Fred Brice

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Fred Brice
Brice pictured in The Prism 1939, Maine yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1887-12-06)December 6, 1887
Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 10, 1967(1967-01-10) (aged 79)
Pittsfield, New Hampshire, U.S.
Alma materBoston School of Optometry
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1908-1910Pinkerton Academy
1911–1920Manchester Central (NH)
1921–1940Maine
Basketball
1925–1929Maine
Baseball
1926–1935Maine
Head coaching record
Overall79–58–9 (football)
14–31 (basketball)
67–60 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
10 Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1922, 1924–1928, 1931–1934)
Baseball
5 Maine State Series (1926, 1927, 1930–1932)

Fred Mansfield Brice (December 6, 1887 – January 10, 1967) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach.

Early life[edit]

Brice was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and was raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.[1] He graduated from the Boston School of Optometry in 1908 and divided his time between coaching and optometry until he suffered a gas attack during World War I, which led to his doctors recommending he spend more time outside.[2]

Coaching[edit]

Brice began his career at the Pinkerton Academy. He then moved to his alma mater, Manchester High School Central, where he won ten state championships.[2] Brice served as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 1921 to 1940, compiling a record of 79–58–9 and winning 10 Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships. He was known for his use of trick plays. He was crediting with creating the triple pass from the single-wing formation and was credited with being the first coach in the eastern United States to used the spinner play and hidden ball trick.[2] He is the "Brice" in the name of the rivalry game with the New Hampshire Wildcats, the Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket. Brice was also the head basketball coach at Maine from 1925 to 1929, tallying a mark of 14–31, and the school's head baseball coach from 1926 to 1935, amassing a record of 67–60. He retired on December 17, 1940.[2]

Later life[edit]

Brice died at the age of 79 on January 10, 1967, at his home in Pittsfield, New Hampshire.[1]

Head coaching record[edit]

Football[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Maine Black Bears (Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1921–1940)
1921 Maine 2–5–1
1922 Maine 6–2 1st
1923 Maine 5–3
1924 Maine 4–3–1 1st
1925 Maine 5–2–1 1st
1926 Maine 7–1 1st
1927 Maine 6–1 T–1st
1928 Maine 4–1–2 T–1st
1929 Maine 2–5
1930 Maine 3–4
1931 Maine 4–3 1st
1932 Maine 5–1–1 1st
1933 Maine 4–3 1st
1934 Maine 4–3 1st
1935 Maine 3–3–1
1936 Maine 4–3
1937 Maine 2–3–2
1938 Maine 3–4
1939 Maine 5–2
1940 Maine 1–6
Maine: 79–58–9
Total: 79–58–9
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Baseball[edit]

Below is a table of Brice's records as a collegiate head baseball coach.[3][4]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Maine Black Bears (1926–1935)
1926 Maine 6–5
1927 Maine 7–4
1928 Maine 3–9
1929 Maine 8–6
1930 Maine 8–7
1931 Maine 7–6
1932 Maine 9–5
1933 Maine 7–5
1934 Maine 5–7
1935 Maine 7–6
Total: 67–60

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Service Set For Fred Brice". The News-Dispatch. Jeannette, Pennsylvania. United Press International. January 11, 1967. p. 17. Retrieved October 23, 2011 – via Google News.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fred Brice Resigns As Head Football Coach At U. of Maine". The Lewiston Daily Sun. December 18, 1940. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  3. ^ "2014 Maine Baseball Guide". Maine Athletic Media Relations. p. 36. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "Baseball" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 22, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2014.