Arthur Valpey
Encyclopedia
Arthur L. Valpey was an American football
player and coach.
A native of Dayton, Ohio
, Valpey was an all-state halfback at Dayton's Steele High School. Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan
in 1934, where freshman football coach Wally Weber
moved him to the end position. Valpey played end for the 1935, 1936 and 1937 Michigan Wolverines football teams coached by Harry Kipke.
After graduating, Valpey became a high school football coach for five years, working for one year each in Ida, Michigan, and Manchester, Michigan
, and eventually at Midland, Michigan
. He was next hired in April 1940 to serve as the head football coach and athletic director at Midland High School
, where he remained for three years. Valpey was hired as the freshman line coach at the University of Michigan at the end of the 1942 season and was on the school's coaching staff from 1943 through 1947. In 1945 and 1946, Valpey became the chief scout and line coach under Michigan's legendary coach Fritz Crisler
. In 1947, Valpey served as the ends coach for the undefeated Michigan team that is considered the greatest football team in the school's history. Under Valpey's tutelage, both of Michigan's starting ends Bob Mann
and Len Ford
were selected as second- and third-team All-Americans for the 1947 season.
In February 1948, Valpey was hired by Harvard University
as its head football coach, succeeding retiring coach Dick Harlow
. Valpey won his first game as the head coach at Harvard, becoming the last Harvard coach to accomplish that feat until 1994. Valpey was Harvard's football coach in 1948 and 1949. In his first season, Harvard's football team had a 4–4 record, but in his second season as coach, the team compiled a 1–9 record, reported at the time to be "the worst season in the history of Harvard football." Despite the team's poor record in 1949, Valpey became a popular member of the Harvard community. When Valpey announced in February 1950 that he had accepted the heach coaching job at the University of Connecticut
, The Harvard Crimson
wrote the following about Valpey:
When he left Harvard, Valpey still had a year remaining on his contract, and told the press that Harvard had given him permission to negotiate for a new job, though he had also been told he could remain at Harvard fort he 1950 season.
Valpey was the head football coach at the University of Connecticut in the 1950 and 1951 seasons, compiling records of 3–5 in 1950 and 4–4 in 1951.
In July 1952, Valpey was replaced as Connecticut's head coach by Bob Ingalls. Valpay told reporters at the time that he intended to go into private business.
Valpey died in March 2007 at age 91. His last residence was at Boothbay Harbor, Maine.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach.
A native of Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, Valpey was an all-state halfback at Dayton's Steele High School. Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1934, where freshman football coach Wally Weber
Wally Weber
Walter J. Weber was an American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. He played halfback and fullback for the Wolverines in 1925 and 1926 on the same teams as Benny Friedman and Bennie Oosterbaan. He later became an assistant football coach at Michigan for 28 years from 1931 to...
moved him to the end position. Valpey played end for the 1935, 1936 and 1937 Michigan Wolverines football teams coached by Harry Kipke.
After graduating, Valpey became a high school football coach for five years, working for one year each in Ida, Michigan, and Manchester, Michigan
Manchester, Michigan
Manchester is a village in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Manchester Township.-Chicago Road:...
, and eventually at Midland, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. He was next hired in April 1940 to serve as the head football coach and athletic director at Midland High School
Midland High School (Midland, Michigan)
Midland High School is a three-story public high school located in Midland, Michigan. It is the older of two high schools in the Midland Public Schools district, and a member of the Saginaw Valley High School Association.-History:...
, where he remained for three years. Valpey was hired as the freshman line coach at the University of Michigan at the end of the 1942 season and was on the school's coaching staff from 1943 through 1947. In 1945 and 1946, Valpey became the chief scout and line coach under Michigan's legendary coach Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
. In 1947, Valpey served as the ends coach for the undefeated Michigan team that is considered the greatest football team in the school's history. Under Valpey's tutelage, both of Michigan's starting ends Bob Mann
Bob Mann (American football)
Robert "Bob" Mann was an American football end. A native of New Bern, North Carolina, Mann played college football at Hampton Institute in 1942 and 1943 and at the University of Michigan in 1944, 1946 and 1947. He broke the Big Ten Conference record for receiving yardage in 1946 and again in 1947...
and Len Ford
Len Ford
Leonard Guy Ford, Jr. was an American football defensive end. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976.He played two years for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference...
were selected as second- and third-team All-Americans for the 1947 season.
In February 1948, Valpey was hired by Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
as its head football coach, succeeding retiring coach Dick Harlow
Dick Harlow
Richard Cresson "Dick" Harlow was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Pennsylvania State University , Colgate University , Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College , and Harvard University , compiling a career...
. Valpey won his first game as the head coach at Harvard, becoming the last Harvard coach to accomplish that feat until 1994. Valpey was Harvard's football coach in 1948 and 1949. In his first season, Harvard's football team had a 4–4 record, but in his second season as coach, the team compiled a 1–9 record, reported at the time to be "the worst season in the history of Harvard football." Despite the team's poor record in 1949, Valpey became a popular member of the Harvard community. When Valpey announced in February 1950 that he had accepted the heach coaching job at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, The Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson, the daily student newspaper of Harvard University, was founded in 1873. It is the only daily newspaper in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is run entirely by Harvard College undergraduates...
wrote the following about Valpey:
"There was every reason for him to go to Connectient: his contract was due to run out next fall, he was faced with a schedule which is sure to produce few victories; and in that situation, the Provost could not be expected to guarantee a contract renewal at this early date. Valpey, being young, has to think of the future. All these considerations made the decision clear. But Harvard will not only be losing a coach who has a keen eye for his professional future. Art Valpey has managed to build up, through a fairly dismal two year period, a respect and affection in associates that has been remarkable."
When he left Harvard, Valpey still had a year remaining on his contract, and told the press that Harvard had given him permission to negotiate for a new job, though he had also been told he could remain at Harvard fort he 1950 season.
Valpey was the head football coach at the University of Connecticut in the 1950 and 1951 seasons, compiling records of 3–5 in 1950 and 4–4 in 1951.
In July 1952, Valpey was replaced as Connecticut's head coach by Bob Ingalls. Valpay told reporters at the time that he intended to go into private business.
Valpey died in March 2007 at age 91. His last residence was at Boothbay Harbor, Maine.