Frank Thomas (football coach)
- Frank Thomas (football coach)
Frank W. Thomas (November 15, 1898–May 10, 1954) was the head football coach of the University of Alabama from 1932 to 1946. During his tenure, he compiled a 115-24-7 (.812) record and won two national championships (1934 and 1941). His winning percentage ranks second all-time among Alabama coaches (behind Paul "Bear" Bryant). He never coached a losing season, but coached two 10 win seasons. In 1945, his team scored 50 or more points in four straight games at the end of the regular season.
Thomas, who was born in Muncie, Indiana, played quarterback for Knute Rockne at Notre Dame from 1920 to 1922. He was, according to Rockne, the smartest player he ever coached. His roommate and best friend at Notre Dame was the famous George "The Gipper" Gipp.
After graduating, Thomas became an assistant coach at the University of Georgia for two years before earning his first head coaching job in 1925 at the University of Chattanooga (now the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga), where he went 26-9-2. In 1931 he accepted the job at Alabama, where he established himself as one of the top coaches in the nation. His bowl record at Alabama was 501, with wins at the Rose Bowl (1931, 1935, 1946), Sugar Bowl (1945), Cotton Bowl (1942), and Orange Bowl (1943). He became the coach and mentor for future Hall of Fame coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. Other notable players included Don Hutson, Vaughn Mancha, Harry Gilmer, Johnny Cain, and Riley Smith.
Declining health forced his resignation from coaching in 1946, but he remained Alabama's Athletic Director. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.
Thomas died in 1954 at the age of 55 at Druid City Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. An illustrated book published later that year told his story. The football practice fields at the University of Alabama are named for Thomas and his successor Harold D. Drew.
References
* Stone, Naylor (1954) "Coach Tommy of the Crimson Tide." Birmingham, Ala.: Vulcan Press.
External links
* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=30012 Frank Thomas] at the College Football Hall of Fame.
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