James Spencer Lentz (April 5, 1927 – July 22, 2009) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Bowdoin College from 1968 to 1983.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1927 Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2009 (aged 82) Brunswick, Maine, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Gettysburg College (1951) Columbia University (1957) |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1947–1950 | Gettysburg |
| Wrestling | |
| 1947–1950 | Gettysburg |
| Position(s) | Tackle (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1951 | Gettysburg (assistant) |
| 1952–1955 | Gettysburg (freshman) |
| 1956 | Gettysburg (line) |
| 1957–1961 | Harvard (OG/C) |
| 1962–1967 | Harvard (DC/DL) |
| 1968–1983 | Bowdoin |
| Swimming | |
| 1952–1956? | Gettysburg |
| Lacrosse | |
| 1957–1967 | Harvard (freshman) |
| 1968 | Bowdoin |
| 1969–? | Bowdoin (JV) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 55–66 (football) |
Playing career
editLentz played college football as a tackle at Gettysburg.[1][2] During a game in his freshman season he suffered a broken hand.[3] He also competed in wrestling.[4]
Coaching career
editFollowing Lentz's graduation he served as an assistant coach in 1951 for his alma mater, Gettysburg.[2][5][6] In 1952, he was promoted to a full-time position and was the freshman coach.[2][7][8] In 1952, his freshman team finished the season undefeated.[9] In 1956, he served as the line coach. In 1957, he was hired on the inaugural staff for newly hired Harvard head coach John Yovicsin as the offensive guard and centers coach.[10][11][12] In 1962, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.[13][14] In 1968, Lentz was hired as the head football coach for Bowdoin.[4][15] He served as the head coach for sixteen years and amassed an overall record of 55–66 and won ten Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortiums.[16][17] He resigned following the 1983 season.[16][18]
From 1952 until the late 1950s, Lentz was the swimming coach for Gettysburg.[2][8] He was also the freshman lacrosse coach for Harvard from 1957 to 1967.[4][14] He served one year as the head lacrosse coach for Bowdoin before becoming the junior varsity coach for a number of years.[4][19]
Personal life, military career, and death
editFrom 1945 to 1947, Lentz served in the United States Army and was stationed in Austria.[9][20]
Lentz was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta.[9]
Lentz died on July 22, 2009, in Brunswick, Maine.[19][20]
Head coaching record
editFootball
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin Polar Bears (Maine Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1968–1970) | |||||||||
| 1968 | Bowdoin | 2–5 | |||||||
| 1969 | Bowdoin | 3–4 | |||||||
| 1970 | Bowdoin | 6–1 | |||||||
| Bowdoin Polar Bears (New England Small College Athletic Conference) (1971–1983) | |||||||||
| 1971 | Bowdoin | 3–4 | |||||||
| 1972 | Bowdoin | 2–5 | |||||||
| 1973 | Bowdoin | 4–3 | |||||||
| 1974 | Bowdoin | 3–4 | |||||||
| 1975 | Bowdoin | 4–3 | |||||||
| 1976 | Bowdoin | 4–4 | |||||||
| 1977 | Bowdoin | 4–4 | |||||||
| 1978 | Bowdoin | 3–5 | |||||||
| 1979 | Bowdoin | 5–3 | |||||||
| 1980 | Bowdoin | 5–3 | |||||||
| 1981 | Bowdoin | 2–6 | |||||||
| 1982 | Bowdoin | 4–4 | |||||||
| 1983 | Bowdoin | 1–7 | |||||||
| Bowdoin: | 55–66 | ||||||||
| Total: | 55–66 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Drexel Tech Selects All-Foe grid Team". Republican and Herald. December 12, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "James Lentz Named New Bullet Coach". The York Dispatch. July 30, 1952. p. 17. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Six Treated For Injuries". The Evening Sun. November 14, 1947. p. 4. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Lentz Going To Bowdoin". The Berkshire Eagle. May 16, 1968. p. 21. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Springer Will Teach Organ At Gettysburg". The Evening Sun. September 19, 1951. p. 1. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Lentz Joins Staff". The Gettysburg Times. September 20, 1951. p. 25. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Gettysburg (Continued From Page Two)". The Evening Sun. September 10, 1952. p. 8. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Interest In Sports". The Gettysburg Times. September 18, 1952. p. 2. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c "James S. Lentz". The Gettysburg Times. September 18, 1953. p. 27. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Picks Grid Aids". Republican and Herald. May 7, 1957. p. 10. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Harvard Staff". The Herald-Journal. May 7, 1957. p. 4. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Social Happenings". The Gettysburg Times. December 23, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Jenkins, Henry (December 31, 1961). "'Bama, LSU, Ole Miss Favored". Kingsport Times-News. p. 13. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "James Lentz To Address Harvard Club". The Bangor Daily News. April 21, 1967. p. 8. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Lentz Named Bowdoin Coach". The Honolulu Advertiser. May 15, 1968. p. 25. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Almasi, George (January 5, 1984). "James Lentz steps down as college football coach". The Times Record. p. 1. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ "History and Scores" (PDF). Bowdoin College. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Bowdoin". Journal Tribune. January 6, 1984. p. 8. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "James Spencer Lentz". Kincer Funeral Home. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Rielly, Morgan (July 22, 2009). "James S. Lentz". Bowdoin College Obituaries. Retrieved March 22, 2024.