IRVING, Texas (Jan. 25, 2020) – Gene Corrigan, the retired commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the 1996 National Football Foundation (NFF) Gold Medal recipient who served as the chairman of the NFF Honors Court for 24 years, passed away Jan. 24 in Charlottesville, Va. He was 91.
 
Corrigan became one of the most influential people in college athletics during a career that began after his graduation from Duke University in 1952 and spanned more than 60 years. In addition to his ten-year stint as the commissioner of the ACC, he served as NCCA president and athletics director at Washington and Lee University (VA), University of Virginia and University of Notre Dame.
 
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gene Corrigan," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "During a distinguished career, Gene developed a profound respect from his colleagues, and the NFF benefited greatly by having him on our board. He possessed an unequalled breath of knowledge, and he was one of the few people who could always keep the train on course. His contributions to the NFF and all of college athletics are numerous, and we are forever grateful. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time of loss."
 
Corrigan joined the NFF Honors Court in 1982, which is responsible for selecting the College Football Hall of Fame inductees, and he served for 33 years, including 24 years as chairman from 1992 to 2015. In 1989, he accepted a position as member of the NFF Board of Directors, serving until 2015 before assuming emeritus status, which he maintained until his passing.
 
"Gene Corrigan added immense credibility to everything the National Football Foundation sought to accomplish," said Emeritus NFF Chairman Jon F. Hanson who led the organization from 1994-2006. "Nobody possessed more integrity and commitment to a fair process than Gene. Without question, his reputation enabled us to attract many of college football's most knowledgeable individuals to serve on the NFF Honors Court. His contributions to the Hall of Fame are simply enormous. He was a wonderful person on every level."
 
In 1996, the NFF presented Corrigan the NFF Gold Medal, the organization's highest honor, recognizing his enormous contributions to all of college athletics. A force at the local as well, the NFF Corrigan/Faircloth Chapter carries his name in recognition of his commitment (alongside former football official Bradley Faircloth) in fulfilling the organization's efforts at the grassroots level in Greensboro, North Carolina.
 
Chuck Neinas, who serves on the NFF Board and headed the Big Eight Conference, worked with Corrigan as leaders of the College Football Association (CFA) during the 1984 landmark University of Georgia-University of Oklahoma lawsuit against the NCAA, which gave the schools control of their college football television property rights.
 
"We could not ask for a better ambassador for college athletics because he exemplified what we should all strive to be – his personality, his intelligence and his understanding," said Neinas. "He was outgoing and had great person-to-person ability. He was very fair and an enjoyable person to be with and a winner in all ways. There is no question he had the best interest of the young people foremost is his mind. He was just a good, good man, fun to be with, and a strong and really good family man. He and Lena have a great family, and I can't say enough great things about Gene Corrigan."
 
"Gene was a friend and mentor when I was a young commissioner, taking me under his wing with invaluable advice, and he remained so for decades," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "He was so good for college athletics and when things would get heated, he would always say: 'Aren't we being silly here and can't we get this worked out.' On the Honors Court, he would always take a step back and say: 'How are we doing on geography, position, race? Are we balanced?' All the things he implemented; we still practice today."
 
Corrigan assumed his role as the commissioner of the ACC on September 1, 1987 and led the conference until his retirement in December 1996. In addition to his duties as Commissioner, Corrigan also served as the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 1995-97.
 
"When Gene hired me at the University of Virginia straight out of graduate school, it was one of the luckiest days of my life," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford, who currently serves on the NFF Board. "That day began a relationship and mentorship that lasted nearly half a century. Simply put, Gene was one of the most remarkable individuals, and leaders, I have ever known. His impact on the ACC and college athletics was profound and immeasurable, only surpassed by his impact on the individuals he positively affected - and there are a multitude of us. I will miss him immensely, but I am so grateful to have had him as a mentor, boss, friend and colleague for so many years."
 
During his 10 years as Commissioner, he forged a path of progressive leadership for both the league and college athletics as a whole. In the fall of 1990, Corrigan engineered the successful addition of the league's ninth member, Florida State University. He was also one of the driving forces behind the formation of the Football Bowl Alliance, which at the time guaranteed a major bowl commitment for the ACC champion.
 
Corrigan began his collegiate career in 1955 as an assistant coach of basketball, soccer and lacrosse at Washington and Lee University. Three years later, he began his first association with the University of Virginia as the head lacrosse and soccer coach and assistant basketball coach. He relinquished his assistant coaching duties in basketball after three years and began working as Virginia's Sports Information Director.
 
He returned to Washington and Lee as Athletics Director in 1969. After two years, he returned to Virginia for a 10-year stint – this time as a Director of Athletics. He left Virginia in 1981 to become Director of Athletics at the University of Notre Dame, where he remained until 1987.
 
Along the way, Corrigan served as the ACC Service Bureau Director under Commissioner Jim Weaver from July 1, 1967 until June 1, 1969. He was the office's third full-time employee.
 
After graduation from Loyola High School in Baltimore in 1946, Corrigan joined the United States Army and served an 18-month stint. Following his discharge, he enrolled at Duke University where he received a degree in liberal arts in 1952. A four-year starter on Duke's lacrosse team, he was inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame on April 20, 1991.
 
In addition to the NFF Gold Medal, Corrigan has been recognized by countless organizations for his service to college athletics including Duke University Alumnus of the Year (1996), National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1993, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
Corrigan is survived by his wife Lena (married 66 years/April 6, 1953), children Louise (Scott Wawner), Kathryn (Tony Zentgraf); David (Jean), Kevin (Lis), Brian (Kathy), Timothy (Jackie) and Boo (Kristen), 19 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Details on a memorial service are incomplete at this time.
 
(Written with content from a Jan. 25 ACC press release.)