GREAT COACHES WHO SHOULD BE IN THE HOF

I looked at the criteria set up by the WFCA for a coach to be eligible to be nominated and voted into the Wisconsin Football Coaching Hall of Fame.  There are several main points for a person to be considered…Hall of Fame.  Mainly, a coach can be nominated as a head coach, an assistant coach, college coach or a contributor to the football programs in the state of Wisconsin (Media, administrators, trainers, officials, etc.).  A coach must have a minimum 10-years of service in the state.  There are several other points for consideration so look at the above link for more details.

I took a look at a number of coaches who made great contributions, some only for a few seasons and others who make the minimum requirements.  These coaches that meet the criteria for Hall of Fame status:

Irl I. Tubbs…1916-1920…Superior High School…1921-1928 Superior State University

Coach Tubbs 1920 Superior High School Yearbook (The Lacedaemon)

Born in Kentucky, Tubbs attended William Jewel College in Missouri.  He coached two years of high school football in Missouri before moving north to Superior High School in 1916.  His 1918 and 1920 squads were the state champions.  He coached basketball and track as well as football.  Tubbs left Superior High to coach Superior Normal (Superior State then UW-Superior).  Because of bouts of illness, Malta Fever (From consuming unpasteurized milk), he didn’t coach football in 1921 but coached hockey in 1922 before taking over as head football coach in 1923-25 and 1928-29.  He spent ten seasons as a coach in the state before he moved on to coaching at the college level…Miami (FL) and Iowa.  Sadly, the fever caused him to be unavailable to coach on a regular basis after 1938.  What makes him special, besides winning state titles is his innovations in football related gear.  The current needle used to inflate balls (In fact, all sports balls) was his invention.  He also worked on improving head gear, padding, pants and cleats.  He makes the 10-year WFCA rule to be eligible. His two titles and innovations make, in my mind, him a very good candidate for the HOF.

Ralph Fletcher…1914-1927…Delafield St. John’s M.A.

1930 Delafield St. John’s Military Academy Yearbook (The Tattler)

Coach Ralph Fletcher graduated from St. John’s in 1910 after playing right halfback, fullback and quarterback on the football team.  Also starting on the basketball and baseball team’s as well as playing on the fencing, track and crew teams. He left the school having earned 17 letters. He first attended The University of Chicago for a year before transferring to Ohio Northern University before again transferring, this time to the University of Mississippi. He played football at all three schools as. He would put his high school fencing skills to good use as he won a spot on the 1912 Olympic squad in the sword competition. After graduation from Ole Miss, he accepted a teaching position at St. John’s and then the position of head football coach (1914-1927) and athletic director (1914-1952). While coaching football he compiled a 65-25-8 record in 13-seasons and won the 1914 state championship.  Most seasons, unable to get Wisconsin high schools to play his football teams, the Lancers played college varsity teams or their varsity second squads or later, the college freshman squads (30-13-4 record) along with teams from military bases (7-2-1) and even played three games against professional teams (3-0-0).  All with school students age 16-19 playing against older players

He also coached basketball from 1914-1928, earning a 126-46 record with his best team posting a 14-1 record in 1917-1918. He was the baseball coach during this time as well, piling up a 142-52 record. The Fletcher Baseball Field on campus was named for him in 1961. He even found time to coach the track team in 1920.   

Edison Lerch…1930-1942…Delafield St. John’s M.A.

1942 Delafield St. John’s Military Academy Yearbook (The Tattler)

Born in Lima Ohio, Lerch was a star fullback at the academy graduating in 1919. Following his graduation from St. John’s, he went to California and worked in the Universal Studios art department, saved his money and then took a world tour before returning to St. John’s in 1923.  He joined the Marine Reserves while working at St. John’s as a teacher and as an assistant football coach.  As an assistant he coached the 1929 state championship (9-0-0) team as the backfield and the defensive secondary coach.  When the head coaching spot opened up in 1932 Lerch got the job.  He then directed the team to the 1932, 1933 and 1942 state championships over 11-seasons.  He would post a 70-20-2 record before being called by the Marines to serve in a supply distribution capacity (Quartermaster Corps) during World War II.  Having been in the Marine Reserves he was promoted to the rank of major in 1941.  He then would return to the academy and, beginning in 1927, coach the crew team for another 50-years.  Lerch revolutionized the sport of crew with a new and inventive way to row…the “short-lay-back stroke” which today every rowing team world-wide uses. He would serve in many different school capacities.  As a baseball coach, assistant Commandant, Academy Treasurer, Academy President and on the Board of Directors.  He passed away in 1988.  His own three football titles and never having a losing season stands to his great ability as a head coach.

Don Penza…1957-67…Wisconsin Rapids Assumption…1981-88 Woodstock (IL) Marion

Don Penza at Woodstock (IL) Marian 1987 (SHAW LOCAL Newspapers)

Don was born in Kenosha and moved with his family to Racine. He attended Racine St. Catherine and as an end on the Catholic State Champion 1949 team, earning all-state honors.  After graduation he attended Notre Dame where he was the team captain in 1953. Coach Frank Leahy called him “the best team captain I’ve ever had”. Don was listed on the 1953 All-America team and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Playing in only two exhibition games, he hurt his knee and was forced to retire. From 1954-56 Don was a first Lieutenant in the Marines and played “service” football while at Quantico.

Following his time in the service Don Penza went on to coach at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption from 1957-1967 where he compiled a 68-18-2 record with five conference championships over 11-seasons. In 1968 he retired at age 35 from coaching to enter politics and was mayor of Wisconsin Rapids until 1978. Returning to coaching in 1981, Penza was hired at Woodstock (IL) Marion Central Catholic and would go on to compile a 90-18 record with three Illinois Class 2A state titles in eight seasons. Marion won the titles in 1983, 1986 and 1987 and was runner-up in 1985.

Don died at age 57 in 1989.  Illinois has a 10-year qualification, like Wisconsin so Don is not eligible in that state but he certainly deserves to be honored in this state.  One of his players at Assumption was Coach Bob Hyland of St. Mary’s Springs.  Bob would agree that Penza greatly influenced him and many others.

There are two others that I think that are HOF caliber coaches.  Check out their recent stories:

DeWayne Johnson…1967-68…New Richmond & Plymouth 1969-78… DEWAYNE JOHNSON…FROM PLYMOUTH AND BEYOND

Dan Thorpe…1982-present…Grafton/Beloit Turner/ Janesville Craig/Others out of state… A RED ROBIN’S GREAT CAREER

These are my HOF nominees, but other people need to help push them to get inducted.  Send in a nomination form to the WFCA.