Vauix Carter

Vauix Carter (c. 1862–unknown) was an American college football coach who holds the distinction as being the Navy Midshipmen football program's first head coach. He led Navy to a 1–0 record in 1882, the only season he coached the team. He functioned as a player as well, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1884. He resigned from the Navy in 1886, and later became a treasurer for a company in New Jersey.

Biography and career

Carter was most likely born sometime around 1862.^{[A 1]} In 1880, he was accepted into the United States Naval Academy for training to become a U.S. naval officer.^[4] Academy student William John Maxwell organized a football game between fellow students and the Baltimore Athletic Club on December 11, 1879, the school's first ever football game.^[5][6] Maxwell graduated in 1880, and the school did not have a football squad. In 1882, Carter initiated and lead the student-operated Naval Academy football team in its second ever season.^[7] He also functioned as the team's coach. On November 30, 1882,^{[A 2]} Carter lead the squad to an 8 to 0 (8–0) shutout victory of the Clifton Football Club of Baltimore, made up of players from Johns Hopkins University.^[8][9]

The game was the Naval Academy's first ever football victory, and was the first match in which the Academy recorded points.^[10] It would remain the school's only victory until the 1884 season, and would remain as the last shutout for the school until 1886, when a squad defeated Johns Hopkins 6-0.^[8] Carter's single win gives him the second fewest in Navy football history, behind interim coach Rick Lantz. However, his undefeated record and perfect win percentage remain the highest ever for the academy.^[11] He was the only player officially listed as receiving a letter for the 1882 season; Carter would not play or coach again for the Navy team, and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1884.^[1] Carter entered the United States navy as an officer the same year. He served from then until September 25, 1886, when he officially resigned from the Navy.^[4] Sometime between 1890 and 1893, Carter was hired as the treasurer and assignee for the Cowles Engineering Company. The organization was created in 1890 under official laws of the state of New Jersey, under the leadership of William Cowles. It served branches of the U.S. Government and the city of New York.^[12] The company went into bankruptcy and failed three years later, owing its creditors over $30,000 (equivalent to $779,400 respectively in 2014^{[ 1]}).^[13] The year of Carter's death is unknown.

Head coaching record

References

Notes

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

• Vauix Carter's entry at College Football Reference
• Vauix Carter's entry at Fanbase