Fritz Crisler
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Herbert O. "Fritz" Crisler (born January 12, 1899 near Earlville, Illinois; died August 19, 1982) was a head football coach, best known for his tenure at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1947. He also coached at the University of Minnesota (1930-1931) and Princeton University (1932-1937). Before this, he played football at the University of Chicago under Amos Alonzo Stagg, who nicknamed him Fritz after violinist Fritz Kreisler
During his head coaching career, which lasted 18 seasons (1930-47), Crisler posted a career record of 116 victories, 32 losses and nine ties, for a winning percentage of .768. At Michigan, Crisler won 71 games, lost 16, and tied one for a winning percentage of .805. Known for his innovative strategies, Crisler is credited with inventing the current two-platoon system, in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. At Michigan, Crisler is also well-known for the distinctive winged football helmet he introduced in 1938. The Michigan football team has worn a version of his design ever since. Crisler had first introduced the winged helmet design at Princeton in 1935; while Princeton abandoned the design when he left, it resumed using it in 1998. [1]
Crisler's 1947 team, dubbed the "Mad Magicians," had an undefeated campaign, capping it off with a 49-0 Rose Bowl triumph over Southern California. Afterwards, the team was selected the national champion by the Associated Press in an unprecedented post-bowl vote. (Notre Dame, which was voted champion at the end of the regular season, disputes the validity of this vote even though it is clear that in the 3 common opponents that both ND and UM played that year, UM beat all 3 far more convicingly than ND was able to do.) After retiring from coaching, he served as the university's athletic director.
Crisler Arena, home of the Michigan men's and women's basketball teams, was named for Crisler. In addition, one "extra" seat in Michigan Stadium was added by Crisler for former and then current athletic director Michigan football coach Feilding Yost . However, its location is unknown.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Coaching Record
| School | Season | Record | Conference Record/Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 1930 | 3-4-1 | (1-3/T-6th) |
| Minnesota | 1931 | 7-3 | (3-2/5th) |
| Princeton | 1932 | 7-1 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1933 | 2-2-3 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1934 | 9-0 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1935 | 7-1 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1936 | 9-0 | N/A |
| Princeton | 1937 | 4-2-2 | N/A |
| Michigan | 1938 | 6-1-1 | (3-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1939 | 6-2 | (3-2/4th) |
| Michigan | 1940 | 7-1 | (3-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1941 | 6-1-1 | (3-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1942 | 7-3 | (3-2/3rd) |
| Michigan | 1943 | 8-1 | (6-0/1st) |
| Michigan | 1944 | 8-2 | (5-2/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1945 | 7-3 | (5-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1946 | 6-2-1 | (5-1-1/2nd) |
| Michigan | 1947 | 10-0 | (6-0/1st) |
| Total at Minnesota | 2 seasons | 10-7-1 (.556) | 4-5-0 (.444) |
| Total at Princeton | 6 seasons | 35-9-5 (.765) | N/A |
| Total at Michigan | 10 seasons | 71-16-3 (.805) | 42-11-3 (.777) |
| Career Total | 18 seasons | 116-32-9 (.768) | 46-16-3 (.708) |
Note: Princeton did not compete in a conference during Crisler's tenure.
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| Preceded by Harry G. Kipke |
University of Michigan Head Football Coach 1938–1947 |
Succeeded by Bennie Oosterbaan |
| Preceded by Al Witmer |
Princeton University Head Football Coach 1932- 1937 |
Succeeded by Tad Wieman |
| Preceded by Doc Spears |
University of Minnesota Head Football Coach 1930- 1931 |
Succeeded by Bernie Bierman |
Murphy • Crawford • Barbour • McCauley • Ward • Ferbert • Lea • Yost • Little • Wieman • Kipke • Crisler • Oosterbaan • Elliott • Schembechler • Moeller • Carr
