Joe Bach

For the Hungarian rabbi, see Joseph Bach.

Joe Bach

Personal information
Date of birth	January 17, 1901(1901-01-17)
Place of birth	Tower, Minnesota
Date of death	October 24, 1966(1966-10-24) (aged 65)
Career information
Position(s)	Lineman / Head Coach
College	Notre Dame
Head coaching record
Career record	21–27–0
Stats
Coaching stats	DatabaseFootball
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1935–1936 1952–1953	Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Steelers

Joseph Anthony Bach (January 17, 1901 – October 24, 1966) was one of Notre Dame's famed "seven mules" and later the head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Pirates (1935–36) and later the renamed Pittsburgh Steelers (1952–53).

At Notre Dame he was a lineman on the 1924 National Title team — the first Irish team to win a championship, and had a pivotal role in Notre Dame's first Rose Bowl trip.

He became the Pirates coach in 1935 directing the young franchise to their best record yet at 4 wins and 8 losses followed by the 1936 campaign in which he coached the Pirates to their first ever non-losing season at 6 wins and 6 losses. He left the team following 1936 to go back into college football.

In 1952, he once again became the head coach for the Steelers. This time he installed the T-formation for the team. Pittsburgh had been the last franchise to operate the single wing. Bach continued as head coach through the 1953 season. The Steelers finished with 5 wins and 7 losses in 1952, and with 6 wins and 6 losses in 1953.