Ernie Godfrey

Ernie Godfrey
Godfrey, c. 1958
Biographical details
Born(1892-04-19)April 19, 1892
Dover, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 12, 1980(1980-06-12) (aged 88)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1912–1914Ohio State
Position(s)End, center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1915Wooster HS (OH)
1916Wittenberg
1919–1928Wittenberg
1929–1961Ohio State (assistant)
Basketball
1916–1917Wittenberg
1918–1928Wittenberg
Head coaching record
Overall63–24–8 (college football)
95–65 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
2 Buckeye (1927–1928)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1972 (profile)

Ernest R. Godfrey (April 19, 1892 – June 12, 1980) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. Godfrey was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1972.[1]

Godfrey was born in Dover, Ohio graduating from Dover High School in 1911.[2] Godfrey played college football at Ohio State from 1912 to 1914.

Godfrey served as head football coach at Wittenberg University for 11 seasons beginning in 1916, interrupted for the next two seasons due to World War I where he served at a 1st Lt in the U.S. Army, returning to coaching in 1919. Over his coaching tenure, Wittenberg achieved a 63–24–8 record, including two league titles in 1927 and 1928. Godfrey also coached the men's basketball team, earning a 95–65 record.

In 1929, he returned to his alma mater, Ohio State University, as an assistant football coach.[3][4] He served at Ohio State for 33 years under seven head coaches—Sam Willaman, Francis Schmidt, Paul Brown, Carroll Widdoes, Paul Bixler, Wes Fesler, and Woody Hayes. He was the line coach for 19 years, defensive backfield coach for four years, and freshman coach for ten years.[5]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Wittenberg Tigers (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1916)
1916 Wittenberg 2–5–2 0–5–1 12th
Wittenberg Tigers (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1919–1925)
1919 Wittenberg 6–0–2 3–0–2 5th
1920 Wittenberg 8–0 5–0 2nd
1921 Wittenberg 4–3–2 3–3–2 T–9th
1922 Wittenberg 6–2–1 5–2–1 7th
1923 Wittenberg 7–1 5–1 3rd
1924 Wittenberg 7–1 6–1 2nd
1925 Wittenberg 3–5–1 3–5–1 15th
Wittenberg Tigers (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1926–1927)
1926 Wittenberg 6–2 4–1 / 3–1 5th / 2nd
1927 Wittenberg 8–2 4–1 / 4–0 5th / 1st
Wittenberg Tigers (Buckeye Athletic Association) (1928)
1928 Wittenberg 6–3 4–1 T–1st
Wittenberg: 63–24–8
Total: 63–24–8
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Football Hall of Fame Selects Ernie Godfrey". The New York Times. March 19, 1972. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Dover High celebrates athletic Hall of Fame honorees". The Times Reporter. October 8, 2018.
  3. ^ Jablonski, David (August 9, 2017). "Wittenberg football: Top 7 players in Tigers history". Springfield News-Sun. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Hartman, Marcus (June 3, 2019). "Ohio State football: Dayton prep products nominated for College Football Hall of Fame". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Hunter, Bob (2012). Saint Woody: The History and Fanaticism of Ohio State Football. Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-6123-4201-6.


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