Former ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan, the father of NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan, passed away at age 91.
ACC press release:
Gene Corrigan, a pioneer in college athletics and the former Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, died peacefully overnight surrounded by his family in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was 91.
“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. “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. Nora and I spent several hours with Gene and Lena at their home in Charlottesville last fall. The time was truly special. Nora joins me in extending our hearts and prayers to Lena and the extraordinary Corrigan family.”
Corrigan assumed his role as the third full-time 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.
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.
Corrigan has been recognized by countless organizations for his service to college athletics including the National Football Foundation’s highest honor – the Gold Medal (1996), 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.
ACC press release:
Gene Corrigan, a pioneer in college athletics and the former Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, died peacefully overnight surrounded by his family in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was 91.
“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. “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. Nora and I spent several hours with Gene and Lena at their home in Charlottesville last fall. The time was truly special. Nora joins me in extending our hearts and prayers to Lena and the extraordinary Corrigan family.”
Corrigan assumed his role as the third full-time 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.
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.
Corrigan has been recognized by countless organizations for his service to college athletics including the National Football Foundation’s highest honor – the Gold Medal (1996), 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.
