George W. Dickerson

George W. Dickerson (January 27, 1913 – January 22, 2002) was an American college football coach at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). An assistant coach with the Bruins from 1947 to 1957, he was the interim head coach for the first three games in 1958 after the unexpected death of Red Sanders in mid-August. Dickerson was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987.[1][2]

George W. Dickerson
Dickerson at UCLA, c. 1958
Biographical details
Born(1913-01-27)January 27, 1913
Galion, Ohio
DiedJanuary 22, 2002(2002-01-22) (aged 88)
Laguna Woods, California
Playing career
1934–1936UCLA
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1947–1957UCLA (assistant)
1958UCLA
Head coaching record
Overall1–2

Early life and education

Born in Galion, Ohio,[3] Dickerson was raised in southern California and attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. At UCLA, he lettered in football for three years and rugby for four. He was also a boxer, and was captain of the 1936 football team.[1][2]

Coaching career

Dickerson returned to UCLA to serve as an assistant coach for Red Sanders. When Sanders died of a heart attack in August 1958, Dickerson was promoted to interim head coach. A few weeks later, he was admitted to the UCLA Medical Center with nervous exhaustion.[4] He returned to coach the Bruins on September 11,[5] and led the team for the first three games as head coach. UCLA lost the opener to #21 Pittsburgh on September 20, won at Illinois, then were shut out 14–0 at Oregon State.[6]

Bill Barnes was named acting head coach for the Friday night game against Florida on October 10 (and continued through the 1964) season). Dickerson had been re-admitted to the UCLA Medical Center late the previous evening, again suffering from nervous exhaustion.[7][8][9]

Dickerson was one of three assistants from the national championship season of 1954 to later lead the Bruins as head coach, along with Barnes and Tommy Prothro.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
UCLA Bruins (Pacific Coast Conference) (1958)
1958 UCLA 1–20–1
UCLA: 1–20–1
Total:1–2

References
  1. "UCLA Today obituary for George W. Dickerson". Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2007.
  2. "George Dickerson, 88; UCLA Coach and Hall of Fame Athlete". Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2002. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  3. "George W. Dickerson". The Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2002. Retrieved July 7, 2019 – via Legacy.com.
  4. Wolf, Al (September 2, 1958). "Dickerson's Condition Improves". Los Angeles Times. George Dickerson, new head football coach at UCLA, was reported "progressing well" yesterday at UCLA Medical Center, after being admitted Saturday suffering from nervous exhaustion.
  5. Wolf, Al (September 12, 1958). "Optimistic Dickerson Back at Bruin Helm". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Harvey, Paul, III (October 5, 1958). "Oregon State blanks UCLA by 14-0". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1B.
  7. "UCLA coach hospitalized". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 10, 1958. p. 2B.
  8. "Florida downs UCLA by 21-14". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 11, 1958. p. 6.
  9. Wolf, Al (October 10, 1958). "UCLA'S DICKERSON ILL, OUT FOR YEAR. Barnes in Charge of Grid Team". Los Angeles Times. George Dickerson, UCLA head football coach, late yesterday' was readmitted to the UCLA Medical Center after suffering a "bad setback" from the nervous exhaustion which hospitalized him just before the season began.
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