IOWA CITY, Iowa – Sixty-nine years old.
Young enough to be a movie star if you're Paul Newman.
Young enough to be president if you're Ronald Reagan.
Young enough to be hip if you're Tony Bennett.
But try coaching at 69 and watch the vultures circle.
There aren't many Hayden Frys left in college football. Joe Paterno at Penn State. Bobby Bowden at Florida State. LaVell Edwards at Brigham Young. All winning at a younger man's game.
Iowa's Fry is 69, proud of it and not too keen on the idea of a rocking chair.
"All coaches would like to coach forever," Fry said. "I really believe that."
The Big Ten's dean of coaches gets asked about retirement all the time. Fry's answer is always the same: He doesn't know.
"Even my wife (Shirley) asks," Fry said. "She has a lot of say, but it doesn't mean I'm going to listen. I always acknowledge her. I always say, 'I hear you.' "
Iowa is in no hurry for Fry to retire. He has a multi-year, rollover contract. He can stay as long as he wants.
Fry built the Iowa program to its current stature. When he got there in '79, the school hadn't had a winning season in 18 years.
"When I went to Iowa, if Iowa made a first down, the whole stadium stood up and applauded," Fry said.
Three years later, Fry had them in the Rose Bowl.
Today, the school sells out its home games. The Hawkeyes have been to bowls 14 of Fry's 19 seasons.
Changing course
Three so-so seasons in the early '90s had some talking that it might be time for Fry to go. Iowa went 16-18-1 during the stretch.
Opposing coaches began to use Fry's age against him in recruiting.
"Ever since I turned 60, some of the other colleges would tell a prospect, 'You don't want to go to Iowa. Coach Fry's not going to be there,' " Fry said. "That's been nine years."
Even with the age talk, Fry managed to bring in top players. Iowa City prep star Tim Dwight stayed home to play for the Hawkeyes. Tavian Banks came over from Bettendorf. And Jared DeVries popped down from Aplington.
Fry didn't want to go out with a wimper. He made a few nips and tucks in the Iowa program and pushed the team back toward the top. The last three years, the Hawkeyes are 24-12.
"I have one ambition and that is when I do leave, I leave the program in real good shape," Fry said. "That's really important because I put in too much blood and sweat to build it to where it is."
Players' coach
The Iowa players have a wish too. They want to send Fry out with a trip to the Rose Bowl. And a win.
The players get the same questions as Fry. When is he going to retire? Will he coach this year's recruiting class until they are seniors?
Defensive tackle DeVries has a special interest in Fry's future. Little brother Dusty is in his first year as a Hawkeye.
"I've loved playing for him and I'm sure my brother's going to love playing for him," Jared DeVries said.
For how long? That's the 69-year-old question.
"I frequently have recruits come up to me and say, 'What happens when Coach Fry is gone?' " linebacker Matt Hughes said. "I tell them Coach Fry could be around here for another five or 10 years. When I came in four years ago, the same things were being said.
"He could be out there on a cane and he'll still be coaching."
Offensive lineman Derek Rose figures Fry will stay another two or three years. At least. During Rose's recruitment, Fry promised he would stick around for his entire career. Rose is a senior.
"He's a really young guy," Rose said. "How old you feel is how how old you really are. He's really energetic."
Ask anybody about Fry and the first trait they mention is his energy. Each uses a different word, but it all goes back to the same idea.
"Coach Fry still has all the spunk, so why give it up," Hughes said. "He acts about 27 or 28."
"I've never seen a guy that age with that much enthusiasm," Iowa assistant head coach Bob Elliott said. "The players that play here and the players that played here, love him to death. He still is probably the best public relations head coach I've ever seen. His health is good. He's very resilient. He's a guy who can take a blow and the next day be back as positive as ever."
Sounds like nobody at Iowa wants him to leave.
Tricks of the trade
If Fry retires, who is going to teach the youngsters about gamesmanship? Chicanery? Psychological warfare?
Fry is the one who painted the walls pink in the opponent's locker room to toy with their minds. When the Michigan coaching staff covered up the walls with white paper, Fry knew he was getting to them.
Fry was at his devilish best against Michigan's Bo Schembechler. In 1985, the Wolverines came to Iowa City for one of the biggest games in Iowa history. The teams entered the nationally televised game ranked No. 1 (Iowa) and No. 2 (Michigan).
The pressure didn't bother Fry, who decided to have some fun with his old friend Schembechler.
During pregame warmups, Fry told one of his guards to start trying long snaps. The first one bounced 2 yards in front of the punter. The second sailed over his head. Schembechler stood their watching.
"Finally, he looked at me and I'm trying to keep a straight face," Fry said. "He said, 'Fry, you're not going to let that guy snap during the game are you?' I didn't even look at him. I said, 'Coach Schembechler, we don't plan on punting tonight,' and turned and walked away. He chased me down the field."
Fry snickers when he tells the story. Thirteen years later, he thinks he was being funny. But at the time, you can just see him walking away from Schembechler and saying "Gotcha." And he did. Iowa won 12-10.
Fry's proteges paid attention to their mentor's tricks. Some use them. Some don't.
"Coach is always looking for whatever angle he can get to get someone more mad at him or calmed down," said Bobby Stoops, a former Iowa player and current Florida defensive coordinator. "Coach has always done those things."
Wish list
Fry has done his share to advance the coaching profession. Former assistants Bill Snyder and Barry Alvarez have turned ugly programs at Kansas State and Wisconsin into winners.
When Fry shuts it down at Iowa, he wants one of "my guys" to take over.
Snyder is the king of Manhattan, Kan. He might be unwilling to leave his safe haven.
Alvarez isn't likely to leave Wisconsin for another Big Ten school. There's very little gain for Alvarez, who has a Fry-styled program in Madison.
Stoops? Now we're getting somewhere. When head coach candidates are discussed, Stoops' name is usually first on the list. Minnesota talked to him before hiring Glen Mason. Stoops has had other contacts, but never felt right about the jobs.
Fry mentions Stoops as one of his replacement favorites.
"I do feel flattered that Coach Fry feels I'd be a worthy successor to him," Stoops said. "I realize there's a lot of factors that will go into that decision. That job hasn't been offered to me so I've got to continue to keep myself open for other jobs. You never know what will happen."
Stoops played at Iowa during Fry's first four seasons. Brothers Mike and Mark followed. Both Bobby and Mike are among the school's career leaders in interceptions. Bobby Stoops is 31st in career tackles.
The place means plenty to Stoops. His wife, Carol, is from Cresco, Iowa.
"Absolutely, we'd be interested," Stoops said. "I don't take it for granted that they'll want me."
Stoops won't sit around and wait for the call. As other job offers come along, he'll consider them.
"That would be very foolish for me to sit and wait on one job that hasn't been offered to me when there are other good jobs around the country," Stoops said. "I have passed up some other things that just weren't right me for many reasons. You have to evaluate each one."
Stoops doesn't have to make a quick decision. At 37, he has plenty of years left to be a head coach. Working with Steve Spurrier in Florida, Stoops said he has the "best assistant job in America."
If not Stoops, then who?
Elliott is also high on Fry's list. The third-year defensive coordinator was recently promoted to assistant head coach.
Elliott is the choice of the current players.
"I couldn't think of a better person to take Coach Fry's position," Hughes said.
"Definitely Coach Elliott deserves the job," DeVries said. "I think Iowa would be wrong not offering him the job when Coach Fry retires."
"I think it would be a great move," Rose said. "He's a fantastic coach. He's a big part of the reason I came to school here."
Even with the support of the players, Elliott isn't counting his Hawkeyes before they've hatched.
"I'm realistic about things," Elliott said. "I have to do my job well to even be considered for any head coaching job. I feel very strongly I'll be a successful head coach. I feel that I've got everything it takes and I've proven that again and again. Whether I get that chance or not is not going to be up to me. I'm not going to waste a lot of energy worrying about that. All you can do is do your job."
Fry expects to have a say in his replacement. He wants someone who won't come in and turn the program upside down.
If he has to, Fry isn't against pulling a Dean Smith. The legendary North Carolina basketball coach retired just before the season, forcing the school to hire one of his assistants.
"I think I'd make a decision to do what's best for the program," Fry said.
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