“To me, the coaching profession is one of the noblest and most far-reaching in building manhood.” ~ Amos Alonzo Stagg
1928 photograph of Chicago Maroons football coach Alonzo Stagg
The Boston Globe
Amos Alonzo Stagg, often called the “Grand Old Man of Football,” was a towering figure whose coaching career spanned an incredible 71 years. His influence is so foundational that many of the strategies and formations used in the modern game originated in his playbook.
The University of Chicago Dynasty
Stagg is most famous for his 41-season tenure at the University of Chicago (1892–1932). During this time, he transformed the Maroons into a national powerhouse, winning seven Big Ten titles and two consensus national championships (1905 and 1913). He was more than just a coach; he was an innovator who viewed the football field as a laboratory for strategy.
A Legacy of Innovation
Stagg’s contribution to the technical side of the sport is unparalleled. He is credited with inventing or perfecting:
The Forward Pass: He was one of the earliest proponents after its legalization in 1906.
Formations: He developed the T-formation and the end-around play.
Equipment & Tools: He introduced the tackling dummy, uniform numbers, and the huddle.
Spirit & Strategy: He pioneered the “onside kick” and the lateral pass.
Later Career and Longevity
After being forced into “retirement” by Chicago at age 70, Stagg refused to quit. He moved to the College of the Pacific, where he coached for another 14 years and earned National Coach of the Year honors in 1943 at the age of 81. He finally finished his coaching journey as an assistant to his son at Susquehanna University and as a kicking consultant at Stockton College, coaching well into his 90s.
Stagg finished his career with 314 wins, and his name remains synonymous with integrity and the amateur ideal of college athletics. He was one of the first individuals ever inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.
