College: Ohio, 1961

Coaching OSU History:

2000: Offensive line coach

2000 Media Guide: George Belu, a 35-year veteran of college coaching, enters his first year at Ohio State as the team’s offensive line coach.

“We are pleased to make George Belu one of the newest members of this coaching staff,” head coach John Cooper said. “He brings a wealth of experience to our team and has been successful at every stop during his career. He’s familiar with the Big Ten from his days at Indiana. He did an incredible job at Wake Forest, a team that played in its first bowl game in quite a while. George is well-respected with other coaches across the country. I believe he’ll be a great addition to our staff.”

Belu completed his third season at Wake Forest in 1999, the last of which was spent as running-game coordinator. Belu was largely responsible for the Demon Deacons’ potent ground game, which last year made the second biggest improvement in ACC history. Wake Forest averaged just 65.4 yards rushing per game in 1998, but under Belu gained 175.7 yards per game in 1999. The Deacons ranked 31st nationally in rushing yardage in 1999 and recorded the highest totals for a Wake Forest team since 1984. Belu helped his team earn a spot in the fifth bowl game in school history last December after earning its first winning season since 1992.

Prior to taking the job at Wake Forest in 1997, Belu served 13 years as offensive coordinator at Indiana University. Under Belu’s scheme, IU running back Anthony Thompson led the Big Ten in rushing for two consecutive seasons, was a two-time winner of the Chicago Tribune’s Big Ten Most Valuable Player Award and was the runner-up for the 1989 Heisman Trophy. The Hoosiers advanced to six postseason games during Belu’s tenure, and two Indiana offensive lineman were two-time all-Big Ten selections.

In his career, Belu has produced a total of 12 offensive lineman that were selected in either the first or second round of the NFL Draft.

Overall during a storied coaching career that began in 1965, Belu has been the offensive line coach at six schools and a coordinator at five. His coaching highlights include an 11-0 season at Miami (Ohio) in 1973 and Tangerine Bowl appearance, a Big Eight Conference title and two bowl appearances at Colorado, an Orange Bowl trip at LSU and an ACC Championship at North Carolina State. While with the Wolfpack, Belu coached an Outland Trophy Award winner.

In 1961, Belu earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University and earned a master’s degree in education the following year. At Ohio, he was a three-time letter winner and an all-MAC selection in 1960. The 1960 Bobcat squad went 10-0 and was crowned the National Small School College Champion.

A native of Lorain, Ohio, Belu was a first team all-Ohio high school selection in football and is a member of the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame.

Belu has been married to his high school sweetheart, Janet, since 1961.