Fred Joseph Bedenk (July 14, 1897 – May 2, 1978) was an American football and baseball player and coach. He served as the head baseball coach at Rice University from 1925 to 1926 and at Pennsylvania State University from 1931 to 1962. Bedenk was also the head football coach at Penn State for one season in 1949, tallying a mark of 5–4.

Joe Bedenk
Bedenk pictured in The Campanile 1926, Rice yearbook
Biographical details
BornJuly 14, 1897
DiedMay 2, 1978(1978-05-02) (aged 80)
State College, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1921–1923Penn State
Baseball
1922–1923Penn State
Position(s)Guard (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1924–1926Rice (assistant)
1927–1928Florida (line)
1929–1948Penn State (assistant)
1949Penn State
1950–1951Penn State (assistant)
Baseball
1925–1926Rice
1931–1962Penn State
Head coaching record
Overall5–4 (football)
391–171–3 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Playing career

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Bedenk played guard for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. He was elected team captain and earned All-America honors in 1923. He graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor of Arts in finance in 1924.

Coaching career

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Bedenk served for several years as Penn state's line coach before being promoted to head coach for the 1949 season. After finishing the year at 5–4, Bedenk requested a return to coaching the line and the university brought in Rip Engle as head coach, and Engle's quarterback from Brown University, Joe Paterno as an assistant coach.

Death

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Bedenk died on May 2, 1978, at the Mountainview Unit of Centre Community Hospital—now known as Mount Nittany Medical Center—in State College, Pennsylvania, following a long illness.[1]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Penn State Nittany Lions (Independent) (1949)
1949 Penn State 5–4
Penn State: 5–4
Total: 5–4

References

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  1. ^ "Joe Bedenk Dies At 80". The Daily News. Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. United Press International. May 3, 1978. p. 6. Retrieved July 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com  .