Stu Holcomb

Stu Holcomb

Holcomb pictured in Debris 1954, Purdue yearbook
Sport(s) Football, basketball, baseball
Biographical details
Born (1910-09-11)September 11, 1910
Erie, Pennsylvania
Died January 11, 1977(1977-01-11) (aged 66)
Sarasota, Florida
Playing career
1929–1931 Ohio State
Position(s) Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1932–1935 Findlay
1936–1940 Muskingum
1941 Washington & Jefferson
1942–1943 Miami (OH)
1945–1946 Army (assistant)
1947–1955 Purdue
Basketball
1932–1936 Findlay
1936–1940 Muskingum
1945–1947 Army
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1956–1966 Northwestern
1971–1973 Chicago White Sox (GM)
Head coaching record
Overall 93–75–12 (football)
54–40 (basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Ohio Athletic (1939)
1 Big Ten (1952)

Stuart K. Holcomb (September 11, 1910 – January 11, 1977) was an American football and basketball coach best known for serving as head football coach for Miami University (1942–1943) and Purdue University (1947–1955). Before coaching, Holcomb was a starting halfback at Ohio State University and the captain of the 1931 Buckeyes football team. Prior to arriving at Miami, Holcomb was the head football coach at three smaller schools: the University of Findlay (1932–1935), Muskingum College (1936–1940), and Washington & Jefferson College (1941). He also served as the head basketball coach at University of Findlay for four seasons, 1932–33 thru 1935–36,[1] and at the United States Military Academy from 1945 to 1947. After retiring from coaching, Holcomb was the athletic director at Northwestern University (1956–1966) and later the general manager of Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox (1971–1973).

Coaching career

Miami University

Holcomb was named Miami University's head football coach for the 1942 season succeeding Frank Wilton. His first team went 3–6 which equaled the number of wins of the three previous years for the Redskins. The next year Holcomb and the Redskins posted a winning record of 7–2–1. This team was dominated by defense, only allowing their opponents to score in double digits twice; A 34–12 win over Bradley University and a 35–0 blow out loss to Arkansas A&M. In his two years as Miami’s head coach he compiled an overall record of 10–9–1. He left Miami to become an assistant coach for Earl Blaik at the United States Military Academy. He was replaced as Redskins coach by future Pro and College Football Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman who was one of Holcomb's top assistant coaches.

United States Military Academy

While an assistant football coach for the United States Military Academy, Holcomb was head coach of the men’s basketball team for two seasons from 1945 through 1947. He led the cadets to two straight winning seasons of 9–6 and 9–7.

Purdue

During Holcomb’s tenure as Boilermakers head coach he compiled a record of 35–42–4. His best year was 1952 when he led the Boilermakers to a Big Ten Conference co-championship and a #18 ranking in the final poll. Despite having only a 4–3–2 overall record, Holcomb's team played well in conference with a 4–1–1 record. Holcomb’s Purdue teams are, perhaps, best remembered for ending Notre Dame's 39-game unbeaten streak when his Boilermakers defeated the Irish, 28–14, in the second game of the 1950 season. Holcomb was known for developing solid quarterbacks including Bob DeMoss, Dale Samuels and Len Dawson. These players helped grow a strong tradition at Purdue of great quarterback play. On December 12, 1955, After his nine seasons at Purdue, Holcomb left Purdue to accept the athletic director position at the Northwestern University

Professional sports administrator

Holcomb was appointed as the general manager of the Chicago Mustangs, a United Soccer Association franchise owned by Arthur and John Allyn. After the Mustangs folded following the 1968 season, Holcomb was reassigned to the Chicago White Sox, another of the Allyn brothers' business entities, as its public relations director.

He was promoted to replace Ed Short as general manager in September 1970, the last month of a season in which the White Sox finished with its worst record in team history at 56–106. He began overhauling the ballclub by firing manager Don Gutteridge and replacing him with Chuck Tanner (third-base coach Bill Adair served as the interim for ten games during the transition).

Family

Holcomb's three sons played college football: Chip at Northwestern University, Doug at Purdue University, and Bryan at Arizona State University and Florida State University.[2]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Findlay Oilers () (1932–1935)
1932 Findlay 3–2–2
1933 Findlay 5–2
1934 Findlay 3–3
1935 Findlay 4–4
Findlay: 15–11–2
Muskingum Fighting Muskies (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1936–1940)
1936 Muskingum 6–3 5–1 3rd
1937 Muskingum 4–3–2 3–2–2 6th
1938 Muskingum 5–3–2 4–1–1 5th
1939 Muskingum 8–1 6–0 1st
1940 Muskingum 5–2–1 3–1 4th
Muskingum: 28–12–4 21–6–3
Washington & Jefferson Presidents (Independent) (1941)
1941 Washington & Jefferson 5–1–1
Washington & Jefferson: 5–1–1
Miami Redskins (independent) (1942–1943)
1942 Miami 3–6
1943 Miami 7–2–1
Miami: 10–9–1
Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Conference) (1947–1955)
1947 Purdue 5–4 3–3 T–3rd
1948 Purdue 3–6 2–4 T–5th
1949 Purdue 4–5 2–4 8th
1950 Purdue 2–7 1–4 T–8th
1951 Purdue 5–4 4–1 2nd 14
1952 Purdue 4–3–2 4–1–1 T–1st 12 18
1953 Purdue 2–7 2–4 8th
1954 Purdue 5–3–1 3–3 6th
1955 Purdue 5–3–1 4–2 4th
Purdue: 35–42–4 25–23–1
Total: 93–75–12
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
#Rankings from final Coaches Poll.
°Rankings from final AP Poll.

References

  1. ↑ http://static.psbin.com/f/e/5bvjuh4msbsyi5/Men-s_Basketball_Records.pdf
  2. ↑ http://tcha.ecn.purdue.edu:8080/?q=1955
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