Grover Cleveland "Pappy" Washabaugh (c. 1893 – March 16, 1973) was an American football

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...

 and basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 coach. He served as the head football coach at Westminster College from 1937 to 1942, during which time he compiled a 16–26–6 record, and the head basketball coach from 1937 to 1956, during which time he compiled a 296–129 record.

Washabaugh's first coaching experience came at Woodlawn High School in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania

Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 9,438 at the 2010 census. Formerly a borough, it was formally named a city in 1987 by the Aliquippa Council.-History:...

, where he mentored the basketball team and taught physical education. He then coached at South Hills High School for four years before moving on to South Side High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

. From 1927 to 1936, he served as South High's head football and basketball coach. In 1937, he took over as the head basketball and football coach at Westminster College. Washabaugh also served as the school's athletic director

Athletic director

An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...

. In August 1943, Westminster College discontinued its football team. It was later revived after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 for the 1946 season. Washabaugh continued to serve as the basketball coach until 1956 and posted a 296–129 record.

In January 1959, he returned home to Pittsburgh after suffering a mild stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

. Washabaugh retired in 1961. He was inducted into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...

 Hall of Fame. Washabaugh died on March 16, 1973 at Jameson Memorial Hospital in New Castle, Pennsylvania

New Castle, Pennsylvania

New Castle is a city in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, northwest of Pittsburgh and near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border just east of Youngstown, Ohio; in 1910, the total population was 36,280; in 1920, 44,938; and in 1940, 47,638. The population has fallen to 26,309 according to the...

at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife Grace, with whom he had a son and two daughters.