| John W. Breen | |
|---|---|
| Coach Breen
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| Sport(s) | College football |
| Current position | |
| Team | Carroll (WI) |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | May 9, 1907 |
| Place of birth | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Died | February 9, 1984 (aged 76) |
| Playing career | |
| 1930-1934 | Carroll (WI) |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1938-1948 1949-1951 |
Carroll (WI) Lake Forest |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 43-46-8 (0.443) |
John W. Breen (May 9, 1907 – February 9, 1984) was an American football and basketball player, coach, and sports figure.[1] He was active in the college ranks before becoming an early sports administrator in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers.
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Breen grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and played high school football at Milwaukee East Division High School. He then went on to Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where he was named "most valuable player" and team captain in both football and basketball.[2]
After graduation from Carroll in 1935, Breen began coaching freshman teams and teaching classes. Breen the 19th head college football coach (as well as assuming the position of Athletic Director) for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers and he held that position for eleven seasons, from 1938 until 1948. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 34 wins, 33 losses, and 6 ties. This ranks him fifth at Carroll College in total wins and 14th at Carroll College in winning percentage.[3]
In 1949, Breen became the head coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois[4] and held the position for three seasons, through 1951.[5] During his tenure as head coach, he accumulated a record of 9 wins, 13 losses, and 2 ties.[6] While at Lake Forest he received nation-wide publicity for defending the interests of small college athletics.[2] In 1974, Lake Forest inducted him into their athletic "Hall of Fame" for his contribution to the football and basketball programs at the school.[7]
After a successful college career as an educator and coach, Breen went in to the professional ranks with the Chicago Cardinals as director of player personnel in 1957.[8] He was later the first person hired by the Houston Oilers in 1960 as director of player personnel and was named General Manager in 1971[9] and he held that position until his retirement in 1973.[10]
Breen was instrumental in the building of the Oilers[11] and the American Football League itself by being in charge of the league's first draft of players.[12] He is credited with recruiting veteran players George Blanda, John Carson, and Willard Dewveall along with first-year players Billy Cannon, Dan Lanphear, and Charley Hennigan.[13] He recognized that the competing NFL teams would cut good quality players and would recruit them to play at Houston.[14]
After his retirement from professional football management, Breen worked as a sports broadcaster for radio station KTRH in Houston, Texas.[15]
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