Bill McElwain

William Thompson McElwain (May 14, 1903 – November 26, 1996) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. McElwain played college football at Northwestern University and professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Cardinals and alongside Red Grange with the Chicago Bears. McElwain served as the head football coach at Ferris Institute—now known as Ferris State University—in Big Rapids, Michigan from 1927 to 1939, compiling a record of 31–44–7. He was also the head basketball coach at Ferris State from 1927 to 1940, tallying a mark of 109–127.

Bill McElwain

McElwain in 1923 as Northwestern's football team captain
Biographical details
Born	(1903-05-14)May 14, 1903 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 26, 1996(1996-11-26) (aged 93) Big Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1921–1923	Northwestern
1924	Chicago Cardinals
1925	Chicago Bears
1926	Chicago Cardinals
Position(s)	Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1927–1939	Ferris Institute
Basketball
1927–1940	Ferris Institute
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1927–?	Ferris Institute
Head coaching record
Overall	31–44–7 (football) 109–127 (basketball)

Head coaching record

Football

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Ferris Institute Bulldogs (Independent) (1927–1937)
1927	Ferris Institute	4–3
1928	Ferris Institute	6–2
1929	Ferris Institute	3–2–1
1930	Ferris Institute	3–3
1931	Ferris Institute	3–4–1
1932	No team
1933	Ferris Institute	2–4
1934	Ferris Institute	1–5
1935	Ferris Institute	4–2
1936	Ferris Institute	1–5–1
1937	Ferris Institute	2–3–2
Ferris Institute Bulldogs (Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference) (1938–1939)
1938	Ferris Institute	0–5–2
1939	Ferris Institute	2–6	2–2	T–2nd
Ferris Institute:		31–44–7
Total:		31–44–7

External links

• Career statistics from Pro Football Reference