John Majors (2019) - Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame

John Majors

Induction:
2019

Majors, who coached the Panthers from 1973-76 and again from 1993-96, will forever be remembered as the architect of Pitt's ninth football national title. In four years, Majors transformed Pitt from a 1-10 outfit in 1972 to an undefeated national champion in 1976. Majors' first recruiting class–which included tailback Tony Dorsett–would be the foundation for the Panthers' resurrection. His first season on the Pitt sideline witnessed a 6-5-1 mark and Fiesta Bowl berth, the Panthers' first postseason invite in 17 years. In 1975, Pitt went 8-4, climaxing the campaign with a 33-19 victory over Kansas in the Sun Bowl. The rebuilding job was now complete, setting the stage for the triumphant 1976 season. Pitt steamrolled through all 12 of its opponents, including a 31-10 thumping of Notre Dame in the opener, a 24-7 rout of Penn State in the regular-season finale, and a 27-3 demolition of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Majors finished his 29-year coaching career (which included tenures at Tennessee and Iowa State) with 185 victories and 16 bowl invitations.