There's a new game in town, but it's not what you're thinking. Miami University, far famed for its knack at minting top-tier football head honchos, is taking its "Cradle of Coaches" lore to the screen. A new documentary aptly named Cradle of Coaches is being churned out by Cincinnati's own video buffs at RESLV, and if you're itching for a peek, a trailer is now buzzing around the web, with the full piece slated for Spring 2026.
Rolling up their sleeves, the RESLV team has grilled nearly 80 bigwigs, including NFL aces John Harbaugh leading the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams' Sean McVay, among others, ingrained in Miami's storied coaching ranks. David Sayler, Miami's athletic director, is all about beaming pride for the school's gridiron legacy, as he waxed eloquent in a statement obtained by Miami University's news, "We are proud that our story is being told in this way and that the legend of the Cradle of Coaches will reach new generations through this documentary," Sayler said.
Bob Kurz, a '58 alum and the original wordsmith behind "Cradle of Coaches," inspired by the alumni coaching heavy-hitters like Paul Dietzel and Weeb Ewbank, laid the groundwork back in 1959 and followed up with a book detailing Miami's playbook revolution on the field. Beyond the illustrious Harbaugh and McVay, the documentary features insights from football luminaries such as Bengals owner Mike Brown and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Lou Holtz.
At Yager Stadium, bronze statues stand as a testament to Miami's coaching legends, capturing their likenesses in a plaza that owes its existence to both Bob Kurz's generosity and a gift from the family of Thomas Van Voorhis. It's not just a tribute to football, as Miami doles out Cradle spots to coaches across all sports, with a roster of over 100 Miami alums carving out careers in the pro and college spheres, and more than 30 at the helm as head coaches right now. Scott Thompson, RESLV's chief and documentarian, told Miami University's news, "There’s no greater privilege than capturing the passion, leadership, and enduring impact of these extraordinary coaches." And that's the game plan as they dive into the past to inspire the future.
