John Kellison
Encyclopedia
John Snowden Kellison was a professional football
player in the National Football League
with the Canton Bulldogs
and the Toledo Maroons
. He also was an athletic director
at Marietta College
as well as William & Mary College. He later became a the head coach
for William and Mary's football and basketball
teams. In the 1940s he was an assistant coach, under Greasy Neale, for the Philadelphia Eagles
.
personnel playing professionally, Neale, Kellison and Pete Calac
all got wind of the news and briefly left the team.
During his time in Canton
Kellison and the Bulldogs won three Ohio League
championships, in 1916, 1917 and 1919.
After his playing days, Kellison became the athletic director at Marietta College. He resigned from the position at Marietta to become the athletic director at William and Mary College. He later became the head coach for the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball
team from 1929–1934, and then again from 1937–1939. During his first stint as coach, William & Mary had not yet joined any athletic conference, thus his overall record was 59–30. In 1936 the Tribe became a member school of the Southern Conference
, so Kellison's second tenure saw him lead W&M to a 4–17 conference record (11–22 overall). For his cumulative coaching career record, Kellison finished at 4–17 in conference and 70–33 overall. His 67.9% winning percentage is second all-time to Bernard E. Wilson
for William & Mary coaches with at least 100 games coached.
Kellison was also the head coach for the William & Mary football team from 1931–1934, compiling a 21–17–2 record. In 1942 John was made an assistant coach, by Neale, for the Philadelphia Eagles
.
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 in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Canton Bulldogs
Canton Bulldogs
The Canton Bulldogs were a professional American football team, based in Canton, Ohio. They played in the Ohio League from 1903 to 1906 and 1911 to 1919, and its successor, the National Football League, from 1920 to 1923 and again from 1925 to 1926. The Bulldogs would go on to win the 1917, 1918...
and the Toledo Maroons
Toledo Maroons
The Toledo Maroons were a professional American football team based in Toledo, Ohio in the National Football League in 1922 and 1923. Prior to joining the NFL, the Maroons played in the unofficial "Ohio League" from 1902 until 1921.-Origins:...
. He also was an athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
as well as William & Mary College. He later became a the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for William and Mary's football and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams. In the 1940s he was an assistant coach, under Greasy Neale, for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Playing career
John joined the Bulldogs in 1915 along with Greasy Neale, whom Kellison served under as an assistant coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. When Neale and Kellison first played with Bulldogs, they assumed aliases for fear they’d be fired from their coaching jobs if it came out they were involved with pro football - at the time, most college presidents looked down upon the professional game. So for their first few years with the Bulldogs, Kellison took the name "Keller", while Neale took the name "Foster". When a delegation from West Virginia Wesleyan made surprise visit to a Bulldogs game in 1916 to investigate allegations of college footballCollege 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...
personnel playing professionally, Neale, Kellison and Pete Calac
Pete Calac
Pedro "Pete" Calac was a professional football player who played in the Ohio League and during the early years of the National Football League...
all got wind of the news and briefly left the team.
During his time in Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Kellison and the Bulldogs won three Ohio League
Ohio League
The Ohio League was an informal and loose association of American football clubs active between 1903 and 1919 that competed for the Ohio Independent Championship . As the name implied, its teams were based in Ohio...
championships, in 1916, 1917 and 1919.
After his playing days, Kellison became the athletic director at Marietta College. He resigned from the position at Marietta to become the athletic director at William and Mary College. He later became the head coach for the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball
William & Mary Tribe men's basketball
The William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team represents The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Colonial Athletic Association and play their home games in Kaplan Arena....
team from 1929–1934, and then again from 1937–1939. During his first stint as coach, William & Mary had not yet joined any athletic conference, thus his overall record was 59–30. In 1936 the Tribe became a member school of the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
, so Kellison's second tenure saw him lead W&M to a 4–17 conference record (11–22 overall). For his cumulative coaching career record, Kellison finished at 4–17 in conference and 70–33 overall. His 67.9% winning percentage is second all-time to Bernard E. Wilson
Bernard E. Wilson
Bernard E. "Barney" Wilson was the head coach for the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team from 1947-51. He led the Tribe to a 43-20 mark in Southern Conference play and 80-40 overall. Wilson holds the W&M all-time highest win percentage for men's basketball coaches who have coached 100+...
for William & Mary coaches with at least 100 games coached.
Kellison was also the head coach for the William & Mary football team from 1931–1934, compiling a 21–17–2 record. In 1942 John was made an assistant coach, by Neale, for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.