Otto D. Unruh
Encyclopedia
Otto Dean Unruh was an American football
player and coach in the United States. He is one of a group of college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure at the same school, with a 25 year break between coaching his team. In 1960, Unruh wrote the book How To Coach Winning Football and is credited with inventing the "T-Wing" offensive football formation, having run the play as early as 1938. He is a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
.
for the Kansas Jayhawks
under head coach Phog Allen
before his graduation in 1926.
Threshers located in North Newton, Kansas
. He held that position for 17 seasons, from 1929 until 1942 and then again took the position for three more seasons, from 1967 through 1969 (making him one of the college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure as a head coach at the same school). His coaching record at Bethel was 53 wins, 76 losses and 6 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #2 at Bethel in total wins and #6 at the school in winning percentage . Bethel College honored his legacy by inducting him into the schools athletic hall of fame.
. While teaching high school he was coach of both football and track teams and the high school stadium bears his name. In 2004, the school added him to their "Hall of Fame" for his accomplishments.
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 in the United States. He is one of a group of college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure at the same school, with a 25 year break between coaching his team. In 1960, Unruh wrote the book How To Coach Winning Football and is credited with inventing the "T-Wing" offensive football formation, having run the play as early as 1938. He is a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
Kansas Sports Hall of Fame
The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is a museum located in Wichita, Kansas, dedicated to preserving the history of sports in the state of Kansas. The museum provides exhibits, archives, facilities, services, and activities to honor those individuals and teams whose achievements in sports brought...
.
Playing career
Unruh played one season of basketballBasketball
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...
for the Kansas Jayhawks
Kansas Jayhawks
The sports teams at the University of Kansas are known as the Jayhawks. They are one of three schools in the state of Kansas that participate in NCAA Division I. The Jayhawks are also a member of the Big 12 Conference...
under head coach Phog Allen
Phog Allen
Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen was an American basketball and baseball player, coach of American football, basketball, and baseball, college athletics administrator, and osteopathic physician...
before his graduation in 1926.
Bethel College
Unruh was the head football coach for the BethelBethel College (Kansas)
Bethel College is a private college affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. The college is located on the edge of the Flint Hills and the vast wheat fields of south central Kansas in the town of North Newton...
Threshers located in North Newton, Kansas
North Newton, Kansas
North Newton is a city in Harvey County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,759. The city of Newton is located next to the city, but it not part of North Newton. North Newton is home of Bethel College, which has approximately 500 students.-Geography:North...
. He held that position for 17 seasons, from 1929 until 1942 and then again took the position for three more seasons, from 1967 through 1969 (making him one of the college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure as a head coach at the same school). His coaching record at Bethel was 53 wins, 76 losses and 6 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #2 at Bethel in total wins and #6 at the school in winning percentage . Bethel College honored his legacy by inducting him into the schools athletic hall of fame.
High school
In between his two times as head coach at Bethel, Unruh was a high school teacher at Clay Center Community High School in Clay Center, KansasClay Center, Kansas
Clay Center is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,334.-Geography:Clay Center is located at...
. While teaching high school he was coach of both football and track teams and the high school stadium bears his name. In 2004, the school added him to their "Hall of Fame" for his accomplishments.