History of the AFCA Presidency

Courtesy: AFCA           Release: 05/17/2006

Those who have served as president of the American Football Coaches Association have shown the highest dedication and devotion to the coaching profession. They are held in high esteem by the membership for the valuable contributions they have made in the best interests of the football coaching profession. The exemplary leadership displayed by those who have assumed the AFCA’s highest office has produced an Association that has become highly visible and one which has played an effective role within the realm of organized athletics. It is because of the efforts of these men and others like them that the football coaching profession has become and will continue to be a worthy and honorable calling. Carson-Newman's Ken Sparks became the 83rd man to serve as AFCA president in 2007, succeeding 2006 AFCA President Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State University. Multiple Terms Only four men have been elected to more than one term as president, and they served during the early years of the AFCA and during World War II. Maj. Charles D. Daly of the U.S. Military Academy, one of the founders of the Association, was elected chairman, the equivalent of the presidency, of the AFCA in 1921 and was re-elected as president the next year. John Heisman, the man who made the motion to form a permanent organization of coaches, was president in 1923 when he was head coach at Pennsylvania and again in 1924 following his move to Rice. AFCA presidents during World War II were Madison Bell of Southern Methodist in 1942-43 and Ray Morrison of Temple in 1944-45. Those individuals who have been elected to the presidency of the AFCA have represented 62 institutions across the country, ranging from smaller schools such as Central (Iowa) to larger universities the likes of Southern California. Harvard, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Rice have contributed the most presidents to the Association with three each. Michigan’s AFCA presidents have been Harry Kipke (1937), H.O. "Fritz" Crisler (1941) and Bo Schembechler (1983). Fighting Illini head coaches who have headed the Association are Robert Zuppke (1925), Ray Eliot (1955) and Bob Blackman (1974). Harvard’s AFCA presidents have been Richard Harlow (1946), Lloyd Jordan (1951) and Joe Restic (1988). Glen Mason (2002), Bernie Bierman (1935) and Murray Warmath (1968) are the Minnesota presidents. Ken Hatfield (2004), Jess Neely (1956) and John Heisman (1924) are Rice’s AFCA leaders. Nine universities have had two AFCA presidents: Cornell (N.Y.), Georgia, Penn State, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, TCU, Yale, Ohio State and the U.S. Air Force Academy.