George Munger

Bio

George Munger was a superb, relaxed athlete, an innovative coach, and a meticulous administrator. He played halfback for Pennsylvania, 1930-32, and starred on the track team. He won the decathlon at the 1932 Penn Relays. Munger coached the Pennsylvania freshman team in 1933, coached at Episcopal Academy, 1934-36, and went back to the Penn freshman job in 1937. He was Pennsylvania head coach 1938-53 and Penn's director of physical education, 1954-74. He also served as vice-president of the National Football Foundation, vice-president of the Maxwell Club, president of the American Football Coaches Association, a director of the Pop Warner League, a member of the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Committee, and a member of physical fitness committees under Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Kennedy. In his 16 years as Penn's head coach, the team had an 82-42-10 record, was honored as champ of the Ivy League nine times, and had two top-ten teams and six in the top 20. Munger coached 14 All-America players and five who made the College Football Hall of Fame--Skip Minisi, Bob Odell, George Savitsky, Chuck Bednarik, and Reds Bagnell. His former star halfback, Reds Bagnell, gave this tribute: "Coach Munger was a truly special man, quiet and unassuming in style, yet he projected a dynamic aura that motivated us all."