(Jun. 12, 1905 – Sep. 30, 2002) Len Casanova served as the head football coach at Santa Clara University (1946-1949), where he played from 1923-1926, the University of Pittsburgh (1950), and the University of Oregon (1951-1966) compiling a career college football record of 104-94-11. Casanova was also the head baseball coach at Santa Clara from 1940 to 1942, tallying a mark of 39-25.

He left Oregon as the school’s winningest coach, including a 1958 Rose Bowl appearance, until surpassed by Rich Brooks in 1994. At Oregon, “Cas” coached two future Hall of Famers, Mel Renfro and Dave Wilcox, and helped assistants George Seifert, John McKay, and John Robinson start their own illustrious coaching careers. In 1964, he served as president of the American Football Coaches Association.

After retiring from coaching in 1966, he served as the athletic director at Oregon from 1967-1970 during which time Autzen Stadium was completed. From 1969 to 1973, he served on the NCAA football rules committee. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and received the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in 1990.

In 1991, the University of Oregon decided that Casanova’s distinguished record merited an exception to State Board of Higher Education policy regarding the naming of buildings after living persons. In honor of Casanova’s 40 years of contributions to the Ducks’ athletic fortunes, Oregon’s new athletic department facility was named the Len Casanova Athletic Center.