41 record as the Patriots earned a Wild Card spot in 1976 and won the AFC East in 1978, marking the club's first division title since 1963. Fairbanks went on to coach the University of Colorado from 1979-81 and also served as head coach of the USFL's New Jersey Generals in 1983.

Fairbanks began his coaching career at Ishpeming High School in Michigan. From there, he went to Arizona State (under head coach Frank Kush) and Houston (under head coach Bill Yeoman) before coming to OU as a defensive backfield coach in 1966. As a player at Michigan State, Fairbanks played offensive end on the Spartans' 1952 national championship team. In 1954, he concluded his playing career by earning a berth in the Blue-Grey All-Star Game.

CHUCK FAIRBANKS PASSES
Oklahoma's head coach from 1967-72, Chuck Fairbanks compiled a 52-15-1 record and won three Big 8 titles. He passed away on April 2, 2013:

Chuck Fairbanks Photo Gallery
Video

Remembering Chuck Fairbanks
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  Fairbanks In His Own Words
  Reaction from The Oklahoman
  Photos from The Oklahoman

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A.D. Joe Castiglione
"The University of Oklahoma fondly remembers Chuck Fairbanks. Chuck provided stability and leadership for the program during a pivotal time in OU history and his lasting contributions to Oklahoma Football will always be appreciated."

Coach Bob Stoops
"I was fortunate to have many opportunities to get to know Chuck over the years. I enjoyed our conversations when he attended practice. We offer our prayers and condolences to Chuck's family and the many individuals he touched during his time at the University of Oklahoma."

COACHING RECORD
Chuck Fairbanks won 77.2 percent of his games as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, compiling a record of 52-15-1 from 1967-1972. Check out his year-by-year records:

Year	Record (Conference)
1967	10-1-0 (7-0-0)
1968	7-4-0 (6-1-0)
1969	6-4-0 (4-3-0)
1970	7-4-1 (5-2-0)
1971	11-1-0 (6-1-0)
1972	11-1-0 (6-1-0)
Overall	52-15-1 (34-8-0)

FAIRBANKS AT OKLAHOMA
Coached 1969 Heisman Trophy winner, running back Steve Owens
Won three Big Eight Conference titles (1967, 1972 and 1968)
Coached nine All-Americans
Mentored 24 players who earned all-league honors
Went 3-1-1 in bowl games, winning an Orange Bowl (1967) and a pair of Sugar Bowls (1971 & 1972)

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooners Mourn the Passing of Chuck Fairbanks

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