By Morris Arvoy

"Coach Carr's commitment to the education of his student-athletes coupled with his dedication to serving those in need were key factors when we decided to ask him to address the Class of 2008," said Albion College President Donna Randall.

Carr and his wife Laurie--who have six children and seven grandchildren--are spearheading the University of Michigan Health System's Champions for Children capital campaign to build a new children's and women's hospital in Ann Arbor. In kicking off the campaign, Carr said he told his players that extraordinary performance comes only to individuals who are devoted to something larger than themselves.

On March 4, Carr received the 2007 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award, given to a Division I football coach who represents "integrity, scholarship and leadership." It was the culmination of a successful 28-year career at the University of Michigan-13 years as head coach and 15 as an assistant. During his head coaching career, Carr had a 121-40 record for a .752 winning percentage. He is one of eight coaches in Big Ten history with at least five league championships, and he led the Wolverines to a national championship in 1997.

Upon his retirement as head coach, Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin told the Grand Rapids Press:

"It's not only the program, but it's the institution, what Lloyd has meant to the university. He does so much for our hospitals, in terms of fund-raising, making his time available, that no one even knows about. He'll get a note from somebody who's got a second cousin in the hospital, and he'll go see that person in the hospital. He has raised money for Mott Children's Hospital-he's leading the campaign now for that. He is so intent on the graduation rates, on these kids' academics, and he always brings that up with them-at every meeting."

In 1998, a year after he won the national championship, the Carrs established the Coach Carr Cancer Fund at the U-M Cancer Center. Carr established the fund for patient care programs in memory of his mother, who died of breast cancer.

Prior to being elevated as the head coach, Carr said he thought he held the greatest assistant coaching job in the country, serving 15 years under Bo Schembechler and Gary Moeller. Carr joined Schembechler's staff in 1980 as defensive secondary coach, became defensive coordinator for eight seasons, and then moved into the position of assistant head coach for the final five years before becoming head coach.

A three-sport athlete at Riverview High School, Carr was an all-state quarterback (1962) in football. He enrolled at Missouri for three years and was the backup quarterback on the 1966 Sugar Bowl Championship team. Carr then transferred to Northern Michigan University and quarterbacked the Wildcats to an undefeated season. He graduated from Northern Michigan in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree and earned his master's degree in 1970 from Northern Michigan under a Mott Fellowship.

Carr's coaching career started at Nativity High School in Detroit (1970). His coaching resume also includes stops at Belleville High School and John Glenn School in Westland, as well as Eastern Michigan and Illinois.

Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 10:45 a.m. on the west end of the Quadrangle (weather permitting). More information is available at http://www.albion.edu/commencement/ .