John Corbett (November 14, 1869 – February 20, 1947) was an American football player and coach of multiple sports. He played football for Harvard University from 1890 to 1893 and was selected as one of the two halfbacks on the 1890 College Football All-America Team. He graduated from Harvard in 1894 and earned a master's degree from Ohio University in 1910. Corbett went on to coach football in Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.[1] In 1914, he moved to Wyoming where he coached all of the athletic teams, including football, basketball, baseball, and track and field, for the University of Wyoming from 1914 to 1924.[2] He remained the university's director of physical education until his retirement in September 1939.[3][4] He became known as Wyoming's "Grand Old Man of Athletics."[5][6] In October 1931, the University of Wyoming's athletic field was named Corbett Field in his honor.[7][8] Corbett died on February 21, 1947, of an apparent heart attack at his home in Laramie, Wyoming; he was 77 years old.[2][9]

John Corbett
Portrait of Corbett from Walter Camp's 1894 book, American Football
Biographical details
Born(1869-11-14)November 14, 1869
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 1947(1947-02-20) (aged 77)
Laramie, Wyoming, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1890–1893Harvard
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1898Holy Cross (interim HC)
1915–1923Wyoming
Basketball
1910–1911Ohio
1915–1924Wyoming
Baseball
1909Ohio
1912Indiana
Head coaching record
Overall16–44–3 (football)
40–45 (basketball)
12–12 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Holy Cross Crusaders (Independent) (1898)
1898 Holy Cross 1–0
Holy Cross: 1–0
Wyoming Cowboys (Rocky Mountain Conference) (1915–1917)
1915 Wyoming 2–6 1–5 T–6th
1916 Wyoming 1–4 1–4 6th
1917 Wyoming 3–4 1–4 7th
Wyoming Cowboys (Rocky Mountain Conference) (1919–1923)
1919 Wyoming 3–5 3–3 5th
1920 Wyoming 4–5–1 2–5–1 7th
1921 Wyoming 1–4–2 1–3–2 7th
1922 Wyoming 1–8 1–7 9th
1923 Wyoming 0–8 0–7 10th
Wyoming: 15–44–3 10–38–3
Total: 16–44–3

References

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  1. ^ Dean Snyder (October 19, 1920). "Claims Cowboys Are Good Grid Men: University of Wyoming Football Coach Likes Spirit of His Team". Appleton Post-Crescent.
  2. ^ a b "Old Ohio Grid Star Is Dead". Evening Independent (Masillon, Ohio). February 22, 1947.
  3. ^ "Former Wyoming Grid Coach Dies". Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH). February 22, 1947.
  4. ^ "Wyoming Athletic Head Will Retire". San Antonio Light. July 2, 1939.
  5. ^ "Corbett, 77, Dead". Ogden Standard-Examiner. February 22, 1947.
  6. ^ "1891 All-American Gridder Found Dead". Marion Star (Associated Press). February 22, 1947.
  7. ^ "Utah Ags Spoil Wyoming Festival, 12-0". Billings Gazette. October 25, 1931.
  8. ^ "Wyoming Names Athletic Field". Greeley Daily Tribune. September 26, 1931.
  9. ^ "John Corbett; Ex-Coach at Wyoming U. Was on Camp's All-American in '91" (PDF). The New York Times. Associated Press. February 22, 1947. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
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