Howell Hollis
Encyclopedia
Howell T. Hollis was an American
college football player, coach and athletic director, best known as the men's golf
head coach for the University of Georgia
from 1946 – 1970.
Hollis played football for the Georgia Bulldogs
in the 1920s as a quarterback
, placekicker
and kick returner
. He coached football at Georgia after his playing days were over. Hollis served in the Navy
during World War II
. After the war ended in 1945, he returned to coaching at the University of Georgia. He was named coach for the men's golf team in 1946. During his tenure, Hollis took 13 of his 25 teams to the NCAA Championships, which included eight top-10 finishes. Hollis' Bulldog teams claimed 13 Southeastern Conference titles (1950–52,1957–59,1961–65,1969–70), and he had 10 individual conference champions. The first of those, George Hamer, also won the NCAA Championship
in 1946.
Hollis stepped down following the 1970 season and became athletic director in 1971. His successor was Dick Copas, who went on to achieve a similar level of success as he guided the program from 1971 – 1996.
Hollis was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on February 16, 1973. The University hands out an award in his name every year to the golfer with the highest grade point average.
Hollis' son and grandson, Howell Jr. and Howell III, became prominent lawyers in Georgia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college football player, coach and athletic director, best known as the men's golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
head coach for the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
from 1946 – 1970.
Hollis played football for the Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
in the 1920s as a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
. He coached football at Georgia after his playing days were over. Hollis served in the 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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war ended in 1945, he returned to coaching at the University of Georgia. He was named coach for the men's golf team in 1946. During his tenure, Hollis took 13 of his 25 teams to the NCAA Championships, which included eight top-10 finishes. Hollis' Bulldog teams claimed 13 Southeastern Conference titles (1950–52,1957–59,1961–65,1969–70), and he had 10 individual conference champions. The first of those, George Hamer, also won the NCAA Championship
NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships
The NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships, played in late May or early June, is the top annual competition in U.S. men's collegiate golf. It is a stroke play team competition, starting in 2009 the competition changed to a stroke play/match play competition with the top 8 teams after 54 holes of...
in 1946.
Hollis stepped down following the 1970 season and became athletic director in 1971. His successor was Dick Copas, who went on to achieve a similar level of success as he guided the program from 1971 – 1996.
Hollis was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame on February 16, 1973. The University hands out an award in his name every year to the golfer with the highest grade point average.
Hollis' son and grandson, Howell Jr. and Howell III, became prominent lawyers in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.