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Lee Corso

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Lee Corso

Lee Richard Corso (born August 7, 1935) is an American former college football coach and analyst. He is best known for appearing on ESPN's College GameDay program from its inception in 1987 until his retirement in August 2025. Corso served as the head football coach at the University of Louisville from 1969 to 1972, at Indiana University from 1973 to 1982, and at Northern Illinois University in 1984, compiling a career college football coaching record of 73–85–6. He was the head coach for the Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League in 1985, tallying a mark of 5–13.

Infobox

1958
Florida State (GA)
1984
Northern Illinois
1985
Orlando Renegades
Born
(1935-08-07) August 7, 1935 (age 90)Cicero, Illinois, U.S.
1953–1957
Florida State
Positions
Quarterback, cornerback
1959–1965
Maryland (QB)
1966–1968
Navy (DB)
1969–1972
Louisville
1973–1982
Indiana
Overall
73–85–6 (college)5–13 (USFL)
Bowls
1–0–1

Tables

· Head coaching record › College
Louisville Cardinals (Missouri Valley Conference) (1969–1972)
Louisville Cardinals (Missouri Valley Conference) (1969–1972)
Year
Louisville Cardinals (Missouri Valley Conference) (1969–1972)
1969
1969
Year
1969
Team
Louisville
Overall
5–4–1
Conference
2–3
Standing
T–3rd
1970
1970
Year
1970
Team
Louisville
Overall
8–3–1
Conference
4–0
Standing
1st
Bowl/playoffs
T Pasadena
1971
1971
Year
1971
Team
Louisville
Overall
6–3–1
Conference
3–2
Standing
T–2nd
1972
1972
Year
1972
Team
Louisville
Overall
9–1
Conference
4–1
Standing
T–1st
Coaches#
16
AP°
18
Louisville:
Louisville:
Year
Louisville:
Team
28–11–3
Overall
13–6
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (1973–1982)
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (1973–1982)
Year
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (1973–1982)
1973
1973
Year
1973
Team
Indiana
Overall
2–9
Conference
0–8
Standing
T–9th
1974
1974
Year
1974
Team
Indiana
Overall
1–10
Conference
1–7
Standing
10th
1975
1975
Year
1975
Team
Indiana
Overall
2–8–1
Conference
1–6–1
Standing
10th
1976
1976
Year
1976
Team
Indiana
Overall
5–6
Conference
4–4
Standing
T–3rd
1977
1977
Year
1977
Team
Indiana
Overall
5–5–1
Conference
4–3–1
Standing
4th
1978
1978
Year
1978
Team
Indiana
Overall
4–7
Conference
3–5
Standing
7th
1979
1979
Year
1979
Team
Indiana
Overall
8–4
Conference
5–3
Standing
4th
Bowl/playoffs
W Holiday
Coaches#
16
AP°
19
1980
1980
Year
1980
Team
Indiana
Overall
6–5
Conference
3–5
Standing
T–6th
1981
1981
Year
1981
Team
Indiana
Overall
3–8
Conference
3–6
Standing
9th
1982
1982
Year
1982
Team
Indiana
Overall
5–6
Conference
4–5
Standing
6th
Indiana:
Indiana:
Year
Indiana:
Team
41–68–2
Overall
27–53–2
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference) (1984)
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference) (1984)
Year
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference) (1984)
1984
1984
Year
1984
Team
Northern Illinois
Overall
4–6–1
Conference
3–5–1
Standing
5th
Northern Illinois:
Northern Illinois:
Year
Northern Illinois:
Team
4–6–1
Overall
3–5–1
Total:
Total:
Year
Total:
Team
73–85–6
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
Year
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
mw- .mw- #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
mw- .mw- #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
mw- .mw- #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
Year
Team
Overall
Conference
Standing
Bowl/playoffs
Coaches#
AP°
Louisville Cardinals (Missouri Valley Conference) (1969–1972)
1969
Louisville
5–4–1
2–3
T–3rd
1970
Louisville
8–3–1
4–0
1st
T Pasadena
1971
Louisville
6–3–1
3–2
T–2nd
1972
Louisville
9–1
4–1
T–1st
16
18
Louisville:
28–11–3
13–6
Indiana Hoosiers (Big Ten Conference) (1973–1982)
1973
Indiana
2–9
0–8
T–9th
1974
Indiana
1–10
1–7
10th
1975
Indiana
2–8–1
1–6–1
10th
1976
Indiana
5–6
4–4
T–3rd
1977
Indiana
5–5–1
4–3–1
4th
1978
Indiana
4–7
3–5
7th
1979
Indiana
8–4
5–3
4th
W Holiday
16
19
1980
Indiana
6–5
3–5
T–6th
1981
Indiana
3–8
3–6
9th
1982
Indiana
5–6
4–5
6th
Indiana:
41–68–2
27–53–2
Northern Illinois Huskies (Mid-American Conference) (1984)
1984
Northern Illinois
4–6–1
3–5–1
5th
Northern Illinois:
4–6–1
3–5–1
Total:
73–85–6
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth
mw- #Rankings from final Coaches Poll. °Rankings from final AP Poll.
· Head coaching record › USFL
Won
Won
Team
Won
Year
Lost
Regular Season
Ties
Regular Season
Win %
Regular Season
Finish
Regular Season
Won
Regular Season
Lost
Postseason
Win %
ORL
ORL
Team
ORL
Year
1985
Regular Season
5
Regular Season
13
Regular Season
0
Regular Season
288
Regular Season
7th in Eastern Con.
Postseason
0
Postseason
0
Postseason
000
Total
Total
Team
Total
Year
5
Regular Season
13
Regular Season
0
Regular Season
228
Team
Year
Regular Season
Postseason
Won
Lost
Ties
Win %
Finish
Won
Lost
Win %
ORL
1985
5
13
0
288
7th in Eastern Con.
0
0
000
Total
5
13
0
228

References

  1. Vires
    https://issuu.com/fsualumni/docs/vires_spring_2012
  2. tribunedigital-orlandosentinel
    https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2009/08/02/life-and-times-of-lee-corso/
  3. "Lee Corso"
    https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerc/cors00400.html
  4. The Courier-Journal & Times
    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34680964/the-courier-journal/
  5. orlandomagazine.com
    http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/October-2013/Funny-Business/
  6. Alumni Hall of Fame: Lee Corso Archived June 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, accessed Ma
    http://www.bgca.org/whoweare/alumni/AHOF/Pages/LeeCorso.aspx
  7. "2002 Record Book"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110702/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/fsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/02Records-DefandSpecialTeam.pdf
  8. Tom D'Angelo, "Barriers made to be broken" Archived July 22, 2012, at archive.today University of Maryland Terrapins Off
    http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102506aad.html
  9. Don't Let 'em Wear You Down!, SI.com
    https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/11/14/dont-let-em-wear-you-down
  10. "Fired Indiana football coach Lee Corso has been asked... - UPI Archives"
    https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/08/Fired-Indiana-football-coach-Lee-Corso-has-been-asked/7580410850000/
  11. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38394895/lee-corso-college-football-college-gameday
  12. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44713375/lee-corso-sign-college-gameday-analyst-august
  13. Cole's Gameday Blog
    https://gamedaycole.com/corsos-headgear-record/
  14. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/08/30/lee-corso-former-teams-undefeated-college-gameday-football/85916287007/
  15. Game Vortex
    http://www.gamevortex.com/gamevortex/soft_rev.php/4689/ncaa-football-10-xbox-360.html
  16. USA Today
    https://web.archive.org/web/20051223065738/https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-04-20-corso-cover_x.htm
  17. ESPN Press Room
    https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/corso_lee/
  18. ESPN MediaZone
    http://espnmediazone.com/us/bios/corso_lee/
  19. palmbeachpost.com
    http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/sports/college/after-a-stroke-lee-corso-bounces-back-to-resume-hi/nLk54/
  20. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/10/14/not-so-fast-my-friend-a-stroke-couldnt-rob-espns-lee-corso-of-college-gameday/
  21. SI.com
    https://www.si.com/college/2018/09/06/lee-corso-statement-burt-reynolds-death
  22. Men's Journal
    http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/lee-corsos-life-advice-20151002
  23. Seminoles.com
    https://seminoles.com/sports/2017/7/4/hall-of-fame
  24. GoCards.com
    https://gocards.com/honors/athletics-hall-of-fame/lee-corso/46
  25. IUHoosiers.com
    https://iuhoosiers.com/honors/indiana-university-athletics-hall-of-fame/induction
  26. Florida Sports Hall of Fame
    https://flasportshof.org/fshofmember/lee-corso/
  27. ESPN Press Room
    https://espnpressroom.com/us/bios/corso_lee/
  28. National Sports Media Association
    https://nationalsportsmedia.org/news/corso-plaschke-kelly-angell-voted-into-nsma-hall-of-fame
  29. "Lee Corso Honored with NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award"
    https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2010/08/lee-corso-honored-with-ncfaa-contributions-to-college-football-award/
  30. "ESPN's Lee Corso To Receive 2026 AFCA Amos Alonzo Stagg Award"
    https://www.afca.com/espns-lee-corso-to-receive-2026-afca-amos-alonzo-stagg-award/
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