Bob Seaman

Joseph Robert Seaman (March 28, 1932 – August 13, 2018) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Wichita State University from 1971 to 1973 and at Emporia State University from 1979 to 1982, compiling a career college football record of 23–56.

Bob Seaman
Biographical details
Born(1932-03-28)March 28, 1932
Sandusky, Ohio
DiedAugust 13, 2018(2018-08-13) (aged 86)
Eaton, Ohio
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1957–1963Sandusky HS (OH) (assistant)
1964–1965Sandusky HS (OH)
1966–1968Massillon Washington HS (OH)
1969–1970Wichita State (assistant)
1971–1973Wichita State
1979–1982Emporia State
Head coaching record
Overall23–56 (college)
39–10–1 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame[1]

Early life and education

Seamon was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio. He graduated from Sandusky High School and attended Kent State University on a scholarship. An injury sustained during a spring game in his freshman year at Kent State ended his football career. He had been slated to start at center for the Kent State varsity football team that fall. Despite the injury, Seamon continued as a member of Kent State's track and field team, winning a Mid-American Conference title in the high jump.[2]

Coaching career

Wichita State

Seaman was the assistant football coach on October 2, 1970—the day of the Wichita State University football team plane crash. Wichita State was using two planes to transport its team to Utah State University for a football game when one of the planes (named "Gold") crashed. Coach Seaman told the football players and coaches on the "Black" plane shortly after arrival in Logan, Utah.[3]

"There was belief and disbelief amongst the players and amongst the coaches," Bob Seaman, WSU assistant coach, said. "We know what had happened, but we didn't want to believe what had happened."[4]

Although they did not play the game at Utah, the surviving players voted to continue the season.[5][6]

In 1972, Seaman guided Wichita State to its first winning season in nine years, a 6–5 record. Wichita State had only one more winning season before the program was dropped in 1986.[7]

Emporia State

Seaman later became the 19th head football coach for Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas and he held that position for four seasons, from 1979 until 1982. His overall coaching record at Emporia State was 10–30.[8]

Death

Seaman died on August 13, 2018, in Eaton, Ohio.[9] Seaman was inducted into both Sandusky High School and the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association hall of fame.[1]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Wichita State Shockers (Missouri Valley Conference) (1970–1973)
1970 Wichita State 0–60–45th
1971 Wichita State 3–80–47th
1972 Wichita State 6–52–46th
1973 Wichita State 4–72–45th
Wichita State: 13–264–16
Emporia State Hornets (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) (1979–1982)
1979 Emporia State 4–62–5T–7th
1980 Emporia State 2–81–6T–7th
1981 Emporia State 1–90–78th
1982 Emporia State 3–71–6T–6th
Emporia State: 10–304–24
Total:23–56

References
  1. Engelhardt, Don (August 19, 2018). "Former Massillon Coach Bob Seaman Passes Away". Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  2. Wagner, Charles (December 7, 1965). "Seamon Achieves Goals Set As Student; 1949 SHS Yearbook Foretold His Future". Sandusky Register. Sandusky, Ohio. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  3. MEMORIAL '70, Wichita State University Archived September 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  4. We are WSU | KSN.com - News, Weather, Sports - NBC - Wichita - Great Bend - Garden City - McCook - Kansas | Sports Archived May 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. Sports Illustrated, Days Of Stillness At Wichita State October 19, 1970
  6. Ferguson, Lew (October 21, 1970). "Wichita State Will Play Final Six Grid Games". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. Retrieved February 9, 2015 – via Google News.
  7. We are WSU: getting past the tragedy | KSN.com - News, Weather, Sports - NBC - Wichita - Great Bend - Garden City - McCook - Kansas | Sports Archived May 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2007-12-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Eldridge, Taylor (August 16, 2018). "Bob Seaman, the coach who kept Shocker football going after plane crash, dies at 86". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, Kansas. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
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