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Frank Solich (born September 8 , 1944 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania , U.S. ) is the head Football coach of the Ohio Bobcats . SOLICH'S TIME AT OHIO Solich's impact on the Ohio program was immediate, as plans were put in place to renovate Ohio's football facilities and increase financial support for the football program. Also, Ohio was selected to appear on national television 6 times for the 2005 football season, a record for the program. Frank Solich's first home game as coach of Ohio was a memorable one, as Peden Stadium brought in its largest ever crowd on September 9 , 2005 , when 24,545 fans were in attendance to watch the Bobcats defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 16-10. The Pitt-Ohio game also ranks among the most viewed regular season college football games ever on ESPN2. While Ohio's 2005 record under Solich (4-7) was the same as the Bobcats' record in the previous year under Brian Knorr , in 2006 Solich led the Bobcats to a 9-5 record including a MAC East Division Title and a GMAC Bowl bid. The bowl game, which Ohio lost 28-7, was the program's first bowl appearance since 1968. Ohio football coach Frank Solich pleaded no contest and was convicted 11/28/05 of DUI in Athens, Ohio. Solich, 61, appeared to be passed out when police found him in the vehicle, which was facing the wrong direction on a one-way street and in drive, according to a police report. The report said Solich had trouble figuring out to how to roll down the window, had difficulty understanding simple questions and was unsteady on his feet. He refused to take a breath test. Solich was ordered to to complete a three-day intervention, had his license suspended for 180 days, and paid a $250 fine. For its part, Ohio University is standing behind the Bobcats coach: “I know Frank as a man of impeccable integrity,” Ohio athletic director Kirby Hocutt said in the statement, “and I am confident that he will respond to this situation in a positive manner and use these circumstances to better teach others, including his players, the importance of making wise decisions.” BACKGROUND INFORMATION A native of Cleveland, Ohio , Solich prepped at Holy Name High School where he earned all-state, All-America and all-scholastic honors. He was a part of Bob Devaney ’s first recruiting class at Nebraska , and became a standout for the Huskers in the mid-1960’s. An All- Big Eight Fullback and co- Captain of the Huskers’ 1965 team, his playing career earned him induction into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1992. In NU's 27-17 win over Air Force in 1965, he ran for 204 yards on 17 carries, becoming the first Husker to run for 200 yards in a game, and subsequently the first Husker to be featured on the cover of '' Sports Illustrated ''. Solich is married to the former Pamela Wieck, of Beatrice, Nebraska , and they have two children, Cindy and Jeff. Cindy and her husband, Jon Dalton, have a daughter, Catherine, and two sons, Aaron and Jacob. Jeff and his wife Chara have a son, Cade. HIGH SCHOOL COACHING He began his career in the Nebraska prep ranks, as head coach at Holy Name High School in Omaha in 1966 and 1967 . His 1967 team was state runner-up. Solich then moved to Lincoln Southeast. In 11 years at Southeast, he compiled a record of 66-33-5 while capturing back-to-back Class A state titles in 1976 and 1977. NEBRASKA ROOTS Prior to coming to Ohio, Solich spent many years as a part of the University Of Nebraska football program, as a player, an assistant coach, and later as the head coach. Solich was the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1998 - 2003 . He directed the Cornhusker program to six consecutive Bowl Game s, including the national championship game in the 2002 Rose Bowl . Nebraska won at least nine games in five of those six seasons, and finished among the top 10 teams in the nation three times. Coach Solich compiled a 58 - 19 record at Nebraska. Solich claimed Big 12 Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors in both 1999 and 2001 , and was one of seven finalists for the Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach-of-the-Year Award in 2001. Prior to becoming head coach, Solich spent 19 seasons as an assistant under Tom Osborne . In Solich’s 19 years as an assistant, the Huskers captured three national championships, all with Solich as assistant head coach. Nebraska also won 11 conference titles. EXTERNAL LINKS
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