Neyland Greenway History

Robert Reese Neyland (February 17, 1892 – March 28, 1962) was an American football coach and also served the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of General.

He was born in Greenville, Texas and was appointed to West Point by Congressman Sam Rayburn, graduating in 1916. He was a football and baseball star during his time there. He was commissioned as an officer in the Corps of Engineers and served in France during World War I. After the war he served as an aide to Douglas MacArthur, then superintendent at West Point, and became an assistant football coach.

In an effort to continue coaching, he became Professor of Military Science at the University of Tennessee. Neyland became head coach of the Volunteers in 1926. He coached the team for nine years and was then called to military service for one year in Panama. He then retired from the military and returned to Tennessee to coach.

Under his direction, the Volunteers went undefeated in 1938 and 1939. Neyland was again called to military service in 1941. In 1946, he retired from military service a second time with the rank of brigadier general. He returned as the Volunteers coach through 1952. Neyland led the team to a national championship in 1951. He then served as athletic director at the university until his death.

Neyland remains the all-time winningest coach in Volunteer history with 173 wins in 213 games, 6 Southeastern Conference championships, and 4 national championships. Neyland Stadium, the football stadium at the University of Tennessee, was designed by the coach and named in his honor.

General Neyland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1956. He is also famous for composing the "7 Maxims of Football."