Northwestern University Athletics
Gary Barnett Elected to Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame
8/5/2015 2:10:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. -- He came in Evanston in 1992 and declared he would take the Purple to Pasadena. In 1995, he did just that. After leading one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history, former Wildcats head coach Gary Barnett has been elected to the Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2015.
Northwestern will celebrate Hall of Fame weekend Sept. 25-26 surrounding the Wildcats' home football game against Ball State at Ryan Field. The induction ceremony and dinner will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston. The induction is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Katie Brown in Northwestern's Athletic Development office at kathryn.brown@northwestern.edu or 847-491-7491.
The entire class then will be honored at the 7 p.m. football game against the Cardinals the next day.
Barnett not only led the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl and the Citrus Bowl -- their first major Bowl Game appearances since 1949 -- he also won a pair of Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996, which were the school's first since 1936.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for his two championship runs. His 1995 team went undefeated in Big Ten play and 10-2 overall, sending the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl while earning national coach of the year honors from eight different organizations.
His program repeated the Big Ten Championship feat in 1996 with a 7-1 mark, earning a trip to the New Year's Day Florida Citrus Bowl. Barnett was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
ABOUT THE NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: The Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1984 to honor former athletes, coaches and administrators who have helped establish a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Northwestern. Individuals are eligible for Hall of Fame recognition beginning five years after their final competition at NU. For more information and to view the complete membership, visit the NUsports.com Hall of Fame website.
Northwestern will celebrate Hall of Fame weekend Sept. 25-26 surrounding the Wildcats' home football game against Ball State at Ryan Field. The induction ceremony and dinner will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Hotel Orrington in Evanston. The induction is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Katie Brown in Northwestern's Athletic Development office at kathryn.brown@northwestern.edu or 847-491-7491.
The entire class then will be honored at the 7 p.m. football game against the Cardinals the next day.
Barnett not only led the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl and the Citrus Bowl -- their first major Bowl Game appearances since 1949 -- he also won a pair of Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996, which were the school's first since 1936.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for his two championship runs. His 1995 team went undefeated in Big Ten play and 10-2 overall, sending the Wildcats to the Rose Bowl while earning national coach of the year honors from eight different organizations.
His program repeated the Big Ten Championship feat in 1996 with a 7-1 mark, earning a trip to the New Year's Day Florida Citrus Bowl. Barnett was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second-straight season.
ABOUT THE NORTHWESTERN ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME: The Northwestern Athletics Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 1984 to honor former athletes, coaches and administrators who have helped establish a proud tradition in intercollegiate competition at Northwestern. Individuals are eligible for Hall of Fame recognition beginning five years after their final competition at NU. For more information and to view the complete membership, visit the NUsports.com Hall of Fame website.
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