Assuming a job that few men wanted, Rich Brooks elevated a program to heights that few deemed possible at that time. While he may best be remembered as Oregon’s football coach who guided the Ducks to their first Rose Bowl appearance in 37 years, his legacy meant so much more -- he provided the foundation for the most successful era of college football in school history.  Through his 18-year tenure, the Oregon State graduate became the Ducks’ first coach to guide them to four post-season appearances, the first ever to take Oregon to back-to-back bowl berths and completed his tenure as the winningest football coach in school history. The two-time Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year and 1994 national honoree led the school to its first undisputed conference championship in 46 seasons in 1994 in addition to serving as the university’s director of athletics from 1992-94. The Northern California native became the school’s first to coach the Ducks to nine wins since 1948 and a valiant Rose Bowl effort against No. 1-ranked Penn State. He concluded his Oregon reign posting a 14-3-1 record against rival Oregon State.