Fritz Crisler
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Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler (born January 12, 1899 near Earlville, Illinois; died August 19, 1982) was a head football coach, best known for his tenure at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1947. He also coached at the University of Minnesota (1930-1931) and Princeton University (1932-1937). Before this, he played football at the University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg, who nicknamed him Fritz after violinist Fritz Kreisler
During his head coaching career, which lasted 18 seasons (1930-47), Crisler posted a career record of 116 victories, 32 losses and nine ties, for a winning percentage of .768. At Michigan, Crisler won 71 games, lost 16, and tied one for a winning percentage of .805. Known for his innovative strategies, Crisler is credited with popularizing the two-platoon system, in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. At Michigan, Crisler is also well-known for the distinctive winged football helmet he introduced in 1938. The Michigan football team has worn a version of his design ever since. Crisler had first introduced the winged helmet design at Princeton in 1935; while Princeton abandoned the design when he left, it resumed using it in 1998. [1]
Crisler's 1947 team, dubbed the "Mad Magicians," had an undefeated campaign, capping it off with a 49-0 Rose Bowl triumph over Southern California. Afterwards, the team was selected the national champion by the Associated Press in an unprecedented post-bowl vote. (Notre Dame, which was voted champion at the end of the regular season, disputes the validity of this vote.) After retiring from coaching, he served as the university's athletic director.
Crisler Arena, home of the Michigan men's and women's basketball teams, was named for Crisler. In addition, one "extra" seat has always been added to the official capacity of Michigan Stadium since 1956 to represent Crisler's seat. However, its location is unknown.[1]
[edit] Coaching Record
| School | Season | Record | Conference Record/Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1930 | 3-4-1 | (1-3/T-6th) |
| Minnesota | 1931 | 7-3 | (3-2/5th) |
| Princeton | 1932 | 7-1 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1933 | 2-2-3 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1934 | 9-0 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1935 | 7-1 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1936 | 9-0 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1937 | 4-2-2 | N/A |
| Michigan | 1938 | 6-1-1 | (3-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1939 | 6-2 | (3-2/4th) |
| Michigan | 1940 | 7-1 | (3-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1941 | 6-1-1 | (3-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1942 | 7-3 | (3-2/3rd) |
| Michigan | 1943 | 8-1 | (6-0/1st) |
| Michigan | 1944 | 8-2 | (5-2/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1945 | 7-3 | (5-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1946 | 6-2-1 | (5-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1947 | 10-0 | (6-0/1st) |
| Total at Minnesota | 2 seasons | 10-7-1 (.556) | 4-5-0 (.444) |
| Total at Princeton | 6 seasons | 35-9-5 (.765) | N/A |
| Total at Michigan | 10 seasons | 71-16-3 (.805) | 42-11-3 (.777) |
| Career Total | 18 seasons | 116-32-9 (.768) | 46-16-3 (.708) |
Note: Princeton did not compete in a conference during Crisler's tenure.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Harry G. Kipke |
University of Michigan Head Football Coach 1938–1947 |
Succeeded by: Bennie Oosterbaan |
| Preceded by: Al Witmer |
Princeton University Head Football Coach 1932- 1937 |
Succeeded by: Tad Wieman |
| Preceded by: Doc Spears |
University of Minnesota Head Football Coach 1930- 1931 |
Succeeded by: Bernie Bierman |
| Michigan Wolverines Head Football Coaches |
|---|
| Murphy • Crawford • Barbour • McCauley • Ward • Ferbert • Lea • Yost • Little • Yost • Wieman • Kipke • Crisler • Oosterbaan • Elliott • Schembechler • Moeller • Carr |
| Minnesota Golden Gophers Head Football Coaches |
|---|
| Peebles • Jones • McCord • McCord • Heffelfinger • Morse • Eck • Moulton • Winter • Cochrane • Heffelfinger • Jerrems • Minds • Harrison • Leary • Williams • Spaulding • Spears • Crisler • Bierman • Hauser • Fesler • Warmath • Stoll • Salem • Holtz • Gutekunst • Wacker • Mason |
