College Football Coach & Athletics Administrator; Former Head Coach at Marshall University; Subject of "We Are Marshall"

Virginia, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Jack Lengyel Biography

Jack Lengyel is a former college football coach and athletics administrator known for his role in the history of American collegiate sports. Lengyel is closely associated with Marshall University, where he led the football program following the loss of 75 players, coaches, staff, and boosters in a plane crash. His career in college athletics spanned six decades, beginning as an assistant coach at the University of Akron, followed by positions at Heidelberg College and Cornell University, and later as head coach at the College of Wooster. At Wooster, Lengyel guided the team to improvement after a winless season prior to his arrival.

After the Marshall plane crash, Lengyel observed the community’s recovery and the administration’s deliberations regarding the football program’s future. He was named head football coach at Marshall University, inheriting a program facing significant challenges. Marshall received a waiver to allow freshmen to compete, enabling the team to field a complete roster. Lengyel referred to the team as the Young Thundering Herd. Notable moments during his tenure include a home victory over Xavier University and visits with players to a cemetery where six crash victims are buried. While his record at Marshall was 9–33 over four years, Lengyel played a key role in sustaining a program that later achieved national prominence.

Lengyel’s story was depicted in the film "We Are Marshall," with Matthew McConaughey portraying him. When Marshall’s 1996 team won the NCAA Division I-AA championship, coach Bob Pruett recognized Lengyel’s contributions by awarding him a national title ring. Lengyel’s leadership and resilience have been recognized within the college football community.

After leaving Marshall, Lengyel transitioned to college administration, serving as associate athletic director at the University of Louisville and the University of Missouri, then as athletic director at Fresno State and the University of Missouri. He served as athletic director at the United States Naval Academy, where he received a Lifetime Service Award from the Annapolis Touchdown Club and was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Board of Trustees. The athletic training facility at the academy bears his name.

Lengyel has received honors including the John L. Toner Award, the Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Athletics Award from the National Football Foundation, the Homer Rice Award from Division I-A Athletic Directors, NACDA’s James J. Corbett Award, and the Tuss McLaughry Award from the AFCA. Following his retirement from the Naval Academy, Lengyel has spoken to organizations and schools nationwide, sharing insights from his experience at Marshall and emphasizing values such as hope, faith, perseverance, love, and humor in achieving success.

BOOK Jack Lengyel

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/13/2026.

  • How do I book Jack Lengyel to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jack Lengyel for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jack Lengyel, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jack Lengyel or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Jack Lengyel

    Speaking fees for Jack Lengyel, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jack Lengyel are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jack Lengyel, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Jack Lengyel speak about?

    Jack Lengyel is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Change Management, Human Resources, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Personal Growth, Sports, Sports Coaching, Teamwork & Teambuilding
  • Where does Jack Lengyel travel from?

    Jack Lengyel generally travels from Virginia, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Jack Lengyel’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jack Lengyel for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jack Lengyel for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jack Lengyel or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Jack Lengyel is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jack Lengyel for your event is available upon request. Jack Lengyel generally travels from VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Terry Bowden, JP Pawliw-Fry, Pat Riley, Tom Flick and John Cassis. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jack Lengyel for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP