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Jack Lengyel was the head coach of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team from 1971 until 1974, having taken over following the Southern Airways Flight 932 plane crash that killed 75 people, including the varsity football team, administrators, staff, and boosters.

Actor Matthew McConaughey plays Lengyel in the film We Are Marshall, which was released on December 22nd, 2006.

Lengyel was hired to be the head football coach following the airplane tragedy. When Lengyel arrived at Marshall he was forced to recruit athletes from other sports (baseball, basketball and soccer) as well as allow a large number of walk-ons in order to rebuild the devastated football program. Although the team struggled in Lengyel's first season at the helm, it managed to win it's first home game, a stunning 15-13 victory over Xavier scoring a touchdown on the final play of the game.

As a coach, Mr. Lengyel served as assistant football coach at University of Akron, Heidelberg College, and Cornell University. Mr. Lengyel was named head football and lacrosse coach at the College of Wooster in 1966 and remained there for four years.

However, Mr. Lengyel’s greatest task and achievement as a coach was rebuilding the football program and community at Marshall University after the tragic airline crash.

Looking back on his experience at Marshall, Lengyel says, “I thought I was coming to rebuild a football program. It turned out the town had lost key community leaders on that plane as well"Commenting on the blockbuster Hollywood film on the Marshall team and Jack Lengyel’s place in history, Lengyel reflected, “It's a movie about core values, faith, hope, perseverance and love."

“As you live your life in sometimes quiet desperation, facing adversity and tragedy," he said, "if you have faith, hope, perseverance and love, these core values help you overcome that adversity and go on to success in your life."

Among the honors and awards presented to Mr. Lengyel during his illustrious career include the John L. Toner Award (2005) presented by the National Football Foundation; The Homer Rice Award (2005) presented by the Division I-A Athletic Director’s, and NACDA’s James J. Corbett Award (2001) to just name a few of Mr. Lengyel’s honors.