Gene Slaughter

Gene Slaughter
Biographical details
Born(1926-05-18)May 18, 1926
Ironton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 1998(1998-06-22) (aged 72)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materCapital University (1950)
Marshall College (1956)
Playing career
Football
1946–1949Capital
Position(s)Center, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1950–1951South Point HS (OH)
1952–1956Jackson HS (OH)
1957–1959Warren Harding HS (OH)
1960Ohio State (backfield)
1961–1985Capital
Tennis
1961–?Capital
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1957–1959Warren HS (OH)
1981–1987Capital
Head coaching record
Overall120–94–3 (college football)
84–16–3 (high school football)
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 OAC (1970)
Awards
2× OAC Coach of the Year (1964, 1970)
Capital Hall of Fame (1988)

Eugene Slaughter (May 18, 1926 – June 22, 1998) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Capital University from 1961 to 1985.

Early life and playing career

Slaughter was born on May 18, 1926, in Ironton, Ohio.[1] He attended Ironton High School and graduated in 1944.[1] Following his graduation he served in the United States Navy during World War II.[1] Following the war he enrolled at Capital and played center and linebacker for the Crusaders football team.[1] He earned four letters as a member of the football team.[2]

Coaching career

In 1950, following Slaughter's graduation from Capital he served as the head football coach for South Point High School.[3] In two seasons he led the team to a 16–4 record.[4] In 1952, he was hired as the head football coach for Jackson High School.[5][6] In five seasons as head coach he led the team to an overall record of 43–8–2 including a thirty-game win streak and four undefeated seasons.[4] In 1953, he led the team to a state championship and was named Ohio's Coach of the Year.[7] In 1957, he was hired as the head football coach for Warren Harding High School.[4] In three seasons he led the team to a 25–4–1 record and was named Ohio's high school football coach of the year in 1957 after leading the team to a state championship.[8][9][10] After ten years as a high school football coach he amassed an overall record of 84–16–3.[11] In 1960, Slaughter was hired as the backfield coach for Ohio State under head coach Woody Hayes.[12][13]

In 1961, Slaughter was hired as the head football coach for his alma mater, Capital, as the successor to Jack Landrum.[11][14][15][16][17] In 26 seasons as head coach he led the team to an overall record of 120–94–3.[18] His best season came in 1970 when he led the team to an 8–1 record and won the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.[4] He was named Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Coach of the Year twice; in 1964 and 1970.[19] He retired following the 1985 season.[20][21][22]

Slaughter also coached the Capital golf team. He also served as the athletic director for Warren Harding High School from 1957 to 1957 and for Capital from 1981 to 1987.[13][23]

Honors and death

In 1988, Slaughter was inducted into the Capital Hall of Fame.[24]

Slaughter died on June 22, 1998, at the Doctors North Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, following a brief illness.[1][4][25]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Capital Crusaders (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1961–1985)
1961 Capital 5–2–1 5–2–1 5th
1962 Capital 4–4 4–4 8th
1963 Capital 2–6 2–6 11th
1964 Capital 7–1 7–1 T–2nd
1965 Capital 6–2 5–2 T–4th
1966 Capital 6–2 4–2 T–4th
1967 Capital 5–3 5–2 6th
1968 Capital 5–3 4–3 7th
1969 Capital 3–4–1 3–4 T–9th
1970 Capital 8–1 6–0 T–1st W Amos Alonzo Stagg
1971 Capital 3–6 2–4 T–9th
1972 Capital 4–5 3–2 T–2nd (Red)
1973 Capital 4–4 1–4 5th (Red)
1974 Capital 5–4 2–2 3rd (Blue)
1975 Capital 1–8 0–4 5th (Blue)
1976 Capital 5–3–1 2–3 4th (Red)
1977 Capital 5–4 2–3 4th (Red)
1978 Capital 6–3 3–2 T–2nd (Blue)
1979 Capital 5–4 2–3 4th (Blue)
1980 Capital 6–3 4–2 T–2nd (Blue)
1981 Capital 6–3 4–2 T–2nd (Blue)
1982 Capital 5–4 3–2 3rd (Red)
1983 Capital 4–5 2–3 T–3rd (Blue)
1984 Capital 5–5 3–5 T–5th
1985 Capital 5–5 3–5 T–6th
Capital: 120–94–3 81–72–1
Total: 120–94–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gene Slaughter". The Ironton Tribune. June 26, 1998. p. 3. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Walker, Jim (July 4, 2020). "Ironton's Pro Football Hall of Fame presenters". The Tribune. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "Logan Favored to Clinch SEO Loop Title Friday". Chillicothe Gazette. November 6, 1952. p. 16. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Walker, Jim (June 23, 1998). "Coaching great Gene Slaughter dead at age 71". The Ironton Tribune. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jackson Kids Get Touch Football". Chillicothe Gazette. September 27, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "Overflow Expected". Chillicothe Gazette. November 24, 1953. p. 12. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Four Chieftain Gridders Get All-League Honorable Mention". The Logan Daily News. December 3, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Levy, Bill (December 3, 1957). "Warren's Gene Slaughter Chosen Scholastic 'Coach Of Year' In Poll". Bryan Times. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Another Victory". The News-Messenger. December 3, 1957. p. 16. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "Warren's Slaughter Voted Ohio's Grid Coach Of Year". The Times Recorder. December 3, 1957. p. 13. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Gene Slaughter New Grid Coach At Capital U." The Daily Reporter. March 10, 1961. p. 14. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  12. ^ "Slaughter to Address Cavalier Club Fete". Chillicothe Gazette. November 22, 1960. p. 13. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Gene Slaughter Named To Buck Coaching Staff". Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. February 24, 1960. p. 20. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Capital Coach Makes Debut". The Times Recorder. September 3, 1961. p. 27. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "Gene Slaughter Named Grid Mentor at Capital". The Marion Star. March 10, 1961. p. 17. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  16. ^ "Name Gene Slaughter Capital Grid Mentor". Bryan Times. March 10, 1961. p. 6. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  17. ^ "Gene Slaughter Is Named Football Coach at Capital". The Tribune. March 10, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "Capital Football Coaching History". Capital University. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "Capital Coach Gene Slaughter Honored By Loop". Palladium-Item. November 28, 1970. p. 19. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "Slaughter quits Cap football job". Springfield News-Sun. February 26, 1986. p. 17. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Walker, Jim (December 31, 1986). "1986 remembered as the 'year of almost'". The Ironton Tribune. p. 11. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Gene Slaughter, football coach at Capital University, announced his..." UPI. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Capital coach will speak at Ridgewood graduation". The Tribune. May 26, 1985. p. 5. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  24. ^ "Eugene Slaughter (1988)". Capital University. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Former Capital coach Gene Slaughter dies". The Times Recorder. June 24, 1998. p. 15. Retrieved April 2, 2024.