Ted Bank
Encyclopedia
Theodore Paul "Ted" Bank (December 13, 1897 – June 3, 1986) was an American college football
player, coach and athletic director. Bank was a starting quarterback
for Fielding H. Yost's 1920
and 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team
s. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1923 and began a career in coaching. From 1929 to 1935, he was an assistant football coach at Tulane University
. He also served as the head baseball coach at Tulane in 1930 and 1932, in addition to serving as the university's boxing coach. In 1935, Bank was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho
, positions which he held until January 1941. From February 1941 to January 1945, Bank served in the United States Army
. He was chief of the Army's athletics and recreation branch for three years and attained the rank of colonel. In January 1945, Bank became president of the Athletic Institute of America, a non-profit organization based in Chicago serving to promote physical fitness and athletics in the United States. Bank remained president of the Athletic Institute through 1966.
. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army
at age 18. He served in the Army on the Mexican border and played quarterback for an Army football team. When the United States entered World War I
in 1917, Bank served with the 32nd Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Force
in France. He saw combat in several battles and was gassed and suffered a knee injury from shrapnel. He was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant at age 20, although "a special dispensation had to be secured to make him an officer because he was under 21." Before the end of the war, he was again promoted to first lieutenant. Bank was decorated by both the French and British governments, receiving the French Croix de Guerre. After the war, Bank served with the Army of Occupation
on the Rhine for more than six months.
in 1919. Despite the wartime injury to his knee, Bank tried out for the Michigan Wolverines football
team. A specially constructed knee brace enabled him to play football. In 1919, Bank played halfback on Michigan's freshman football team. In 1920, Bank started three of Michigan's seven games at quarterback. The Wolverines were undefeated and unscored upon in Bank's three games as the starting quarterback—a 21–0 victory over Tulane
, a 14–0 victory over Chicago
and a 3–0 victory over Minnesota
. Press accounts indicated that he was "responsible in large measure" for Michigan's 14–0 victory over Amos Alonzo Stagg
's Chicago Maroons
. The Michigan Alumnus noted:
As a junior in 1921, Bank won the role as Michigan's starting quarterback. He started four of the team's six games at quarterback and a fifth game at left halfback. He was injured during the 1921 season, and Irwin Uteritz
took over as starting quarterback. Michigan did not lose a game in which Bank played quarterback during the 1920 and 1921 seasons. Bank was mentioned by Walter Camp
for All-American honors after the 1921 season and appeared to be a leading All-American candidate in 1922. However, a broken foot kept Bank from playing football as a senior. Several days after sustaining the inury, Bank was married to Madylin Huber of Detroit at the home of his parents. Bank stood with the aid of crutches during the wedding ceremony. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree in 1923.
in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
. Coaching at a school with only 50 male students, Bank's 1925 or 1926 team did not allow a single point to be scored by its opponents.
as a football coach at Tulane University
. He was the freshman coach under Bierman starting in 1929 and became an assistant coach under Ted Cox starting in 1932. During Bank's tenure at Tulane, the football team compiled records of 9–0, 8–1, 11–1, 6–2–1, 6–3–1 and 10–1. Bank also served as the head coach for the Tulane Green Wave baseball
team in 1930 and 1932. He compiled a record of 0–17 as Tulane's baseball coach. The author of a history of Tulane's baseball program noted:
Bank also served as the boxing coach at Tulane. In 1934, he was on a list of candidates to serve as the Texas Longhorns football
coach. At the time, a San Antonio newspaper gave Bank credit for the success of Tulane's backfield stars:
in the 1935 Sugar Bowl
, Bank was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho
. In December 1937, Bank was one of the names included on the list of possible successors to Harry G. Kipke
as the head football coach at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Bank denied interest in replacing Kipke, who was Bank's teammate at Michigan, and told the press, "I am perfectly satisfied at Idaho. I have not been contacted by the Michigan athletic board and would think twice before leaving Idaho." In January 1938, Idaho's Board of Education announced that Bank had signed a three-year contract renewal and would remain as the school's football coach and director of physical education. In six years as the head coach at Idaho, Bank compiled a record of 18–33–3. His best season was 1938, when his football team finished with a record of 6–3–1, including victories over Oregon State
, Utah
, and Utah State, and a tie with Washington
. The 1938 team achieved Idaho's only winning season between 1927 and 1963 and its highest winning percentage between 1927 and 1971.
In 1940, Bank's football team finished with a record of 1–7–1. Bank was fired as the Vandals' head football coach in January 1941 as part of an upheaval that also involved the resignation of the school's basketball coach.
He was placed in charge of a $3 million program to build field house
s and gymnasiums across the country. In February 1942, Bank was promoted from the rank of major to lieutenant colonel, and he eventually attained the rank of colonel. Bank was involved in organizing athletics and recreation in the United States and in overseas theaters of war. He was the chief of the Army's athletics and recreation branch for three years and in 1944 was named assistant to Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Byron, the head of the Army's special services division.
and having the purpose of promoting physical fitness through athletics, recreation and research. As president of the Athletic Institute, Bank advocated the expansion of sports programs and espoused the view that collegiate and high school athletics played an important part in World War II and for the country's future preparedness. In April 1945, Bank noted, "If we had had such a program after the World War up to Pearl Harbor, we wouldn't have had married men with children being drafted, and sent into war zones. We wouldn't have had to take fathers because there wouldn't have been nearly so many rejections by draft boards, nor nearly so many medical discharges." In 1955, Bank delivered a speech in Los Angeles, telling recreation and athletic leaders that, with an increase of more than 11 million youngsters by 1956, there was "a crying need for increased youth instruction and athletic fields in America." Bank remained president of the Athletic Institute for more than 20 years, until his retirement at the end of 1966. At the end of 1966, Bank became the chairman of the board and was replaced as president by former Notre Dame football star, Larry "Moon" Mullins.
In June 1949, Bank received a master's degree in physical education from Springfield College.
In 1951, Bank was the recipient of the Simon A. McNeely Honor Award given annually by The Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education. In 1966, USA Volleyball
awarded him the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award.
In October 1973, the University of Idaho honored Bank (then residing in Palm Desert, California
) with "Coach Bank Day," including a reunion with 85 former Idaho athletes and a dinner in his honor. He has also been inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.
. The rock was given the designation, "Michigan Rock."
Bank died in June 1986 at age 88; he was a resident of Indian Wells, California
, at the time of his death.
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...
player, coach and athletic director. Bank was a starting 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...
for Fielding H. Yost's 1920
1920 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1920 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1920 college football season. The team's head coach was Fielding H. Yost...
and 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team
1921 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1921 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1921 college football season. The team's head coach was Fielding H. Yost. The Wolverines played their home games at Ferry Field.-Schedule:...
s. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1923 and began a career in coaching. From 1929 to 1935, he was an assistant football coach at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. He also served as the head baseball coach at Tulane in 1930 and 1932, in addition to serving as the university's boxing coach. In 1935, Bank was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, positions which he held until January 1941. From February 1941 to January 1945, Bank served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He was chief of the Army's athletics and recreation branch for three years and attained the rank of colonel. In January 1945, Bank became president of the Athletic Institute of America, a non-profit organization based in Chicago serving to promote physical fitness and athletics in the United States. Bank remained president of the Athletic Institute through 1966.
Early years and World War I
Bank attended high school in Flint, MichiganFlint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at age 18. He served in the Army on the Mexican border and played quarterback for an Army football team. When the United States entered World War I
World 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...
in 1917, Bank served with the 32nd Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in France. He saw combat in several battles and was gassed and suffered a knee injury from shrapnel. He was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant at age 20, although "a special dispensation had to be secured to make him an officer because he was under 21." Before the end of the war, he was again promoted to first lieutenant. Bank was decorated by both the French and British governments, receiving the French Croix de Guerre. After the war, Bank served with the Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation
Army of Occupation is a term for an army occupying conquered territory, and has been used for many armies in many eras including:*The Army of Occupation of the U.S...
on the Rhine for more than six months.
University of Michigan
After being discharged from military service, Bank enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1919. Despite the wartime injury to his knee, Bank tried out for the Michigan Wolverines football
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...
team. A specially constructed knee brace enabled him to play football. In 1919, Bank played halfback on Michigan's freshman football team. In 1920, Bank started three of Michigan's seven games at quarterback. The Wolverines were undefeated and unscored upon in Bank's three games as the starting quarterback—a 21–0 victory over Tulane
Tulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
, a 14–0 victory over Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and a 3–0 victory over Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
. Press accounts indicated that he was "responsible in large measure" for Michigan's 14–0 victory over Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg
Amos Alonzo Stagg was an American athlete and pioneering college coach in multiple sports, primarily American football...
's Chicago Maroons
Chicago Maroons football
The Chicago Maroons are the college football team representing the University of Chicago. The Maroons play in NCAA Division III as a member of the University Athletic Association. From 1892 to 1939, the Maroons were a major college football power...
. The Michigan Alumnus noted:
"For hours after the [Chicago] game was over Michigan students and alumni were singing the praises of Theodore Banks [sic], substitute quarterback. Put into the opening lineup almost at the eleventh hour, because of an injury to Jack Dunn, the little sophomore played the greatest game of the day. His generalship was faultless, his open field running was spectacular and above all he kept up the morale of the team in such a fashion that victory was never in doubt."
As a junior in 1921, Bank won the role as Michigan's starting quarterback. He started four of the team's six games at quarterback and a fifth game at left halfback. He was injured during the 1921 season, and Irwin Uteritz
Irwin Uteritz
Irwin Charles "Utz" Uteritz was an American athlete and coach. He played American football and baseball for the University of Michigan from 1921 to 1923. At 140 pounds, he was one of the lightest quarterbacks ever to start for a major college program. Despite his size, Michigan football coach...
took over as starting quarterback. Michigan did not lose a game in which Bank played quarterback during the 1920 and 1921 seasons. Bank was mentioned by Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
for All-American honors after the 1921 season and appeared to be a leading All-American candidate in 1922. However, a broken foot kept Bank from playing football as a senior. Several days after sustaining the inury, Bank was married to Madylin Huber of Detroit at the home of his parents. Bank stood with the aid of crutches during the wedding ceremony. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor of arts degree in 1923.
High school coach
After graduating from Michigan, Bank accepted a position as the head football coach at Patterson High SchoolPatterson High School (Louisiana)
Patterson High School is a high school found in the city of Patterson in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. For more information than this page provides, please visit the .-Athletics:...
in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
St. Mary Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Franklin. As of 2000, the population was 53,500.The Morgan City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of St. Mary Parish.-Geography:...
. Coaching at a school with only 50 male students, Bank's 1925 or 1926 team did not allow a single point to be scored by its opponents.
Tulane
In 1929, Bank was hired by Bernie BiermanBernie Bierman
Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces...
as a football coach at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
. He was the freshman coach under Bierman starting in 1929 and became an assistant coach under Ted Cox starting in 1932. During Bank's tenure at Tulane, the football team compiled records of 9–0, 8–1, 11–1, 6–2–1, 6–3–1 and 10–1. Bank also served as the head coach for the Tulane Green Wave baseball
Tulane Green Wave baseball
The Tulane Green Wave baseball team represents Tulane University in NCAA Division I college baseball.The Green Wave baseball team competes in Conference USA...
team in 1930 and 1932. He compiled a record of 0–17 as Tulane's baseball coach. The author of a history of Tulane's baseball program noted:
"During two different seasons – 1930 and 1932 – Bank compiled a dismal 0–17 record. As a result, the university elected to drop baseball as a varsity sport. The minutes of the Tulane Athletic Council recorded 'a milestone in Tulane athletic history' with the unanimous passage of a motion to 'abolish baseball on campus in 1931 for ever and ever.'"
Bank also served as the boxing coach at Tulane. In 1934, he was on a list of candidates to serve as the Texas Longhorns football
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
coach. At the time, a San Antonio newspaper gave Bank credit for the success of Tulane's backfield stars:
"His results speak for themselves. He has been a vital factor in the development of such backfield stars as Nollie Felts, Francis Payne, Red Dawson, Wop Glover, Johnny McDaniel, Joe Loftin and a dozen others. His boxing teams for five years have either won the Southern championship or been runner-up. They are defending champions again this year.... Bernie Bierman and Ted Cox both declare that Bank could do more to make a varsity player out of a scrub or freshman in a short space of time than anyone they had ever seen. ... His value for scouting duty has been vital, too. He is the chief scout for Coach Cox and one of the best in the business."
Idaho
In February 1935, after Bank's Tulane team finished the 1934 season with a 10–1 record and a victory over TempleTemple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
in the 1935 Sugar Bowl
1935 Sugar Bowl
The 1935 Sugar Bowl was the first Sugar Bowl game and Tulane hosted unbeaten Temple before a crowd of 22,206 in New Orleans. Temple took a 14-0 lead before Tulane came back to win the game 20-14 The game was played at Tulane's home field, so it was technically a home game for the Green Wave...
, Bank was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
. In December 1937, Bank was one of the names included on the list of possible successors to Harry G. Kipke
Harry G. Kipke
Harry George Kipke was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was the head football coach at Michigan State College in 1928 and at the University of Michigan from 1929–1937, compiling a career record of 49–30–5...
as the head football coach at his alma mater, the University of Michigan. Bank denied interest in replacing Kipke, who was Bank's teammate at Michigan, and told the press, "I am perfectly satisfied at Idaho. I have not been contacted by the Michigan athletic board and would think twice before leaving Idaho." In January 1938, Idaho's Board of Education announced that Bank had signed a three-year contract renewal and would remain as the school's football coach and director of physical education. In six years as the head coach at Idaho, Bank compiled a record of 18–33–3. His best season was 1938, when his football team finished with a record of 6–3–1, including victories over Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
, Utah
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
, and Utah State, and a tie with Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
. The 1938 team achieved Idaho's only winning season between 1927 and 1963 and its highest winning percentage between 1927 and 1971.
In 1940, Bank's football team finished with a record of 1–7–1. Bank was fired as the Vandals' head football coach in January 1941 as part of an upheaval that also involved the resignation of the school's basketball coach.
World War II military service
In February 1941, Bank, who had remained in the Army Reserves following his service in World War I, was ordered by the United States War Department to report for active duty in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
He was placed in charge of a $3 million program to build field house
Field House
Field House or Fieldhouse is a common name for indoor sports arenas and stadiums, mostly used for college basketball, volleyball, or ice hockey.-Colorado:*Balch Fieldhouse, University of Colorado...
s and gymnasiums across the country. In February 1942, Bank was promoted from the rank of major to lieutenant colonel, and he eventually attained the rank of colonel. Bank was involved in organizing athletics and recreation in the United States and in overseas theaters of war. He was the chief of the Army's athletics and recreation branch for three years and in 1944 was named assistant to Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Byron, the head of the Army's special services division.
Athletic Institute
In January 1945, Bank was released from the Army and was appointed as the president of the Athletic Institute of America, a non-profit group headquartered in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and having the purpose of promoting physical fitness through athletics, recreation and research. As president of the Athletic Institute, Bank advocated the expansion of sports programs and espoused the view that collegiate and high school athletics played an important part in World War II and for the country's future preparedness. In April 1945, Bank noted, "If we had had such a program after the World War up to Pearl Harbor, we wouldn't have had married men with children being drafted, and sent into war zones. We wouldn't have had to take fathers because there wouldn't have been nearly so many rejections by draft boards, nor nearly so many medical discharges." In 1955, Bank delivered a speech in Los Angeles, telling recreation and athletic leaders that, with an increase of more than 11 million youngsters by 1956, there was "a crying need for increased youth instruction and athletic fields in America." Bank remained president of the Athletic Institute for more than 20 years, until his retirement at the end of 1966. At the end of 1966, Bank became the chairman of the board and was replaced as president by former Notre Dame football star, Larry "Moon" Mullins.
In June 1949, Bank received a master's degree in physical education from Springfield College.
In 1951, Bank was the recipient of the Simon A. McNeely Honor Award given annually by The Society of State Leaders of Health and Physical Education. In 1966, USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball
USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization which serves as the national governing body of volleyball in the United States of America ....
awarded him the George J. Fisher Leader in Volleyball Award.
In October 1973, the University of Idaho honored Bank (then residing in Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
) with "Coach Bank Day," including a reunion with 85 former Idaho athletes and a dinner in his honor. He has also been inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.
Family and later years
Bank and his wife had two children. Their son, Theodore P. Bank II (1923–1981), was an anthropologist and explorer. In 1950, Ted Bank, Sr., and/or Ted Bank,Jr., led an expedition by University of Michigan scientists to the Aleutian Islands and discovered ancient cave dwellings on an unnamed rock off the southwestern tip of Tanaga IslandTanaga Island
Tanaga Island is an island in the western Andreanof Islands, in the southwest part of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The island has a land area of , making it the 33rd largest island in the United States. Its highest point is volcano Mount Tanaga at ....
. The rock was given the designation, "Michigan Rock."
Bank died in June 1986 at age 88; he was a resident of Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley , in between Palm Desert and La Quinta. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,958....
, at the time of his death.