Paul Pierce (American football)

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Paul Pierce
Sport Football
Born December 29, 1914(1914-12-29)
Place of birth Flag of New Mexico Hill, New Mexico
Died March 31, 2004 (aged 89)
Place of death Austin, Texas
Career highlights
Overall 134–72–9
Coaching stats
College Football DataWarehouse
Championships
1964 NAIA national football championship
1955, '56, '61 LSC championships
Awards
1965 Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year
Playing career
1932-1933
1934-1935
Schreiner Institute
Sul Ross State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946-1951
1952-1967
Sul Ross State
Sam Houston State

Paul Edward “Red” Pierce (December 29, 1914March 31, 2004) was an American football coach. He served as head coach at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas from 1952-67, amassing a 94–52–7 overall record.

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[edit] Early years

A native of Hill, New Mexico, Pierce grew up in Fort Stockton, Texas, graduating from high school there in 1932. He went on to attend Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner University) in Kerrville, Texas, where he earned his associate of arts degree while playing football, basketball and track. Pierce continued his collegiate career at Sul Ross State Teachers College (now Sul Ross State University) in Alpine, Texas. He participated in varsity football and basketball, and graduated two years later with his bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He earned his Ed.D. degree from the University of Houston in 1961.

During World War II, Pierce served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy, and became the head football coach at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Port Deposit, Maryland near the conclusion of the war.

[edit] Coaching career

In 1946 Pierce was hired at his alma mater Sul Ross State to rebuild a football program that was discontinued during the war. He guided the Lobos to 18 consecutive wins, four conference championships and two bowl games, including the 1949 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

In 1952, Pierce became the head football coach, head track coach and athletic director at Sam Houston State. His teams at SHSU tied for four conference championships and played in five bowl games. His 1964 Bearcat team tied Concordia College for a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics co-championship. In 1965, he was named the Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year.

[edit] Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl
Sul Ross State Lobos () (1946 – 1949)
1946 Sul Ross State 5–5
1947 Sul Ross State 7–3
1948 Sul Ross State 10–0–1 T Tangerine
1949 Sul Ross State 7–3
Sul Ross State Lobos (Lone Star Conference) (1950 – 1951)
1950 Sul Ross State 8–2–1
1951 Sul Ross State 3–7
Sul Ross State: 40–20–2
Sam Houston State Bearkats (Lone Star Conference) (1952 – 1967)
1952 Sam Houston State 6–4
1953 Sam Houston State 9–1 W Refrigerator
1954 Sam Houston State 6–4
1955 Sam Houston State 6–1–2
1956 Sam Houston State 10–0 W Refrigerator
1957 Sam Houston State 3–5–1
1958 Sam Houston State 7–3 L Christmas Festival
1959 Sam Houston State 5–5
1960 Sam Houston State 3–6
1961 Sam Houston State 8–1
1962 Sam Houston State 5–3–1
1963 Sam Houston State 4–3–1
1964 Sam Houston State 9–1–1 T NAIA Championship
1965 Sam Houston State 4–6
1966 Sam Houston State 6–3–1
1967 Sam Houston State 3–6
Sam Houston State: 94–52–7
Total: 134–72–9
      National Championship         Conference Title         Conference Division Title

[edit] External links