Bo Rein was hired November 30, 1979 after four seasons at North Carolina State as the successor to Charles McClendon, who compiled a 137–59–7 record in 18 seasons. Rein's tenure was cut short after only 42 days when he died in a plane crash January 10, 1980. Jerry Stovall, a former LSU All-American and nine-year National Football League veteran with the St. Louis Cardinals, was approved as Rein's successor approximately 36 hours after the plane crash.