Harry W. Ewing
Encyclopedia
Harry W. "Buck" Ewing was an American football
player, coach of football and basketball
, and college athletics administrator. He was a 1909 graduate of University of Nebraska
where he played football. Ewing served as the head football coach at Morningside College
(1911), South Dakota State College
(1912–1917), Ohio Wesleyan University
(1919–1921), Miami University
(1922–1923), and Otterbein College (1935–1938, 1942–1945, 1951–1954), compiling a career college football
record of 82–82–10. He was also the head basketball coach at South Dakota State (1912–1913, 1914–1917), Ohio Wesleyan (1919–1920), Miami (1922–1924), and Otterbein (1942–1952), tallying a career college basketball
mark of 117–111–1.
, Ewing attended Lincoln High School where he graduated in 1906. He was an all around athlete participating in football, basketball, track
, and baseball
. In football he played both tackle
and fullback
. His football team claimed the high school championship of the United States
in 1905. In track he broke three Lincoln High School records for discus
(111 feet) and 12 lb shot put
(48 feet 5 inches) and the 12 lb hammer throw
(165 feet 8 inches).
and was known as a "natural people mover on the field." Ewing helped the 1907 Nebraska Cornhuskers
to an 8–2 record and a share of the Missouri Valley Conference
title. In 1908, the Cornhuskers finished with 7–2–1 with Ewing starting every game at left guard. In his last season as a Cornhusker the team's record slipped to a 3–3–2 mark.
in Sioux City, Iowa
. The following year, he took a coaching position in both football and basketball at South Dakota State College
. In 1914, he added the title of athletic director
. Ewing served as football coach at South Dakota from 1912 through 1917 with a record of 26–12–2. He also served as basketball coach for the 1912–13 season where his team went 0–2. The next season the college did not field a team but Ewing returned to coach the basketball team for the 1914–15, 1915–16, and 1916–17 seasons. He finished his career as South Dakota State's basketball coach with a record of 14–20–1.
In 1918 Ewing was named head coach of Ohio Wesleyan University
where he eventually was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Education
and Graduate Manager. In his three years as football coach at Ohio Wesleyan he had a combined record of 11–9. He also served as basketball coach for the 1919–20 season where his team went 5–8. In 1922, he took a position as Professor of Physical Education and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Miami University
. While at Miami he served as head coach of both the football and basketball teams. In the two years as head coach had a combined record of 11–15 in basketball and 7–7–2 in football.
Ewing returned to college coaching in 1934 when he took a position at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio
. Known as "Mr. Athletics" at Otterbein he served as coach of numerous sports as well as athletic director, trainer, and Physical Education Director from 1934 to 1958. During his career as a coach at Otterbein, Ewing compiled a 32–51–6 record in football and an 87–68 record in basketball. He was honored several ways by Otterbein for his impact on athletics. The track in the Rike Center is named in his memory and he was named to the Otterbein College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
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 of football 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...
, and college athletics administrator. He was a 1909 graduate of University of Nebraska
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
where he played football. Ewing served as the head football coach at Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
(1911), South Dakota State College
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
(1912–1917), Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
(1919–1921), Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(1922–1923), and Otterbein College (1935–1938, 1942–1945, 1951–1954), 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 82–82–10. He was also the head basketball coach at South Dakota State (1912–1913, 1914–1917), Ohio Wesleyan (1919–1920), Miami (1922–1924), and Otterbein (1942–1952), tallying a career college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
mark of 117–111–1.
Early life
A native of Lincoln, NebraskaLincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, Ewing attended Lincoln High School where he graduated in 1906. He was an all around athlete participating in football, basketball, track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. In football he played both tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. His football team claimed the high school championship of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1905. In track he broke three Lincoln High School records for discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
(111 feet) and 12 lb shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
(48 feet 5 inches) and the 12 lb hammer throw
Hammer throw
The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name "hammer throw" is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown...
(165 feet 8 inches).
Playing career
After playing tackle on the freshman team, Ewing lettered in football at the University of Nebraska under coach William C. "King" Cole in 1907, 1908, and 1909. Weighing 188-pounds, he played guardGuard (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 known as a "natural people mover on the field." Ewing helped the 1907 Nebraska Cornhuskers
1907 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1907 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team was the representative of the University of Nebraska in the 1907 college football season. The team was coached by William C...
to an 8–2 record and a share of the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
title. In 1908, the Cornhuskers finished with 7–2–1 with Ewing starting every game at left guard. In his last season as a Cornhusker the team's record slipped to a 3–3–2 mark.
Coaching career
After finishing his playing days at Nebraska, Ewing joined the Cornhuskers coaching staff. In 1911, he was named Director of Athletics and coach at Morningside CollegeMorningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
. The following year, he took a coaching position in both football and basketball at South Dakota State College
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
. In 1914, he added the title of 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...
. Ewing served as football coach at South Dakota from 1912 through 1917 with a record of 26–12–2. He also served as basketball coach for the 1912–13 season where his team went 0–2. The next season the college did not field a team but Ewing returned to coach the basketball team for the 1914–15, 1915–16, and 1916–17 seasons. He finished his career as South Dakota State's basketball coach with a record of 14–20–1.
In 1918 Ewing was named head coach of Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
where he eventually was promoted to Associate Professor of Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and Graduate Manager. In his three years as football coach at Ohio Wesleyan he had a combined record of 11–9. He also served as basketball coach for the 1919–20 season where his team went 5–8. In 1922, he took a position as Professor of Physical Education and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
. While at Miami he served as head coach of both the football and basketball teams. In the two years as head coach had a combined record of 11–15 in basketball and 7–7–2 in football.
Ewing returned to college coaching in 1934 when he took a position at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
. Known as "Mr. Athletics" at Otterbein he served as coach of numerous sports as well as athletic director, trainer, and Physical Education Director from 1934 to 1958. During his career as a coach at Otterbein, Ewing compiled a 32–51–6 record in football and an 87–68 record in basketball. He was honored several ways by Otterbein for his impact on athletics. The track in the Rike Center is named in his memory and he was named to the Otterbein College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Football
External links
- Harry W. Ewing at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com