Harry Stuhldreher

Harry Augustus Stuhldreher (October 14, 1901 – January 26, 1965) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played quarterback at University of Notre Dame from 1922 to 1924, where he was a three-time All-American and member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield. After graduating from Notre Dame, Stuhldreher played professional football briefly with the Brooklyn Horsemen/Lions in 1926. He served as the head football coach at Villanova College—now known as Villanova University—from 1925 to 1935 and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from 1936 to 1948, compiling a career college football record of 110–87–15. Stuhldreher was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1958.

Harry Stuhldreher
Biographical details
Born(1901-10-14)October 14, 1901
Massillon, Ohio
DiedJanuary 26, 1965(1965-01-26) (aged 63)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Playing career
1922–1924Notre Dame
1925–1926Waterbury Blues
1926Brooklyn Horsemen/Lions
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1925–1935Villanova
1936–1948Wisconsin
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1936–1950Wisconsin
Head coaching record
Overall110–87–15
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1965)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1958 (profile)

Early years and playing career

Stuhldreher was born in Massillon, Ohio of German stock, home of the Massillon Tigers professional football team.[1] There is a story, likely apocryphal, that as a boy Stuhldreher carried gear for future University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne when the latter was a Tigers star.

Stuhldreher played football for both Massillon Washington High School and The Kiski School in Saltsburg, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1921. At Notre Dame, he became quarterback in 1922 and in 1924 led the team to a 10–0 record, culminating in 27–10 win over Stanford in the 1925 Rose Bowl, and a national championship. He was one of the smallest quarterbacks in Notre Dame football history, standing 5' 7" tall and weighing just 151 pounds.

After graduating, Stuhldreher joined fellow member of the Four Horsemen Elmer Layden on the roster of the Brooklyn Horsemen of the first American Football League. After playing only six games of the 1926 season, the Horsemen merged with the National Football League's Brooklyn Lions franchise, which then was renamed the Horsemen. The AFL, the Brooklyn NFL franchise, and Stuhldreher's major league football career all ended with the last game of the season.

Coaching career

Stuhldreher turned to college coaching, initially also moonlighting for independent pro teams on weekends. He served for 11 years (1925–1935) as head coach at Villanova University, compiling a 65–25–9 record, and 13 years (1936–1948) as head coach and athletic director at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. During his tenure at Wisconsin, he compiled a 45–62–6 (.425) record, and the Badgers were twice the Big Ten Conference runner-up under his guidance.

Later life and honors

Leaving Wisconsin, Stuhldreher joined U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh in 1950. He died in Pittsburgh of acute pancreatitis and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Stuhldreher wrote two books, "Quarterback Play" and "Knute Rockne, Man Builder." The latter was a source for the movie Knute Rockne, All American, starring Ronald Reagan as George Gipp. Former Notre Dame star Nick Lukats played the part of Stuhldreher in this movie. Stuhldreher's wife Mary was also a writer. The couple had four sons.

Stuhldreher was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1958.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs AP#
Villanova Wildcats (Independent) (1925–1935)
1925 Villanova 6–2–1
1926 Villanova 6–2–1
1927 Villanova 6–1
1928 Villanova 7–0–1
1929 Villanova 7–2–1
1930 Villanova 5–5
1931 Villanova 4–3–2
1932 Villanova 7–2
1933 Villanova 7–2–1
1934 Villanova 3–4–2
1935 Villanova 7–2
Villanova: 65–25–9
Wisconsin Badgers (Big Ten Conference) (1936–1948)
1936 Wisconsin 2–60–49th
1937 Wisconsin 4–3–12–2–1T–4th
1938 Wisconsin 5–33–2T–4th
1939 Wisconsin 1–6–10–5–19th
1940 Wisconsin 4–43–3T–4th
1941 Wisconsin 3–53–35th
1942 Wisconsin 8–1–14–12nd3
1943 Wisconsin 1–91–68th
1944 Wisconsin 3–62–47th
1945 Wisconsin 3–4–22–3–16th
1946 Wisconsin 4–52–58th
1947 Wisconsin 5–3–13–2–12nd
1948 Wisconsin 2–71–59th
Wisconsin: 45–62–626–45–4
Total:110–87–15

References

  • Harry Stuhldreher at the College Football Hall of Fame
  • Career statistics and player information from Pro Football Reference
  • Hogrogian, John (1982). "The Hartford Blues Part I" (PDF). Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 4 (8): 1–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-27.
  • Harry Stuhldreher at Find a Grave
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