Robert Lee "Bob" Gambold (February 5 1929 – October 25, 2008) was an athletic star at Washington State University

Washington State University

Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...

, who played briefly in the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 and coached in college and the NFL.

Biography

Gambold was raised in Longview, Washington

Longview, Washington

Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...

. He played both football and basketball for the Washington State Cougars

Washington State Cougars

The Washington State Cougars are the athletic teams at Washington State University; the term applies to any of the school's varsity teams. Washington State University is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, which participates in the NCAA Division I...

, as the team's starting quarterback in 1948, 1949 and 1950, and as a starting forward for basketball coach Jack Friel

Jack Friel

John B. "Jack" Friel was an American basketball coach who was the head coach of the Washington State University men's basketball team from 1928 to 1958...

 in those same three seasons.

After graduating from college, he played briefly in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

. The 6-foot, 4 inch quarterback weighed 215 pounds, and was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 24th round of the 1950 NFL Draft

1950 NFL Draft

The 1950 National Football League Draft was held on January 20–21, 1950.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...

, as the 307th pick overall. His only stats in the NFL were with the Eagles in 1953, when he played in three games, completing six out of 14 passes for 107 yards, no touchdowns and two intereptions. He became a coach after his professional career, working as an assistant at Everett Junior College (now Everett Community College

Everett Community College

Everett Community College is a community college located in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 20,000 students every year at seven learning centers throughout Snohomish County, with most students and faculty at the main campus in north Everett....

), Oregon State University

Oregon State University

Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...

, Stanford University

Stanford University

The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...

 and at his alma mater, Washington State University. He was an assistant coach in the NFL for the Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

 and the Houston Oilers

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...

.

A chapter written by Gambold while he was an assistant coach at Stanford, titled "Establishing a Winning defensive Mindset", was included in the book Defensive Football Strategies by the American Football Coaches Association

American Football Coaches Association

The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...

, the organization responsible for the USA Today

USA Today

USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...

Coaches' Poll. In this piece, Gambold focused on how football defense is fun, a team effort, is attack and is hitting.

Gambold died on October 25, 2008, in Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

. The cause of his death was not specified.