George Malley
Encyclopedia
George L. Malley was an American football
coach. He served as the head coach of the San Francisco Dons at the University of San Francisco
from 1936 to 1940. Before that, he had success as a high school football coach at St. Ignatius High School
from 1929 to 1935.
, where he played college football
. He served as the team captain in the early 1920s. Malley earned a Bachelor of Philosophy
and a Bachelor of Laws
.
He then coached football
at St. Ignatius High School
beginning in 1929. He also served on the faculty at the school and taught civics
and sociology
. St. Ignatius went undefeated from September 1937 until December 1939, when they were finally beaten by Loyola High School of Los Angeles, 12–7, in the California state Catholic prep school championship. The success of Malley's teams prompted the school to promote the program back to the AAA level. In 1934, the San Francisco Chronicle
compared his 1935 team to Notre Dame
under Knute Rockne
:
Malley could not extend his interscholastic success to the college level, however. At the University of San Francisco
, he amassed an 18–20–8 record during his tenure from 1936 to 1940. In 1939, a San Francisco newspaper article before the game against Loyola
had a headline quote that referred to Malley's worries over the hot weather conditions his team would face in Los Angeles
. A San Jose Evening News writer sardonically noted that, with Malley's extensive bad luck on the football field, "the heat may be on from several sources!" Malley resigned as San Francisco head coach in February 1941.
Malley was named among the "Legends of USF Athletics" in 2005. His son, Pat Malley, coached football at Santa Clara University
from 1959 to 1984. His grandson, Terry Malley, succeeded Pat Malley as Santa Clara head coach.
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...
coach. He served as the head coach of the San Francisco Dons at 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...
from 1936 to 1940. Before that, he had success as a high school football coach at St. Ignatius High School
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
St. Ignatius College Preparatory is a preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1855. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, in the Sunset District of San Francisco, St. Ignatius is one of the oldest secondary schools in the U.S. state...
from 1929 to 1935.
Biography
Malley attended Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
, where he played 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...
. He served as the team captain in the early 1920s. Malley earned a Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy
Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree. The degree usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects...
and a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
.
He then coached football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at St. Ignatius High School
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
St. Ignatius College Preparatory is a preparatory school in the Jesuit tradition serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1855. Located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, in the Sunset District of San Francisco, St. Ignatius is one of the oldest secondary schools in the U.S. state...
beginning in 1929. He also served on the faculty at the school and taught civics
Civics
Civics is the study of rights and duties of citizenship. In other words, it is the study of government with attention to the role of citizens ― as opposed to external factors ― in the operation and oversight of government....
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. St. Ignatius went undefeated from September 1937 until December 1939, when they were finally beaten by Loyola High School of Los Angeles, 12–7, in the California state Catholic prep school championship. The success of Malley's teams prompted the school to promote the program back to the AAA level. In 1934, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
compared his 1935 team to Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
under Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
:
"Today in San Francisco is an unsung, unnoted football team that embodies about everything that Notre Dame teams of years ago stood for—rambling, fight and Irish—and undefeated records. That team belongs to St. Ignatius High School. The Ignatians ramble over California a bit, next year they may even trek to Reno; Irish names dominate the lineup and the record is clean—not even one point is tabbed for opponents."
Malley could not extend his interscholastic success to the college level, however. At 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...
, he amassed an 18–20–8 record during his tenure from 1936 to 1940. In 1939, a San Francisco newspaper article before the game against Loyola
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
had a headline quote that referred to Malley's worries over the hot weather conditions his team would face in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. A San Jose Evening News writer sardonically noted that, with Malley's extensive bad luck on the football field, "the heat may be on from several sources!" Malley resigned as San Francisco head coach in February 1941.
Malley was named among the "Legends of USF Athletics" in 2005. His son, Pat Malley, coached football at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
from 1959 to 1984. His grandson, Terry Malley, succeeded Pat Malley as Santa Clara head coach.