ESPN 150 Greatest Coaches

La Crosse, Wis. - Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head football coach Roger Harring has been named to ESPN's list of the 150 greatest coaches in college football's 150-year history.  Harring is 92nd on the list, selected by a panel of 150 media members, administrators and former players and coaches.  

Harring started his coaching career at UWL in 1969, serving as head coach for 31 years until his retirement after the 1999 season.  He posted a 261-75-7 record during his tenure at UWL, winning three national championships. His 261 victories ranks 17th in the history of college football at any level and fifth among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III coaches entering the 2019 season.  

The 261 victories are the most in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) history.     

The Eagles won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II title in 1985 with a 24-7 victory over Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) and won their first NCAA Division III national championship in 1992 after a 16-12 win over Washington & Jefferson College (Pa.) to become the first school in college football to win an NAIA II title and an NCAA III title.  The program added another NCAA III Championship with a 36-7 victory over Rowan University (N.J.) in 1995.  In addition, the Eagles made 14 playoff appearances during Harring's career, compiling an overall record of 23-11, including 13-5 in NCAA III post-season play.     

UWL placed first or second in the WIAC 25 times under Harring, winning the title 15 seasons.  He finished with a 182-44-7 record against conference opponents and was named the WIAC Coach of the Year seven times.     

A native of Green Bay, Wis., Harring has received numerous awards and honors during his career.  In 1992 and 1995 he was chosen as the national Chevrolet Division III Coach of the Year.  In 1995, he also received the Division III Coach of the Year honor from his peers in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).     

He was enshrined into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012 and into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.  Harring was inducted into the NAIA District Hall of Fame in 1989, the same year he was enshrined into the UWL Wall of Fame.  In 1998, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.  And in 1999, Harring was enshrined into the Wisconsin Rapids High School Hall of Fame.     

In spring 1987, Harring coached the Bologna, Italy, Dovers professional team through a 12-0 season and became the first American coach to go undefeated in the regular season.     

Harring earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from UWL in 1958.  He earned two football letters (1955-56).