Gary Barnett (Football Coach, 1992-98)
Northwestern’s head football coach who memorably took the Purple to Pasadena in 1995 not only led the Wildcats to their first major Bowl Game appearances since 1949, he also won a pair of Big Ten Championships in 1995 and 1996—the school’s first since 1936.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history. 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.
Barnett arrived in 1992 and spent much of his first three seasons building the foundation for one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football history. 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.
