Frank Dobson (American football)


Frank Mills Dobson was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Georgia, Clemson University, the University of Richmond, the University of South Carolina, the University of Maryland, and The Apprentice School, compiling a career record of 137–142–24. Dobson was also the head basketball coach at Clemson and Richmond and the head baseball coach at Clemson and Richmond.

Coaching career

Georgia Tech and Georgia

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Dobson was an assistant under legendary Georgia Tech head coach John Heisman.
In 1909, Dobson moved to Georgia Tech's arch-rival, Georgia. There, the new head coach, James Coulter, had no prior coaching experience. Dobson was hired as a co-coach and added new trick plays in an attempt to energize the offense. Still the team finished with a record of 2–4–2.

Clemson

Dobson moved on to Clemson University for the 1910 season, where he coached not only football, but also basketball and baseball. His overall record with the Clemson football team was 11–12–1.

Richmond and South Carolina

Dobson then moved to the University of Richmond, where he was athletic director and football, baseball, and basketball coach from 1913 to 1933, with one exception: in the abbreviated postwar season of 1918, rather than coaching the Richmond football team, he took over the South Carolina Gamecocks and led them to a record of 2–1–1. Dobson's overall football record at Richmond was 79–78–18, his baseball record was 153–112, and his basketball record was 153–106. Dobson was posthumously elected to the University of Richmond Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978.

Maryland

In 1935, Dobson became an assistant at Maryland under head coach Jack Faber. The following season, he was promoted to head coach and served in that position through 1939. Dobson amassed an 18–21 record at Maryland.

Apprentice

Dobson finished his career as the 11th head football coach at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Virginia and he held that position for nine seasons, from 1940 until 1948. His coaching record at Apprentice was 25–26–2. A highlight at Apprentice was a 7–6 upset of the Virginia in 1943.

Death

Dobson died on December 1, 1956, in Carlisle, Indiana. He was found dead in bed after suffering a coronary occlusion.

Head coaching record

Football