Miami University

Weeb Ewbank archives donated to Miami

02/16/2000

The extensive personal archives of legendary football coach Weeb Ewbank will be housed at his alma mater, Miami University, thanks to the generosity of two Miami alumni.

The collection comprises personal items dating from 1929-1989, including copies of game plans and pre-game speeches.

After his death in 1998, Ewbank’s family sold his extensive collection of memorabilia through a Chicago auction house. Two alumni from the Urbana, Ohio area--Gerald Stout (’52) and Nick Selvaggio (‘88)--subsequently purchased the collection for donation to Miami.

"I felt like the Weeb Ewbank items belonged at Miami, which I know is proud of all Weeb accomplished," said Stout. Added Selvaggio, "This donation is just two alums’ way of trying to preserve the historical significance of Weeb’s contributions to the football world."

This will be Miami’s largest collection of items relating to sports, according to Daniel Layman, senior associate director of divisional support, calling the donation a kind of "homecoming" for Ewbank at Miami.

Mark Sandy, associate director of intercollegiate athletics at Miami, called the donation of "this important and valuable collection" a wonderful gesture.

Ewbank, a 1928 graduate of Miami, became head coach of the Baltimore Colts in 1954, leading them to become NFL champions in 1958 and 1959. He took over as head coach and general manager of the New York Jets in 1962, winning the Super Bowl in 1969. He retired in 1973 as the only coach to have won both NFL and AFL titles. Ewbank was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1978.

The Ewbank collection will be cataloged and available to the public at the University Archives in Withrow Hall, by this summer.