Darrell Royal, who was the head coach of the University of Texas football team, the Texas Longhorns, from 1957 to 1976, is regarded by many as one of the top college football coaches of all time. He served as Texas’ head coach for 20 years.
Darrell Royal was an iconic figure in the world of college football, and his name remains synonymous with the University of Texas Longhorns. Serving as the head coach of the Texas football team from 1957 to 1976, Royal’s legacy as one of the greatest coaches in college football history continues to resonate, not only for his on-field success but also for his impact on the culture of college football and the University of Texas. His tenure at Texas, lasting two decades, was marked by sustained excellence, innovation, and a deep connection to the players and fans who supported him throughout his career.
Royal was born on July 6, 1924, in El Paso, Texas, and his journey to becoming a legendary coach began long before he arrived at the University of Texas. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson, another coaching legend. As a player, Royal was a standout halfback, and his time at Oklahoma helped form his understanding of football at the highest levels. After serving in World War II as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, he returned to the University of Oklahoma to finish his education and play football.
After college, Royal transitioned into coaching, starting as an assistant at the University of Washington, where he honed his skills and learned from other influential figures in college football. But it wasn’t until 1957 that Royal’s name would be forever tied to the Texas Longhorns. He took over a team that had struggled in recent years and set about implementing his vision. From the very beginning, Royal sought to build a program that was both physically imposing and strategically innovative. He wanted his teams to be known for their toughness, discipline, and ability to perform under pressure, and he instilled these values into every player who passed through the program.
The 1960s were a period of rapid success for Royal and the Longhorns. Under his leadership, Texas quickly became one of the most dominant teams in college football. The hallmark of Royal’s coaching was his ability to adapt and evolve with the changing nature of the game. One of his most significant contributions to football was his use of the Wishbone offense, a revolutionary approach that would change the landscape of college football for years to come.
The Wishbone offense, a triple-option system that used three running backs behind the quarterback, was a departure from the traditional pro-style offenses that were prevalent at the time. The system placed a premium on flexibility, misdirection, and ball control, and it played to the strengths of the players Royal had at his disposal. Under the Wishbone, the Longhorns were able to dominate the line of scrimmage and keep opposing defenses off balance. The system was so successful that it became a template for other teams across the country, with many colleges adopting the offense in the years that followed.
Royal’s implementation of the Wishbone offense was not just about X’s and O’s; it also reflected his deep understanding of his players and their abilities. One of the hallmarks of Royal’s coaching philosophy was his ability to get the most out of his players, regardless of their individual talent. He was known for his ability to motivate and inspire his players, often pushing them to exceed their limits while fostering a strong sense of unity and camaraderie within the team. His leadership style was often described as a blend of tough love and genuine care for his players’ well-being, and it was this balance that made him such an effective coach.
The success that Royal enjoyed at Texas was not limited to the X’s and O’s of the game. His ability to recruit was another key factor in his success. Royal was known for his ability to identify talent, not just in Texas, but across the entire nation. He had an uncanny ability to find diamonds in the rough—players who might not have been highly recruited by other schools but who fit his system perfectly. His recruiting prowess was particularly evident in his ability to bring in top-tier quarterbacks and running backs, positions that were critical to the success of the Wishbone offense.
Over the course of his 20-year tenure at Texas, Royal developed a reputation for building strong, cohesive teams that were difficult to beat. His teams were characterized by their physicality, discipline, and mental toughness. Royal’s players were known for playing with an edge, and they often relished the opportunity to take on the toughest opponents in the country. Under his guidance, the Longhorns won multiple Southwest Conference titles and consistently competed for national championships.
One of the defining moments of Royal’s career came in 1969, when the Longhorns were able to capture the national championship in one of the most memorable games in college football history. The game in question was the legendary “Game of the Century” between the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks, two of the most dominant teams in college football at the time. Arkansas was ranked No. 1 in the nation, while Texas was No. 2, and the two teams faced off in a battle that would determine the national champion. Texas won the game 15-14, in a hard-fought, physical contest that became one of the most iconic moments in college football history. The victory not only secured the national title for Texas, but it also cemented Royal’s place in the annals of coaching greatness.
Royal’s success wasn’t just limited to individual games or seasons. He built a program that was consistently competitive over the course of two decades. From 1957 to 1976, Texas was a perennial powerhouse, finishing in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll every year from 1961 to 1976. Royal’s teams were known for their consistency, and his ability to keep the Longhorns competitive year after year was a testament to his leadership and coaching acumen. His teams were never caught off guard by inferior opponents, and they were always ready for the biggest games of the season.
However, Royal’s coaching career wasn’t without its challenges. The pressures of coaching at a major program like Texas could be immense, and Royal was no stranger to the highs and lows that came with it. There were seasons where the team underperformed, and there were moments of frustration and disappointment. But what set Royal apart from many other coaches was his ability to weather the storms and come out stronger on the other side. He never allowed one loss to define his teams or his legacy, and he always emphasized the importance of staying focused on the bigger picture.
Despite his many successes, Royal was known for being humble and never taking sole credit for the team’s achievements. He often deflected praise to his players and assistants, acknowledging that football was a team sport and that no one person could take credit for the success of a program. This humility, along with his genuine care for his players, endeared him to the Texas community and to college football fans across the country. Royal was a man who understood the importance of building relationships, and he maintained close connections with his former players long after they had left the program.
Royal’s impact on college football extended beyond his own teams. His coaching tree—comprising former players and assistants who went on to become successful coaches in their own right—is a testament to his influence on the sport. Many of his former assistants went on to become head coaches at other schools, and several of his former players went on to have successful careers in the NFL. This further cemented Royal’s legacy as a coach who not only built great teams but also helped to shape the next generation of coaching talent.
As his career progressed, Royal became a beloved figure in the state of Texas. He was known not just as a football coach but as a leader and a symbol of pride for the University of Texas and its athletic program. His commitment to excellence, his innovation on the field, and his deep connection to the Longhorns community made him one of the most respected figures in college football. His legendary status was further solidified in 1977 when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Royal retired from coaching after the 1976 season, leaving behind a legacy that would be difficult for any coach to replicate. In his 20 years at Texas, he compiled a remarkable record of 167-47-5, winning 11 Southwest Conference championships and three national titles. His ability to adapt to changing times, his strategic brilliance, and his dedication to his players made him one of the most successful and influential coaches in the history of the sport. Even after his retirement, Royal remained involved in the Texas football program, offering advice and support to his successors and continuing to serve as an ambassador for the university.
Darrell Royal passed away on November 7, 2012, but his legacy lives on. The University of Texas, the Longhorns football program, and college football as a whole owe a great debt to the work he did during his two decades as head coach. Royal’s contributions to the sport are immeasurable, and his impact continues to be felt to this day. His leadership, his innovations, and his commitment to excellence set a standard that college football coaches continue to strive for, making Darrell Royal not only a legend in Texas but a legend in the sport of football itself.
