[citation needed] He went on to Michigan State University, where he played football and baseball and graduated in 1977[3] with a degree in physical education.

Willingham's 44 wins were the most by a Stanford coach since John Ralston, who left the school for the Denver Broncos of the NFL after the 1971 season.

[8] That loss knocked ND from a likely Bowl Championship Series berth down to the 2003 Gator Bowl—where they were beaten by North Carolina State, 28–6.

The following Tuesday, November 30, after an overall record in South Bend of 21–15 (an 8–0 start followed by a 13-15 finish), Notre Dame terminated Willingham as head coach.

[11] Defensive coordinator Kent Baer served as acting head coach for the Insight Bowl, a 38–21 loss to Oregon State.

Willingham's primary task was to change the program's image, which had been marred by off-the-field legal problems under Rick Neuheisel.

He instituted a strict hair policy and was known to occasionally show up in his players' classes unannounced to make sure they were attending.

[13] His 2006 Washington team started October with a 4–1 record, with its most notable victory a stunning 29–19 upset over previously undefeated UCLA, before losing its next 6 games after starting quarterback Isaiah Stanback suffered a season-ending foot injury in a loss to Oregon State in their sixth game.

This win held WSU from defeating the Huskies for three consecutive seasons years, something that has never happened in the history of the century-long rivalry.

The 2007 Washington Huskies football team faced what a preseason CBS Sports opinion piece called "the toughest schedule in the country" [14] Washington went on to a 4–9 record overall (2–7 in conference play, 10th place) with wins against Syracuse, Boise State, Stanford, and California.

The PAT would have tied the game, however an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called against quarterback Jake Locker who had thrown the ball up in the air in celebration after scoring the touchdown.

Starting quarterback Jake Locker was lost for the season, injuring his left hand during a block on a reverse.

[22] Willingham served as president on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Trustees in 2008.