Former Indiana legendary head coach and 'College GameDay' analyst Lee Corso will retire after week 1 of the 2025-26 college football season.
ESPN announced the news April 17. Corso has been with the network since 1987.
"My family and I will be forever indebted for the opportunity to be part of ESPN and 'College GameDay' for nearly 40 years," Corso said in a statement released by ESPN. "I have a treasure of many friends, fond memories and some unusual experiences to take with me into retirement."
So many iconic headgear moments. Corso left his mark on GameDay forever ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qj7LEaUJa1
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) April 17, 2025
Kerry Thomson, the Mayor of Bloomington, Indiana, honored former Indiana legendary head coach Lee Corso with an official "Coach Lee Corso Day" ahead of the Hoosiers' game against the Washington Huskies which was featured on College GameDay last season.
"It's love. We love him and then we know that he loves us."
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 26, 2024
Coach Corso's former players and coaches share how much he means to them 🥹 pic.twitter.com/GbaU8Vf29D
Corso added: “ESPN has been exceptionally generous to me, especially these past few years. They accommodated me and supported me, as did my colleagues in the early days ofCollege GameDay. Special thanks to Kirk Herbstreit for his friendship and encouragement. And lest I forget, the fans…truly a blessing to share this with them. ESPN gave me this wonderful opportunity and provided me the support to ensure success. I am genuinely grateful.”
Corso joined ESPN in 1987, following a 28-year coaching career at the college and professional levels – including 17 seasons as a head coach at Louisville (1969-72), Indiana (1973-82), Northern Illinois (1984) and with the USFL’s Orlando Renegades (1985). He is the only original College GameDay personality still with the show. College GameDay has earned nine Sports Emmy awards in the Most Outstanding Studio Show
The beloved College GameDay cast member, Corso who repeatedly dons the headgear of a college mascot and brings the largest amount of charm possible to a Saturday morning was Indiana's head coach for a decade, from 1973 until 1982.
Corso led the Hoosiers to their first-ever bowl game victory when the team took down the BYU Cougars in the 1979 Holiday Bowl. He had a overall record of 41-68-2 at his time in Bloomington.
Corso, who will turn 90 in August, will make his final 'GameDay' appearance on Aug. 30. The location has not been determined, but it is projected to be in Columbus, Ohio when the defending champions take on Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns, August 30th.