Walter J. West

Walter James West

Walter West as a quarterback for the Pitt Panthers in 1942
Sport(s) College football
Biographical details
Born October 26, 1917
Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
Died unknown
Playing career
1941?-1942
1943-1944?		 Pittsburgh
Randolph Field
Position(s) Quarterback
Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1949-1952 Geneva
Head coaching record
Overall 18-14-2 (0.559)

Walter James West (October 26, 1917 – September 1984) was an American football player and coach in the United States. He was born in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania and died in San Diego, California. The National Football League lists him as deceased.[1]

Playing history

West played quarterback for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers during the 1941 and 1942 seasons, graduating from the university with a bachelor of science from the School of Education in 1943.[2] Thereafter entering the Army, West played fullback for the intercollegiate football team fielded by the Army Air Forces' Randolph Field base in 1943. That season the Randolph Field Ramblers achieved a 9-1-0 record and appeared in the 1944 Cotton Bowl Classic.[3]

Cleveland Rams

West played professionally for the Cleveland Rams[4] in 1944[5] and was the leading rusher for the team that year.[6] He played in 9 games that year and carried the ball 66 times for a total of 220 yards and scored one touchdown.[7] He also pulled in 9 receptions for an additional 64 yards[8] and played some on defense, recording two interceptions.[9]

Coaching history

High school

Prior to coaching in college, West coached high school football and basketball at Leechburg High School.[3]

Geneva College

West was named the 21st head college football coach for the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. He held that position for four years, from 1949 until 1952. His coaching record at Geneva was 18 wins, 14 losses, and 2 ties. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him ninth at Geneva in total wins and 13th at Geneva in winning percentage (0.559).[10] Geneva College fans generally consider him among the best coaches the school has had.[11]

References

  1. ↑ National Football League Walter West Career Stats
  2. ↑ University of Pittsburgh Commencement 1943. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. 1943-06-02. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "West named Geneva Coach" May 7, 1949
  4. ↑ National Football League Walter West Statistics
  5. ↑ St. Louis Rams Player History
  6. ↑ Pro Football Reference 1944 Cleveland Rams Statistics
  7. ↑ Database Football Walt West
  8. ↑ St. Louis Rams 71 Years of Rams Football
  9. ↑ Database Football 1944 Cleveland Rams
  10. ↑ Geneva College coaching records
  11. ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The Geneva Story: A Winning Fairy Tale" by MARINO PARASCENZO November 3, 1971