Edward McKeever
Encyclopedia
Edward Clark Timothy McKeever (August 25, 1910 – September 13, 1974) was an American football
player, coach, and executive. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame
(1944) and Cornell University
(1945–1946) and the University of San Francisco
(1947), compiling a career college football
record of 25–12–1. From 1960 to 1961, McKeever was the general manager of the American Football League
's Boston Patriots
A native of Texas, McKeever originally attended Notre Dame in 1930 and 1931 and transferred to Texas Tech University
, where he played football from 1932 to 1934. He launched his coaching career in 1935 as backfield coach at Texas Tech, where he remained through 1938. In 1939 and 1940, McKeever was on Frank Leahy
's staff at Boston College
. He came to Notre Dame along with Leahy in 1941 and served as an assistant through 1943, and was named interim head coach in 1944 when Leahy entered the United States Navy
. McKeever gained a spot in the Notre Dame record books by presiding over the worst defeat in school history, a 59–0 rout by Army
. in 1945, McKeever moved on to Cornell as head coach, where he remained for two seasons. In 1947, he became head coach at the University of San Francisco and the following season served as head coach of the Chicago Rockets
of the All-American Football Conference. In 1949, he joined the staff at LSU
and in 1960 became general manager of the Boston Patriots
.
McKeever died on September 13, 1974.
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, coach, and executive. He served as the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
(1944) and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
(1945–1946) and the University of San Francisco
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco , is a private, Jesuit/Catholic university located in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1855, USF was established as the first university in San Francisco. It is the second oldest institution for higher learning in California and the tenth-oldest university of...
(1947), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 25–12–1. From 1960 to 1961, McKeever was the general manager of the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
's Boston Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
A native of Texas, McKeever originally attended Notre Dame in 1930 and 1931 and transferred to Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, where he played football from 1932 to 1934. He launched his coaching career in 1935 as backfield coach at Texas Tech, where he remained through 1938. In 1939 and 1940, McKeever was on Frank Leahy
Frank Leahy
Francis William Leahy was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive...
's staff at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. He came to Notre Dame along with Leahy in 1941 and served as an assistant through 1943, and was named interim head coach in 1944 when Leahy entered the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. McKeever gained a spot in the Notre Dame record books by presiding over the worst defeat in school history, a 59–0 rout by Army
1944 Army Cadets football team
The 1944 Army Black Knights football team represents the United States Military Academy. Led by head coach Red Blaik, the team finished with a perfect 9-0 season. The Black Knights offense scored 504 points, while the defense allowed 35 points. At the season’s end, the team won the National...
. in 1945, McKeever moved on to Cornell as head coach, where he remained for two seasons. In 1947, he became head coach at the University of San Francisco and the following season served as head coach of the Chicago Rockets
Chicago Rockets
The Chicago Rockets was an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During the 1949 season, the team was known as the Chicago Hornets...
of the All-American Football Conference. In 1949, he joined the staff at LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
and in 1960 became general manager of the Boston Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
McKeever died on September 13, 1974.
Head coaching record
External links
- Edward McKeever at Pro-Football-Reference.com