DeWitt Weaver
DeWitt Thompson Weaver Sr. (May 11, 1912 – January 19, 1998) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1951 to 1960.[1]
 Weaver (left) in 1955 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 11, 1912 Nashville, Tennessee |
| Died | January 19, 1998 (aged 85) Daphne, Alabama |
| Playing career | |
| 1934–1936 | Tennessee |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1938–1941 | Centre (line) |
| 1946–1948 | Mississippi State (line) |
| 1949–1950 | Tulsa (assistant) |
| 1951–1960 | Texas Tech |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1952–1960 | Texas Tech |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 49–51–5 |
| Bowls | 2–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 4 Border (1951. 1953–1955) | |
He was the first head football coach at Texas Tech to win a bowl game during his first season—an accomplishment unmatched at Texas Tech until Tommy Tuberville's first season, in 2010.[2]
In 1956, he became the first college coach to defeat the Texas Longhorns in a season-opener in Austin.[3] He amassed a 49–51–5 record.[4]
From 1952 to 1960, he also served as the athletic director at Texas Technological College, as Texas Tech University was then known.[3]
His son, DeWitt Jr., is a professional golfer who won twice on the PGA Tour.[5]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech Red Raiders (Border Conference) (1951–1955) | |||||||||
| 1951 | Texas Tech | 7–4 | 4–0 | 1st | W Sun | ||||
| 1952 | Texas Tech | 3–7–1 | 2–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1953 | Texas Tech | 11–1 | 5–0 | 1st | W Gator | 12 | 12 | ||
| 1954 | Texas Tech | 7–2–1 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1955 | Texas Tech | 7–3–1 | 3–0–1 | 1st | L Sun | ||||
| Texas Tech Red Raiders (NCAA University Division independent) (1956–1959) | |||||||||
| 1956 | Texas Tech | 2–7–1 | |||||||
| 1957 | Texas Tech | 2–8 | |||||||
| 1958 | Texas Tech | 3–7 | |||||||
| 1959 | Texas Tech | 4–6 | |||||||
| Texas Tech Red Raiders (Southwest Conference) (1960) | |||||||||
| 1960 | Texas Tech | 3–6–1 | 1–5–1 | 6th | |||||
| Texas Tech: | 49–51–5 | 19–6–3 | |||||||
| Total: | 49–51–5 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
References
- http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012198/1d5obit_.html
- Harland, C. W. "Pete" (March 20, 2011). "Tuberville wasn't first coach to win bowl in first Tech year". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. p. A12. Retrieved March 27, 2011. In Weaver's first season the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the Tigers of the University of the Pacific in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Day 1952. The score was 25 to 14.
- "Traditions: Texas Tech Hall of Honor (Last name U-Z)". Texas Tech Athletics. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
- Hyman, Mervin (December 5, 1960). "Football's 11th Week". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
- Williams, Don (July 31, 2004). "Weaver returns to West Texas roots at tourney". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2008.