Phillip Henry Bridenbaugh

Phillip Henry Bridenbaugh
Sport(s) College football
Current position
Team Geneva College
Biographical details
Born May 1, 1890[1]
Died June 14, 1990 (aged 100)[2]
New Castle, Pennsylvania
Playing career
1908-1911 Franklin & Marshall
Position(s) QB
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1917-1921 Geneva
Head coaching record
Overall 23-12-5 (0.638)

Phillip Henry Bridenbaugh (May 1, 1890 June 14, 1990) was an American football player, coach, and sports figure in the United States. Although he coached at the college level, he was most prominent for his success at the high school level.[3]

Playing history

Bridenbaugh enrolled at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to graduate with a teaching degree in 1912. He played football, basketball, baseball, and participated in Track & Field—lettering in all four sports. The school later honored him by inducting him into their athletic hall of fame.[4]

Coaching history

Geneva College

Bridenbaugh was the ninth head college football coach for the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and he held that position for five seasons, from 1917 until 1921. His coaching record at Geneva was 23 wins, 12 losses, and 5 ties. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him fifth at Geneva in total wins and ninth at Geneva in winning percentage (0.638).[5]

High School coaching

After leaving the college ranks, Bridenbaugh coached football for 34 years at New Castle High School in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Here his team accumulated a record of 265 wins, 65 losses, and 25 ties. This placed him among the best high school football coaches in the nation at the time, some say ranking him the fourth most successful coach at the time. He also coached other sports at the school.[6] Part of his high school coaching success included a string of 43 consecutive wins across several seasons.[7]

Grove City College

Bridenbaugh rode into his retirement as an assistant football at Grove City College for nine years and retired in 1964.[6]

References

  1. "Philip Henry Bridenbaugh, football coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Block Communications). 1990-06-19. p. 6. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  2. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Phil Bridenbaugh-Living Legend in New Castle" by Andy Dugo, February 4, 1970
  3. Franklin & Marshall Diplomats Athletics Athletic Hall of Fame: Philip Bridenbaugh '12
  4. Geneva College coaching records
  5. 6.0 6.1 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Phillip Henry Bridenbaugh, Football Coach" (obituary) June 16, 1990
  6. Ellwood City History