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Bob Clifford (American football)

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Bob Clifford
Biographical details
Born(1913-10-10)October 10, 1913
East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJanuary 28, 2006(2006-01-28) (aged 92)
Epsom, New Hampshire, U.S.
Playing career
1935–1937Western State (CO)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1939–1940Sugar City HS (CO)
1941Littleton HS (CO)
1946Washington Irving HS (NY)
1947–1950Northwestern (freshmen)
1951–1953Northwestern (line)
1954–1955Williams (line)
1956–1961Colby
1962–1969Vermont
Head coaching record
Overall60–48–1

Robert E. Clifford (October 10, 1913 – January 28, 2006)[1] was an American football player and coach. Following his playing career at Western Colorado University, he served as the head football coach at Colby College in Waterville, Maine from 1956 to 1961 and at the University of Vermont from 1962 to 1969. He is the winningest coach in Vermont history.[2] He compiled a career college football coaching record of 60–48–1.[3][4]

Biography

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Clifford was born in East Orange, New Jersey and raised in Ware, Massachusetts and New Haven, Connecticut.[5] He graduated from Wilbur Cross High School and Western State College, where he was captain of the football and golf teams and a member of the basketball team.[6] He received his B.A. from Western State in 1939 and began his coaching career at Sugar City High School in Sugar City, Colorado.[5] In 1941, he moved to Littleton High School in Littleton, Colorado.[7] During World War II, he was a PT boat captain in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Borneo.[5] From 1946 to 1947, Clifford did graduate work in health and administration at Teachers College, Columbia University and coached football and basketball at Washington Irving High School in Tarrytown, New York.[5]

In 1947, Clifford joined the athletic staff at Northwestern University as freshman football and basketball coach. He became assistant varsity coach and head coach of the junior varsity squad for those sports in 1951. In 1954, he became the line coach of the Williams College football team.[5] He also served as the school's assistant swimming coach and freshman golf coach.[6]

In 1956, Clifford was named head football coach at Colby College.[6] He also coached the school's golf team. In his six seasons as football coach, Clifford compiled a 23–19 record. In 1962, he left Colby to become the head football coach at the University of Vermont.[8] Over eight seasons with the Catamounts, he amassed a 37–29–1 and became the winningest coach in school history.[9] In 1966, he was a candidate for the head coaching job at Brown University, but withdrew his name from consideration.[10] In Vermont with 3–6 and 1969 and at the end of the season, 13 of the team's 15 seniors publicly expressed concern over the team's low morale. Clifford resigned as head coach on December 11, 1969.[2]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Colby Mules (Independent) (1956–1961)
1956 Colby 1–6
1957 Colby 3–3
1958 Colby 5–2
1959 Colby 5–2
1960 Colby 5–2
1961 Colby 4–4
Colby: 23–19
Vermont Catamounts (Yankee Conference) (1962–1969)
1962 Vermont 3–5 1–3 5th
1963 Vermont 6–2 2–2 4th
1964 Vermont 7–1 3–1 2nd
1965 Vermont 6–2 2–2 T–3rd
1966 Vermont 6–2 3–2 2nd
1967 Vermont 3–5–1 1–3–1 5th
1968 Vermont 3–6 1–4 6th
1969 Vermont 3–6 2–3 4th
Vermont: 37–29–1 15–20–1
Total: 60–48–1

References

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  1. ^ "Robert E Clifford". Fold3. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Clifford Resigns As Head Coach". The Deseret News. December 12, 1969. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  3. ^ "Bob Clifford". Western Colorado University. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Robert E. Clifford". legacy.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e "R. E. Clifford Named Williams Line Coach To Replace Frank Bell". North Adams Transcript. May 1, 1954. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  6. ^ a b c "Ex-Williams Coach Gets Colby Post". Schenectady Gazette. February 28, 1956. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  7. ^ "Suburban Cage Loop Schedule". The Arvada Enterprise. December 25, 1941. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  8. ^ "Vermont To Name Clifford". The Telegraph. February 21, 1962. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  9. ^ "Bob Clifford Quits As Vermont Coach". Gettysburg Times. December 12, 1969. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  10. ^ "Clifford To Stay At U. Of Vermont". The Morning Record. December 24, 1966. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
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