Bennie Oosterbaan

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Bennie Oosterbaan (born February 4, 1906 in Muskegon, MI; died October 25, 1990 in Ann Arbor, MI) was an All-American football player and coach at the University of Michigan. Despite the fact that he last played nearly 80 years ago, he is still widely regarded as one of the greatest football players in Michigan's storied history -- and one of the greatest all-around athletes in Big Ten conference history.

A star receiver in a time when the forward pass was still evolving, Oosterbaan and quarterback Benny Friedman were Michigan's first great passing combo. He was also a skilled passer, once throwing for touchdowns of twenty and fifty yards in a match against rival Ohio State University. The Wolverines went 20-4 in his career, including a 1925 season in which they outscored their opponents 227-3. Michigan won the Big Ten title that season and again in 1926. Oosterbaan earned All-America honors his final three seasons. He remains one of only two players at Michigan ever to receive consensus All-American honors three times -- Anthony Carter being the other player so honored. Oosterbaan was also named to the "All-Time All-American Team" in 1951, as well as the Football Writers' Association All-Time All-American team in 1974.

In addition to football, Oosterbaan was an All-America basketball player. Twice he led the Western Conference (now Big Ten Conference) in field goals. He was also an All-Conference baseball player. While at the University of Michigan he was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity.

In 1948 Oosterbaan took over as head coach at Michigan. He led the Wolverines to a national title in his first season and won Coach of the Year honors. His teams won Big Ten championships in each of his first three seasons (1948-50), but did not win another under his tenure. He coached at Michigan until 1958, compiling a 63-33-4 record.

Bennie Oosterbaan's jersey number 47 is one of only five numbers retired by the Michigan football program. In 1954, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

[edit] References

• College Football Hall of Fame
• College Football News: Top 100 Players
• Hickok Sports Bio
• Muskegon Area Sport Hall of Fame: Class of 1987 Biography

Preceded by Fritz Crisler

University of Michigan Head Football Coach 1948–1958

Succeeded by Bump Elliott