BALTIMORE, Md. – Former University of Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen was awarded the Coaches Legacy Award at the 63rd Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame induction banquet at Martin's West in Baltimore last night.

Friedgen is the third recipient of the award that was created in 2022. Gary Williams and Chris Weller were the first two honorees. The Coaches Legacy Award is given to leaders whose lifetime career has brought honor and distinction to Maryland sports.

Others honored at the event included Kyle Beckerman (Soccer), Al Bumbry (Baseball), Michael Burnett (Lacrosse), Joe Ehrmann (Football), Lauren Gibson (Softball), Talvin Skinner (Basketball) and Tim Kurkjian (Journalism, John F. Steadman Lifetime Achievement Award).

Friedgen restored the Maryland football program to national relevance during his decade tenure as the head coach of the Terrapins from 2001-10. He ranks third all-time at Maryland with 75 wins and led the Terps to seven bowl games, including a pair of New Year's Day appearances, during his tenure. Under Friedgen's guidance, the Terps won a school-record five bowl games.

A Maryland lifer who suited up as an offensive guard for the Terrapins from 1966-69, Friedgen came back to his alma mater as an assistant coach under Bobby Ross from 1982-86. He took over as the Terps head man in 2001, fostering an immediate turnaround.

The consensus national coach of the year in 2001, Friedgen led Maryland to its first ACC title in 16 years in his first year as head coach. Maryland won its first seven games and earned the league's automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series' FedEx Orange Bowl. By winning the ACC title that season, Friedgen became the first coach in league history to win the championship in his first year as a head coach.

Following that historic 2001 season, Friedgen led Maryland to six more bowl appearances, 12 wins over top-25 teams and the Terps spent 18 weeks in the AP Top-25 during his tenure. Friedgen ranks fifth all-time in ACC history in bowl victories (five), 15th all-time in wins (75), tied for 14th in ACC victories (43) and stands 12th in games coached (125).

More info on the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame can be found here.