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Frank Cavanaugh (American football)

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Frank Cavanaugh
Cavanaugh, circa 1930
Cavanaugh, circa 1930
Biographical details
Born(1876-04-28)April 28, 1876
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedAugust 29, 1933(1933-08-29) (aged 57)
Marshfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Playing career
1896–1897Dartmouth
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1898Cincinnati
1898–1902Denver Athletic Club
1903–1905Holy Cross
1907–1910Worcester Academy
1911–1916Dartmouth
1919–1926Boston College
1927–1932Fordham
Head coaching record
Overall145–48–17 (college)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1954 (profile)

Francis "Frank" William Cavanaugh (April 28, 1876 – August 29, 1933) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at University of Cincinnati in 1898, the College of the Holy Cross from 1903 to 1905, Dartmouth College from 1911 to 1916, Boston College from 1919 to 1926, and Fordham University from 1927 to 1932, compiling a career college football coaching record of 145–48–17. Cavanaugh played football at Dartmouth as an end from 1896 to 1897. Nicknamed "Cav" and "The Iron Major," he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1954.

Early life and playing career

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Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cavanaugh played college football as an end at Dartmouth College from 1896 to 1897, under coach William Wurtenburg.

Coaching career and military service

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Cavanaugh served as the head football coach at the University of Cincinnati in 1898, followed with a stint coaching at the Denver Athletic Club from 1898 to 1903. He then returned to his native Worcester to coach at the College of the Holy Cross from 1903 to 1905, followed by high school coaching at Worcester Academy from 1907 to 1910.[1]

Cavanaugh left Worcester to return to college football at his alma mater, Dartmouth from 1911 to 1916. There, he coached Lawrence Whitney, who also attended Worcester Academy when Cavanaugh coached there. Cavanaugh left Dartmouth in 1917 to return to Holy Cross. However, before the football season began, Cavanaugh entered the United States Army to serve during World War I.[2] He rose to the rank of major and was seriously wounded during the Meuse–Argonne offensive on October 23, 1918. Shellfire broke his cheek, nose, and skull, all of which contributed to later blindness.

In 1919, Cavanaugh published a book entitled Inside Football.[3]

Cavanaugh's final two coaching stints were at Boston College from 1919 to 1926 and Fordham University from 1927 to 1932. At Fordham, he implemented the T formation on offense. He finished career with a college coaching record of 148–50–18.

Death and honors

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At the time of his death in 1933, Cavanaugh was bankrupt. He was survived by his widow, Florence Ayres, and their seven children.[4]

On October 25, 1943, a biographical film about Cavanaugh's life was released by RKO Pictures titled The Iron Major, based on his wife's recollections. The actor Pat O'Brien portrayed Cavanaugh in the main role. In 1954, Cavanaugh was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Cincinnati (Independent) (1898)
1898 Cincinnati 5–1–3
Cincinnati: 5–1–3
Holy Cross (Independent) (1903–1905)
1903 Holy Cross 8–2
1904 Holy Cross 2–5–2
1905 Holy Cross 6–3
Holy Cross: 16–10–2
Dartmouth (Independent) (1911–1916)
1911 Dartmouth 8–2
1912 Dartmouth 7–2
1913 Dartmouth 7–1
1914 Dartmouth 8–1
1915 Dartmouth 7–1–1
1916 Dartmouth 5–2–2
Dartmouth: 42–9–3
Boston College Eagles (Independent) (1919–1926)
1919 Boston College 5–3
1920 Boston College 8–0
1921 Boston College 4–3–1
1922 Boston College 6–2–1
1923 Boston College 7–1–1
1924 Boston College 6–3
1925 Boston College 6–2
1926 Boston College 6–0–2
Boston College: 48–14–5
Fordham Maroon/Rams (Independent) (1927–1932)
1927 Fordham 3–5
1928 Fordham 4–5
1929 Fordham 7–0–2
1930 Fordham 8–1
1931 Fordham 6–1–2
1932 Fordham 6–2
Fordham: 34–14–4
Total: 145–48–17

References

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  1. ^ "Cavanaugh Selected". The Boston Globe. March 22, 1907.
  2. ^ "Kelly Returns". Youngstown Vindicator. September 22, 1917. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Inside football". Boston, Small, Maynard. 1919.
  4. ^ Murphy, Frank (August 30, 1933). "Death Claims Major Frank Cavanaugh After Lingering Illness". The Waterbury Democrat. Waterbury, Connecticut. United Press. p. 17. Retrieved November 4, 2021 – via Chronicling America.
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