Paul Sheeks
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1889 Grand Rapids, North Dakota |
| Died | September 17, 1968 (aged 78) Akron, Ohio |
| Alma mater | Dakota Wesleyan, South Dakota |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1910–1914 | South Dakota |
| 1921–1922 | Akron Pros |
| Basketball | |
| 1910–1914 | South Dakota |
| Position(s) | End, quarterback (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1915–1916 | Wabash |
| Basketball | |
| 1916–1917 | Wabash |
| 1937–1941 | Akron Firestone Non-Skids |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 14–2–1 (college football) 19–2 (college basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| |
| Awards | |
| |
Paul Preston "Pepper" Sheeks (October 18, 1889 – September 17, 1968) was an American football and basketball player and coach. He played professional football with the Akron Pros of the National Football League (NFL) in 1922 and 1923. Before he joined the NFL, Sheeks played college football and college basketball at the University of South Dakota.
He then became the 20th head college football coach for the Wabash College Little Giants located in Crawfordsville, Indiana and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916. In 1915 Sheeks guided the Little Giants to a 7–0–1 record.[1] Wabash would not have another undefeated season until 1951.[2] Sheek's football coaching record at Wabash was 14–2–1 ties, ranking him 11th at Wabash in total wins and second at the school in winning percentage (.853).[3] Sheeks was also coached the Wabash College basketball team, from 1916 to 1917. In just one year of coaching, Sheeks led Wabash basketball team to a 19–2 record.[1]
After World War I, Sheeks became the recreation director of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Through this position, he coached the Akron Red Peppers bantamweight football team to national recognition in 1935.[4]
In 1935 Sheeks helped found the National Basketball League, considered a predecessor of the National Basketball Association.[5] He later became the coach of the Akron Firestone Non-Skids winning two league championships and was named NBL Coach of Year twice in 1939 and 1940.[6]
Head coaching record
College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash Little Giants (Independent) (1915) | |||||||||
| 1915 | Wabash | 7–0–1 | |||||||
| Wabash Little Giants (Indiana College Athletic League) (1916) | |||||||||
| 1916 | Wabash | 7–2 | 1st | ||||||
| Wabash: | 14–2–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 14–2–1 | ||||||||
References
- ^ a b "Wabash Athletics History". Wabash College. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ "Wabash College Athletics Hall of Fame, 1951 Football Team". Wabash College. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ Winningest Coach By Percentage (PDF). Wabash College. p. 74. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ "Paul "Pepper" Sheeks". Summit County Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ McCormick, Mick (February 9, 2009). "Historical Perspective: George Chestnut and pioneer pro basketball in Indiana". Tribune-Star. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
- ^ http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/basketball/nba/nbl.htm
External links
- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·
 | This biographical article relating to a college football coach first appointed in the 1910s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1889 births
- 1968 deaths
- American football ends
- American football quarterbacks
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball coaches from North Dakota
- Basketball players from North Dakota
- Akron Firestone Non-Skids coaches
- Akron Pros coaches
- Akron Pros players
- Dakota Wesleyan Tigers men's basketball players
- People from LaMoure County, North Dakota
- Players of American football from North Dakota
- South Dakota Coyotes football players
- South Dakota Coyotes men's basketball players
- Wabash Little Giants basketball coaches
- Wabash Little Giants football coaches
- College football coaches first appointed in the 1910s stubs