1968 WKU Football Coaches (left to right): Head Coach Jimmy Feix, Offensive Coach Joe Bugel, Defensive Coach Robbie Franklin, Offensive Backfield Coach Art Zeleznik and Defensive Backfield Coach Jackie Pope

The Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced its 2023 inductees, and among those listed was former Western Kentucky great Joe Bugel.

Bugel played college football at WKU from 1960-63 before joining the Hilltoppers’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 1964. The following year, he was promoted to offensive line coach and stayed with the Tops through the 1968 season before moving on to the National Football League.

For many years, he was acknowledged as the greatest offensive line coach in the league, particularly with the Washington Redskins under head coach Joe Gibbs in the 1980s. He was the architect behind “The Hogs,” the Redskins’ dominant offensive line that helped lead them to three Super Bowl wins.

Prior to joining the Redskins, he served as the offensive line coach or assistant coach for several other teams, including the Detroit Lions, Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers. He was also the head coach of the Phoenix Cardinals (1990–93) and Oakland Raiders (1997).

With Joe Bugel’s induction, Five former Hilltoppers now hold membership in the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Romeo Crennel (Class of 2007) … lettered 1966-69; assistant coach 1970-74

• Dale Lindsey (2011) … lettered 1963-64

• Virgil Livers (2017) … lettered 1971-74; assistant coach 1994

• David Carter ((2019) … lettered 1973-76

• Joe Bugel (2023) … lettered 1960-63; assistant coach 1964-68

The purpose of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame is to honor those who have brought significant recognition to the state of Kentucky, or have by their unusual successful service achieved significant accomplishment on behalf of their school, or have by a significant act or contribution distinguished themselves as an unusual former National Football League player, coach, referee, owner, management, etc. or have been a significant or unusual supporter of Pro Football. Kentucky is the only state to have its own Pro Football Hall of Fame.{&end}