Lynn Waldorf

Bio

Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf's first college job was at Oklahoma City. The school had won one game in three years. Waldorf won five his first year, 1926, and eight his second year. He spent 1928 as assistant at Kansas, then moved to Oklahoma State, which had just finished a 1-7 season. In five years, Waldorf went 34-10-7, won four Missouri Valley championships, and never lost to arch-rival Oklahoma. In 1934, he was at Kansas State, which had never won a championship. He went 7-2-1 and won the Big Six. He moved to Northwestern, which had just gone through three losing seasons. He was 4-3-1 in 1935 with a big win over Notre Dame; this made him the national Coach of the Year, the first time the award was made. His 1936 team won the Big Ten; his 12-year mark at Northwestern was 49-45-7. Next: California, which had not had a winning season in eight years. His first team, 1947, went 9-1, his next three won Pacific Coast Conference titles. His California record through 1956 was 67-32-4; his career totals 170-94-22. He was born the son of Bishop Ernest Waldorf of the Methodist Church. He played tackle at Syracuse 1922-24. He served as personnel director for the San Francisco 49ers 1957-72. Waldorf may have been the best coach in history in taking over a losing program and making it a winner.