John L. Griffith
 Griffith pictured in The Quax 1918, Drake yearbook | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 20, 1877 Mount Carroll, Illinois |
| Died | December 7, 1944 (aged 67) Chicago, Illinois |
| Playing career | |
| ?–1902 | Beloit |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1905–1907 | Morningside |
| 1908–1915 | Drake |
| Basketball | |
| 1909–1910 | Drake |
| 1912–1914 | Drake |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1902–1905 | Yankton |
| 1905–1908 | Morningside |
| 1908–1918 | Drake |
| 1922–1944 | Big Ten (commissioner) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 49–31–7 (football) |
John L. Griffith (August 20, 1877 – December 7, 1944) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, track athlete, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the first commissioner of the Big Ten Conference from 1922 until his death in 1944.[1] His career football coaching record was 49 wins, 31 losses, and 7 ties.
Coaching career
Morningside
Griffith was the head college football coach for the Morningside Mustangs located in Sioux City, Iowa. He held that position for 3 seasons, from 1905 until 1907. His coaching record at Morningside was 13 wins, 6 losses and 4 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2009 season, this ranks him #8 at Morningside in total wins and #3 at the school in winning percentage (.652).[2]
Drake
Griffith was the tenth head coach for the Drake University Bulldogs located in Des Moines, Iowa and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1908 until 1915. His overall coaching record at Drake was 36 wins, 25 losses, and 3 ties. This ranks him seventh at Drake in terms of total wins and seventh at Drake in terms of winning percentage.[3] During his time at Drake, he created the Drake Relays in 1910.
References
- ^ Schmidt, Ray (2000). "Major John Griffith" (PDF). College Football Historical Society Newsletter. 13 (2). LA 84 Foundation. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ DeLassus, David. "Morningside Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ DeLassus, David. "Drake Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
External links
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- 1877 births
- 1944 deaths
- Big Ten Conference commissioners
- Beloit Buccaneers baseball players
- Beloit Buccaneers football players
- Beloit Buccaneers men's basketball players
- Drake Bulldogs athletic directors
- Drake Bulldogs football coaches
- Drake Bulldogs men's basketball coaches
- Morningside Mustangs football coaches
- University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign faculty
- College track and field athletes in the United States
- College track and field coaches in the United States
- American military personnel of World War I
- United States Army officers
- People from Carroll County, Illinois
- Sportspeople from Illinois
- College football coaches first appointed in the 1900s stubs