James J. "Gentleman Jim" Yeager (February 2, 1909 – May 17, 1971) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Fort Hays State University (1935), Iowa State University (1937–1940), and the University of Colorado at Boulder (1941–1943, 1946–1947), compiling a career college football record of 48–38–3. Yeager won conference championships in 1935 with Fort Hays State and in 1942 and 1943 with Colorado.
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 2, 1909 Chase County, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 1971 (aged 62) Boulder, Colorado, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1928–1930 | Kansas State |
| Position(s) | Defensive lineman, guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1935 | Fort Hays State |
| 1936 | Iowa State (line) |
| 1937–1940 | Iowa State |
| 1941–1943 | Colorado |
| 1946–1947 | Colorado |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 48–38–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 CIAC (1935) 2 Mountain States (1942–1943) | |
Playing career
editYeager played football as a defensive lineman and guard at Kansas State University from 1928 to 1930 and graduated from the university in 1931.[1]
Coaching career
editFort Hays State
editYeager got his start in coaching as the ninth head football coach for the Fort Hays Tigers located in Hays, Kansas, and he held that position for the 1935 season. His record at Fort Hays was 8–2. This ranks him 15th at Fort Hays in total wins and first at Fort Hays in winning percentage.[2] That year, his team was declared the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference co-champions.[3]
Iowa State
editAfter his success at Fort Hays, Yeager was named the 16th head coach for the Iowa State University Cyclones located in Ames, Iowa, and he held that position for four seasons, from 1937 until 1940. His coaching record at Iowa state was 16–19–1. This ranks him 15th at Iowa state in total wins and 15th at Iowa state in winning percentage[4] His best season came in 1938, when the team produced a record of 7–1–1.
Colorado
editYeager then returned to success as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes where he coached five season between 1941 and 1947 with a two-year hiatus in 1944 and 1945. His record there stands at 24–17–2.
Death
editYeager died of an apparent heart attack on May 17, 1971, at the age of 62.[5]
Head coaching record
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hays State Tigers (Central Intercollegiate Conference) (1935) | |||||||||
| 1935 | Fort Hays State | 8–2 | 3–1 | T–1st | |||||
| Fort Hays State: | 8–2 | 3–1 | |||||||
| Iowa State Cyclones (Big Six Conference) (1937–1940) | |||||||||
| 1937 | Iowa State | 3–6 | 1–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1938 | Iowa State | 7–1–1 | 3–1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1939 | Iowa State | 2–7 | 1–4 | T–4th | |||||
| 1940 | Iowa State | 4–5 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| Iowa State: | 16–19–1 | 7–12–1 | |||||||
| Colorado Buffaloes (Mountain States Conference) (1941–1943) | |||||||||
| 1941 | Colorado | 3–4–1 | 3–2–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1942 | Colorado | 7–2 | 5–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1943 | Colorado | 5–2 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
| Colorado Buffaloes (Mountain States Conference) (1946–1947) | |||||||||
| 1946 | Colorado | 5–4–1 | 3–2–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1947 | Colorado | 4–5 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| Colorado: | 24–17–2 | 16–8–2 | |||||||
| Total: | 48–38–3 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Coaching Records" (PDF). 2010 Colorado Football Information Guide & Record Book. University of Colorado Buffaloes. p. 129. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 16, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
- ^ Fort Hays State University coaching records Archived May 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Fort Hays Football, 1935". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2008.
- ^ Iowa State Coaching Records Archived June 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Coach Yeager Heart Victim". Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. May 19, 1971. Retrieved November 23, 2010.