Sam Willaman
Encyclopedia
Samuel Stienneck Willaman (April 4, 1891 – August 18, 1935) was an American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at Iowa State University
(1922–1925), Ohio State University
(1929–1933), and Western Reserve University
(1934), compliling a career college football
record of 47–26–9. At Iowa State, Willaman integrated
the team by playing Jack Trice
.
, halfback
, and fullback
. He lettered
in 1911 and 1913. In 1913 he was named All-Ohio. In 1921 he was selected to the Ohio State football all-time team at second-team halfback behind Chic Harley
and Pete Stinchcomb
.
While a student at Ohio State, Willaman was a member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity
. After graduating in 1915, he became a high school football head coach. He had earlier coached at a high school in Alliance, Ohio
, and in 1915 he was hired as head coach at Cleveland's East Technical High School
. At this time he also began playing halfback for Peggy Parratt
's Akron Indians
football team. Playing professional football was not forbidden in Willaman's East Tech contract, but playing football for money was frowned upon at the time in academic circles. For this reason, Willaman played professionally under the name Sam Williams.
In 1917, Willaman joined the Canton Bulldogs
, where he played with Jim Thorpe
. In Canton, Willaman moved to end, the position where he had started his college playing career. He was also Thorpe's backup at halfback. The 1917 Bulldogs finished the season 9–1 and were named champions of professional football.
disrupted professional football, and Willaman began focusing primarily on coaching. His success at East Tech caught the attention of colleges.
. Willaman was the 13th head football coach for the Iowa State University Cyclones
held that position for four seasons, from 1922 until 1925. At the time Willaman came to Iowa State, the school had not had much success in football; they had employed three head coaches in the prior three years. In his first season, Willaman's team finished with a 2–6 record, but posted a winning record in each of the three years that followed. His career coaching record at Iowa state was 14–15–3. This ranks him 16th in total wins and 13th in winning percentage in Iowa State football history.
When Willaman first arrived at Iowa state, he brought with him six of his East Tech players, including an African-American named Jack Trice
. Trice was the first African-American player at Iowa State, and one of the first to play college football
in that region of the country. Trice suffered a severe injury during a game at the University of Minnesota
in 1923, and died from complications.
, invited him to return to his alma mater as an assistant coach. Wilce designated Willaman as his successor. Following the 1928 season, Wilce resigned. Immediately following, Notre Dame
's coach Knute Rockne
informed Ohio State that he was interested in the position. Rockne was trying to get a better deal at Notre Dame and was using the open Ohio State job as leverage. Willaman waited while Ohio State and Rockne negotiated. Ultimately Rockne stayed at Notre Dame, and Ohio State hired Willaman.
Willaman posted a 26–10–4 record at Ohio State. The Dunkel College Football Index named Willaman's 1933 Ohio State team
as the best that season in the country. Despite his success, Willaman's teams were accused of underperforming. Despite fielding many All-American
players, including the legendary Wes Fesler
, Ohio State never won a Big Ten Conference
title under Willaman. Worse, he held a losing record (2–3) against the Buckeyes' arch rival, Michigan
. Yielding to pressure, Willaman resigned after the 1933 season to take the head coaching position at Western Reserve University
. He coached Western Reserve to a 7–1–1 record in 1934. Willaman died following an emergency operation on August 18, 1935.
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. He served as the head coach at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
(1922–1925), Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(1929–1933), and Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
(1934), compliling 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 47–26–9. At Iowa State, Willaman integrated
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
the team by playing Jack Trice
Jack Trice
Johnny "Jack" Trice was a football player who became the first African-American athlete from Iowa State College...
.
Playing career
In college, Willaman played for Ohio State at endEnd (football)
An end in American football is a player who lines up at either end of the line of scrimmage. Rules state that a legal offensive formation must always consist of seven players on the line of scrimmage. An end who lines up close to the offensive line is known as a tight end, while one who lines up...
, halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. He lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in 1911 and 1913. In 1913 he was named All-Ohio. In 1921 he was selected to the Ohio State football all-time team at second-team halfback behind Chic Harley
Chic Harley
Charles William "Chic" Harley was one of the outstanding American football players of the first half of the 20th century and the player who first brought the Ohio State University football program to national attention. Harley was Ohio State's first consensus first-team All-America selection and...
and Pete Stinchcomb
Gaylord Stinchcomb
Gaylord Roscoe "Pete" Stinchcomb was an American football player. He played quarterback and halfback at Ohio State University where he was selected as an All-American in 1920. He later played professional football for the Chicago Bears , Columbus Tigers , Cleveland Indians , and Louisville...
.
While a student at Ohio State, Willaman was a member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity
Sigma Pi
Sigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
. After graduating in 1915, he became a high school football head coach. He had earlier coached at a high school in Alliance, Ohio
Alliance, Ohio
Alliance is a city in Stark and Mahoning counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 22,322 at the 2010 census. Alliance's nickname is "The Carnation City", and the city is home to the University of Mount Union....
, and in 1915 he was hired as head coach at Cleveland's East Technical High School
East Technical High School
East Technical High School or East Tech is a secondary school under the operation of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, Ohio.-History:...
. At this time he also began playing halfback for Peggy Parratt
Peggy Parratt
George Watson "Peggy" Parratt was a professional football player who played in the "Ohio League" prior to it becoming a part of the National Football League...
's Akron Indians
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
football team. Playing professional football was not forbidden in Willaman's East Tech contract, but playing football for money was frowned upon at the time in academic circles. For this reason, Willaman played professionally under the name Sam Williams.
In 1917, Willaman joined 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...
, where he played with Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
. In Canton, Willaman moved to end, the position where he had started his college playing career. He was also Thorpe's backup at halfback. The 1917 Bulldogs finished the season 9–1 and were named champions of professional football.
Coaching career
World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
disrupted professional football, and Willaman began focusing primarily on coaching. His success at East Tech caught the attention of colleges.
Iowa State
In 1922 he took the head coaching position at Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. Willaman was the 13th head football coach for the Iowa State University Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
held that position for four seasons, from 1922 until 1925. At the time Willaman came to Iowa State, the school had not had much success in football; they had employed three head coaches in the prior three years. In his first season, Willaman's team finished with a 2–6 record, but posted a winning record in each of the three years that followed. His career coaching record at Iowa state was 14–15–3. This ranks him 16th in total wins and 13th in winning percentage in Iowa State football history.
When Willaman first arrived at Iowa state, he brought with him six of his East Tech players, including an African-American named Jack Trice
Jack Trice
Johnny "Jack" Trice was a football player who became the first African-American athlete from Iowa State College...
. Trice was the first African-American player at Iowa State, and one of the first to play 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...
in that region of the country. Trice suffered a severe injury during a game at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
in 1923, and died from complications.
Ohio State
In 1926, Willaman's former coach at Ohio State, John WilceJohn Wilce
John Woodworth "Jack" Wilce was an American football player and coach, physician, and university professor. He served as the head football coach at Ohio State University from 1913 to 1928, compiling a record of 78–33–9...
, invited him to return to his alma mater as an assistant coach. Wilce designated Willaman as his successor. Following the 1928 season, Wilce resigned. Immediately following, 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...
's coach 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...
informed Ohio State that he was interested in the position. Rockne was trying to get a better deal at Notre Dame and was using the open Ohio State job as leverage. Willaman waited while Ohio State and Rockne negotiated. Ultimately Rockne stayed at Notre Dame, and Ohio State hired Willaman.
Willaman posted a 26–10–4 record at Ohio State. The Dunkel College Football Index named Willaman's 1933 Ohio State team
1933 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1933 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1933-1934. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–1, the one loss to Michigan. Ohio State outscored their opponents 161-26 in Sam Willaman's last year as head coach...
as the best that season in the country. Despite his success, Willaman's teams were accused of underperforming. Despite fielding many All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
players, including the legendary Wes Fesler
Wes Fesler
Wesley Eugene "Wes" Fesler was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He was three-sport athlete at Ohio State University and a consensus first-team selection to the College Football All-America Team three straight years...
, Ohio State never won a Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
title under Willaman. Worse, he held a losing record (2–3) against the Buckeyes' arch rival, Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
. Yielding to pressure, Willaman resigned after the 1933 season to take the head coaching position at Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
. He coached Western Reserve to a 7–1–1 record in 1934. Willaman died following an emergency operation on August 18, 1935.