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Bob Odell (American football)

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Bob Odell
Biographical details
Born(1922-03-05)March 5, 1922
Corning, Iowa, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 2012(2012-12-15) (aged 90)
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
Playing career
1941–1943Penn
1946Card-Pitt
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946–1947Yale (AC)
1948Temple (AC)
1949–1957Wisconsin (Line)
1958–1964Buckell
1965–1970Penn
1971–1986Williams
Head coaching record
Overall75–49–4
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
As a player
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1992 (profile)

Robert Harper Odell (March 5, 1922 – December 15, 2012) was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a halfback for the Penn Quakers, where he won the Maxwell Award in 1943. He was selected in the second round (15th overall) of the 1944 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but served in the United States Navy from 1944 through 1946. The Steelers offered Odell $8,000 to play in the 1946 season, however, his doctor recommended that he give up football due to a knee injury suffered while playing basketball. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992.

Head coaching career

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He was the head football coach at the University of Pennsylvania from 1965 to 1970, and at Williams College from 1971 to 1986. With a record of 75–49–4 in 16 years as the head coach at Williams, Odell ranks third in career wins behind Dick Farley and Charlie Caldwell.

Death

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He died of kidney disease in a nursing home in 2012.[1]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Bucknell Bison (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1958–1964)
1958 Bucknell 1–8 1–5 6th (University)
1959 Bucknell 4–5 3–3 4th (University)
1960 Bucknell 7–2 5–1 2nd (University)
1961 Bucknell 6–3 5–2 2nd (University)
1962 Bucknell 6–3 5–1 2nd (University)
1963 Bucknell 6–3 3–1 2nd (University)
1964 Bucknell 7–2 4–1 T–2nd (University)
Bucknell: 37–26 26–14
Penn Quakers (Ivy League) (1965–1970)
1965 Penn 4–4–1 2–4–1 6th
1966 Penn 2–7 1–6 7th
1967 Penn 3–6 2–5 6th
1968 Penn 7–2 5–2 3rd
1969 Penn 4–5 2–5 T–5th
1970 Penn 4–5 2–5 6th
Penn: 24–29–1 14–27–1
Williams Ephs (New England Small College Athletic Conference) (1971–1986)
1971 Williams 7–1
1972 Williams 7–1
1973 Williams 6–2
1974 Williams 7–1
1975 Williams 7–0–1
1976 Williams 4–4
1977 Williams 5–3
1978 Williams 5–3
1979 Williams 4–4
1980 Williams 5–2–1
1981 Williams 3–5
1982 Williams 4–4
1983 Williams 2–5–1
1984 Williams 3–5
1985 Williams 2–5–1
1986 Williams 4–4
Williams: 75–49–4
Total: 136–104–5

References

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  1. ^ Frank Fitzpatrick (October 22, 2012). "Bob Odell, 90; college football hall of famer starred at Penn". Philly.com. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
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