College Football Coach. He was the head football coach at North Dakota State, Washington, Navy, Cornell and Boston College. A star quarterback and end at the University of Minnesota, he led the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten title during the 1900 season, before beginning a distinguished career coaching college football. He was undefeated through his first 11 seasons as a college football coach. His greatest success came at the University of Washington in Seattle, coaching the team that would later become known as the Huskies. During his nine year coaching tenure at Washington he never lost a football game, compiling a record of 58 wins, zero losses and three ties. From 1908 to 1916, he was instrumental in creating one of college football's most impressive records of all time, coaching Washington in 61 of 63 straight games without a loss. The 63 game unbeaten streak by Washington, established a National Collegiate Football Association (NCAA) record that still remains unchallenged in the modern era of college football. He also set a University of Washington school record winning 39 consecutive games between 1908 and 1914, the second longest winning streak in college football history. From 1917 to 1919 he coached at the Naval Academy, where he recorded 17 wins against only three losses. He served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1917. In 1920 he abruptly resigned from Navy after turning down a three year contract extension, to accept the head coaching position at Cornell University. Over the next 16 seasons he led the Big Red to 82 victories, including national championships in 1921, 1922 and 1923. He spent his final years as the head coach at Boston College winning 16 games, losing six and tying five. He finished his coaching career after 33 years with an overall record of 180 wins, 45 losses and 15 ties, including 14 undefeated seasons and a winning percentage of .781. In 1951 he was inducted as a charter member into the College Football Hall of Fame and as a charter member in the Husky Hall of Fame in 1979. He was also inducted into the North Dakota State, Navy, Cornell and Boston College Halls of Fame.
College Football Coach. He was the head football coach at North Dakota State, Washington, Navy, Cornell and Boston College. A star quarterback and end at the University of Minnesota, he led the Golden Gophers to the Big Ten title during the 1900 season, before beginning a distinguished career coaching college football. He was undefeated through his first 11 seasons as a college football coach. His greatest success came at the University of Washington in Seattle, coaching the team that would later become known as the Huskies. During his nine year coaching tenure at Washington he never lost a football game, compiling a record of 58 wins, zero losses and three ties. From 1908 to 1916, he was instrumental in creating one of college football's most impressive records of all time, coaching Washington in 61 of 63 straight games without a loss. The 63 game unbeaten streak by Washington, established a National Collegiate Football Association (NCAA) record that still remains unchallenged in the modern era of college football. He also set a University of Washington school record winning 39 consecutive games between 1908 and 1914, the second longest winning streak in college football history. From 1917 to 1919 he coached at the Naval Academy, where he recorded 17 wins against only three losses. He served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1917. In 1920 he abruptly resigned from Navy after turning down a three year contract extension, to accept the head coaching position at Cornell University. Over the next 16 seasons he led the Big Red to 82 victories, including national championships in 1921, 1922 and 1923. He spent his final years as the head coach at Boston College winning 16 games, losing six and tying five. He finished his coaching career after 33 years with an overall record of 180 wins, 45 losses and 15 ties, including 14 undefeated seasons and a winning percentage of .781. In 1951 he was inducted as a charter member into the College Football Hall of Fame and as a charter member in the Husky Hall of Fame in 1979. He was also inducted into the North Dakota State, Navy, Cornell and Boston College Halls of Fame.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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