Clarence Spears
Encyclopedia
Dr. Clarence Wiley "Doc" Spears (July 24, 1894 – February 1, 1964) was an American football
player, coach, and doctor. He was an All-American
guard
at Dartmouth College
(1914–1915) and served as the head football coach at Dartmouth (1917–1920), West Virginia University
(1921–1924), the University of Minnesota
(1925–1929), the University of Oregon
(1930–1931), the University of Wisconsin–Madison
(1932–1935), the University of Toledo
(1936–1942), and University of Maryland, College Park
(1943–1944), compiling a career college football
record of 148–83–14. Spears was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
as a player in 1955.
, where played guard
and was selected to the College Football All-America Team
in 1914 and 1915.
from 1917 to 1920. From 1921 to 1924, he coached the West Virginia Mountaineers football
team, winning 79.5% of the games he coached during his tenure there. Following that, Spears coached the Minnesota Golden Gophers
from 1925 to 1929, leading the team to a 6–0–2 record and a share of the Big Ten Conference
title in 1927. He had a 28–9–3 record at Minnesota.
Spears was the coach at Oregon
in 1930 and 1931. From 1932 to 1935 he coached the Wisconsin Badgers
. From 1936 to 1942, Spears was Toledo
's coach. Finally, he was the coach at Maryland
in 1943 and 1944, tallying a mark of 5–12–1.
Spears had two undefeated seasons as a coach, 1922 at West Virginia
and 1927 at Minnesota. In 1955, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
.
and the Rush Medical College
. Following his football career, he maintained a medical practice for many years.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, coach, and doctor. He was an All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
(1914–1915) and served as the head football coach at Dartmouth (1917–1920), West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
(1921–1924), the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
(1925–1929), the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
(1930–1931), the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(1932–1935), the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
(1936–1942), and University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
(1943–1944), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 148–83–14. Spears was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a player in 1955.
Playing career
Spears attended Dartmouth CollegeDartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where played guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and was selected to the College Football All-America Team
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
in 1914 and 1915.
Coaching career
Spears was the head coach for the Dartmouth Indians football teamDartmouth Big Green football
The Dartmouth Big Green football team represents Dartmouth College in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League...
from 1917 to 1920. From 1921 to 1924, he coached the West Virginia Mountaineers football
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
team, winning 79.5% of the games he coached during his tenure there. Following that, Spears coached the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
from 1925 to 1929, leading the team to a 6–0–2 record and a share of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
title in 1927. He had a 28–9–3 record at Minnesota.
Spears was the coach at Oregon
Oregon Ducks football
The Oregon Ducks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of Oregon located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. Known as the Ducks, the...
in 1930 and 1931. From 1932 to 1935 he coached the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
. From 1936 to 1942, Spears was Toledo
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
's coach. Finally, he was the coach at Maryland
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in 1943 and 1944, tallying a mark of 5–12–1.
Spears had two undefeated seasons as a coach, 1922 at West Virginia
1922 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 1922 West Virginia Mountaineers football team completed the regular season with a 9–0–1 record. They earned the school's first bowl bid, journeying to the East-West Bowl where they defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 21–13...
and 1927 at Minnesota. In 1955, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
.
Medical career
While coaching, Spears studied medicine at the University of ChicagoUniversity of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and the Rush Medical College
Rush Medical College
Rush Medical College is the medical school of Rush University, a private university in Chicago, Illinois. Rush Medical College was one of the first medical colleges in the state of Illinois and was chartered in 1837, two days before the city of Chicago was chartered, and opened with 22 students on...
. Following his football career, he maintained a medical practice for many years.