Carmen Cozza
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Biography
b . June 10, 1930
Years at Miami: 1948-1952; 1956-1962
Alma Mater: Miami University (1952)
Career Record: 187-120-5 (60.7%)
Born on June 10, 1930 in Parma, Ohio to Italian immigrants, Carmen (Carm) Cozza was the youngest of five children and the only boy. His parents, James and Carbita Cozza, came to American from Italy with their parents when they were children. Cozza met his future wife, Jean, in second grade: they lived on the same block. They would eventually get married after they both graduated from college (Jean graduated from Ohio State) on June 28, 1952. They had three daughters: Kris, Karen and Kathy. Growing up Cozza played sports as often as he could and he was quite good at them too. At Parma-Schaff High School he played football, basketball, baseball and also ran a little track. He was an eleven time letter winner as well as team captain in basketball and baseball, MVP in football and baseball and class president. His senior year of high school he was offered a scholarship to play football and baseball (his better sport) at Miami.
While at Miami, Cozza was coached by George Blackburn, Woody Hayes and Ara Parseghian. He also roomed with fellow player, and future coach John Pont (who would later be the best man at Cozza’s wedding). When Cozza left Miami he was the Miami record holder for interceptions in a game (4), season (6) and career (12).
Cozza finished his career with a record of 179-119-5 (59.9%) and 135-85-5 (61.1%) in the Ivy League (with ten conference championships), and, possibly more importantly, a winning record against Harvard (16-15-1). He coached five Rhodes Scholars (Tom Neville, Kurt Schmoke, Bill Crowley, Roosevelt Thompson and Chris Brown), 15 NFL players, 96 All-Ivy League players, 6 Ivy-League MVP’s. Another amazing statistic, and in my opinion, the most impressive: over 99% of his players received degrees. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Awards & Accomplishments
- Miami University Hall of Fame (1970)
- Walter Camp Distinguished American Award (1992)
- Miami University Cradle of Coaches Hall of Fame (1998)
- College Football Hall of Fame (2002)
Career Overview
|
Year |
Team |
W |
L |
T |
% |
|
1952 |
Miami University Graduate Assistant (Ara Parseghian) |
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|
1953 |
Gilmour High School Assistant (Ray Janasek) |
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|
1954 |
Collinwood High School Assistant (????) |
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|
1955 |
Gilmour High School* |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.8% |
|
Gilmour Totals |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.8% |
|
|
1956 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1957 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1958 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1959 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1960 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1961 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
||||
|
1962 |
Miami University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1963 |
Yale University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1964 |
Yale University Assistant (John Pont) |
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|
1965 |
Yale University |
3 |
6 |
0 |
33.3% |
|
1966 |
Yale University |
4 |
5 |
0 |
44.4% |
|
1967 |
Yale University* |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.9% |
|
1968 |
Yale University* |
8 |
0 |
1 |
94.4% |
|
1969 |
Yale University* |
7 |
2 |
0 |
77.8% |
|
1970 |
Yale University |
7 |
2 |
0 |
77.8% |
|
1971 |
Yale University |
4 |
5 |
0 |
44.4% |
|
1972 |
Yale University |
7 |
2 |
0 |
77.8% |
|
1973 |
Yale University |
6 |
3 |
0 |
66.7% |
|
1974 |
Yale University* |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.9% |
|
1975 |
Yale University |
7 |
2 |
0 |
77.8% |
|
1976 |
Yale University* |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.9% |
|
1977 |
Yale University* |
7 |
2 |
0 |
77.8% |
|
1978 |
Yale University |
5 |
2 |
2 |
66.7% |
|
1979 |
Yale University* |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.9% |
|
1980 |
Yale University* |
8 |
2 |
0 |
80.0% |
|
1981 |
Yale University* |
9 |
1 |
0 |
90.0% |
|
1982 |
Yale University |
4 |
6 |
0 |
40.0% |
|
1983 |
Yale University |
1 |
9 |
0 |
10.0% |
|
1984 |
Yale University |
6 |
3 |
0 |
66.7% |
|
1985 |
Yale University |
4 |
4 |
1 |
50.0% |
|
1986 |
Yale University |
3 |
7 |
0 |
30.0% |
|
1987 |
Yale University |
7 |
3 |
0 |
70.0% |
|
1988 |
Yale University |
3 |
6 |
1 |
35.0% |
|
1989 |
Yale University* |
8 |
2 |
0 |
80.0% |
|
1990 |
Yale University |
6 |
4 |
0 |
60.0% |
|
1991 |
Yale University |
6 |
4 |
0 |
60.0% |
|
1992 |
Yale University |
4 |
6 |
0 |
40.0% |
|
1993 |
Yale University |
3 |
7 |
0 |
30.0% |
|
1994 |
Yale University |
5 |
5 |
0 |
50.0% |
|
1995 |
Yale University |
3 |
7 |
0 |
30.0% |
|
1996 |
Yale University |
2 |
8 |
0 |
20.0% |
|
Yale Totals |
179 |
119 |
5 |
59.9% |
|
|
High School Totals |
8 |
1 |
0 |
88.9% |
|
|
NCAA Totals |
179 |
119 |
5 |
59.9% |
|
|
Career Totals |
187 |
120 |
5 |
60.7% |
|
|
*denotes Conference Championship |
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