Henry Schulte
Encyclopedia
Henry Frank Schulte was an American football
player and coach and also a college track and field coach. Schulte played football at the University of Michigan
from 1903–1905 and later coached football and track and field at Eastern Michigan University
(1906–1908), University of Missouri
(1914–1917), and University of Nebraska
(1919–1938). Schulte was often referred to by the nickname "Indian" Schulte, though he was of German rather than Native American descent.
. His father, Gerhardt Henry Schulte (1846-1917), was a teamster who emigrated to the United States from Germany. His mother, Amalia, also emigrated from Germany.
in St. Louis and then at Washington University in St. Louis
. In 1903, Schulte transferred to the University of Michigan where he played at the guard
and center
positions for Fielding H. Yost's famous "Point-a-Minute" teams of 1903
, 1904
, and 1905
, which compiled a record of 33–1–1 over the three years Schulte was a starter. In late 1905 and early 1906, charges of professionalism were leveled at the major college football programs, including Michigan, leading to calls for reform or even elimination of the sport from college campuses. In response to the controversy, the faculty at Michigan ruled Schulte and two other football players, Germany Schulz
and Walter Rheinschild
, academically ineligible. As a result, Schulte missed the 1906 season.
From 1909 to 1913, Schulte coached at Cape Girardeau College in Missouri. He was also an assistant coach to Fielding Yost for the 1912 Michigan Wolverines football team
.
From 1914 to 1919, Schulte coached football and track and field at Missouri. In three years as coach of the football team (1914–1917), he compiled a 16–14–2 record. The track athletes he coached at Missouri included Jackson Scholz
and Bob Simpson. A newspaper profile of Schulte in 1917 noted his contributions to the Missouri athletic program:
From 1919 to 1920, he was the head football coach at Nebraska, where he compiled an 8–6–3 record. He also served as the school's track coach from 1919 to 1938, and was an assistant coach for the football team from 1922 to 1927. One newspaper columnist noted that "his work with the big, sturdy plainsmen of the Cornhusker state largely was responsible for the name the school built for itself." Schulte was credited with building great football lines for Nebraska, evn in his years as an assistant coach; Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne
frequently mentioned Schulte as "the greatest line coach in the game." In 20 years as the Cornhuskers
' track coach, Schulte coached his teams to 15 conference titles. Schulte also served as a coach on the U.S. track team at the 1928 Summer Olympics
. At Nebraska, the track athletes coached by Schulte included Ed Weir
, John "Choppy" Rhodes, Hugh Rhea, Sam Francis
and Lloyd Cardwell
.
In later years, Schulte served as an instructor at coaching schools. In 1934, Schulte taught track coaching at a program in which Fritz Crisler
also taught football coaching. A newspaper story on the coaching school reflected the popularity of Schulte's classes:
in October 1944 at age 65. In its obituary for Schulte, the Associated Press
referred to Schulte as the "grand old man" of the University of Nebraska track teams.
Schulte was married to Neva Schulte, born in 1889 in Marcellus, Michigan
. They had a son, Henry A. Schulte, born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1924.
When Nebraska completed a new athletic field house in 1946, it was named Schulte Fieldhouse in his honor. Schulte Fieldhouse was demolished to make room for the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, which was completed in 2006.
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 and coach and also a college track and field coach. Schulte played football at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1903–1905 and later coached football and track and field at Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
(1906–1908), University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
(1914–1917), and 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...
(1919–1938). Schulte was often referred to by the nickname "Indian" Schulte, though he was of German rather than Native American descent.
Early years
Schulte was born in 1879 in St. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. His father, Gerhardt Henry Schulte (1846-1917), was a teamster who emigrated to the United States from Germany. His mother, Amalia, also emigrated from Germany.
Football player
Schulte played football at Smith AcademyMary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School
Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School or "MICDS" is a secular, co-educational, private school for about 1,200 students in grades Junior Kindergarten through 12, separated into three different sections: JK-4th grade , 5th-8th grade , and 9th-12th grade . Its 100 acre campus is located...
in St. Louis and then at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington Bears football
The Washington University in St. Louis football team represents Washington University in St. Louis in collegiate level football. The team competes in NCAA Division III....
. In 1903, Schulte transferred to the University of Michigan where he played at the 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 center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
positions for Fielding H. Yost's famous "Point-a-Minute" teams of 1903
1903 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1903 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1903 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost...
, 1904
1904 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1904 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1904 college football season. In the team's fourth season under head coach Fielding H. Yost, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 10–0 record and outscored opponents 567–22. The 1904 team was the fourth of Yost's...
, and 1905
1905 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1905 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1905 college football season. The team's head football coach was Fielding H. Yost. The Wolverines played their home games at Regents Field...
, which compiled a record of 33–1–1 over the three years Schulte was a starter. In late 1905 and early 1906, charges of professionalism were leveled at the major college football programs, including Michigan, leading to calls for reform or even elimination of the sport from college campuses. In response to the controversy, the faculty at Michigan ruled Schulte and two other football players, Germany Schulz
Germany Schulz
Adolph George "Germany" Schulz was an All-American American football center for the University of Michigan Wolverines from 1904 to 1905 and from 1907 to 1908. While playing at Michigan, Schulz is credited with having invented the spiral snap and with developing the practice of standing behind the...
and Walter Rheinschild
Walter Rheinschild
Walter Meadowfield Rheinschild , known also by the nicknames "Rheiny" and "Rhino", was an American football player and coach. He played for the University of Michigan in 1904, 1905, and 1907, and was once "rated as the highest salaried amateur athlete in the business." He later coached for...
, academically ineligible. As a result, Schulte missed the 1906 season.
Football and track coach
In his senior year at Michigan, Schulte began a long career in coaching as the track coach at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University). From 1906 to 1908, Schulte served as coach of the football, baseball and track teams at Eastern Michigan University. In three years as Eastern Michigan's football coach, Schulte compiled a 9–6–1 record.From 1909 to 1913, Schulte coached at Cape Girardeau College in Missouri. He was also an assistant coach to Fielding Yost for the 1912 Michigan Wolverines football team
1912 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1912 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1912 college football season. The team's head coach was Fielding H. Yost...
.
From 1914 to 1919, Schulte coached football and track and field at Missouri. In three years as coach of the football team (1914–1917), he compiled a 16–14–2 record. The track athletes he coached at Missouri included Jackson Scholz
Jackson Scholz
Jackson Volney Scholz was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprint. In the 1920s, he became the first person to appear in an Olympic sprint final in three different Olympic Games...
and Bob Simpson. A newspaper profile of Schulte in 1917 noted his contributions to the Missouri athletic program:
"Missouri hardly can afford to let 'Indian' Schulte, the football and track coach, leave the athletic department of the university, Schulte has had splendid success at Missouri. He has turned out well coached football teams and highly successful track teams. He has given Missouri in a coaching way what C. L. Brewer has supplied in the way of careful management and the upbuilding of a fine athletic plant. Schulte, an impulsive, impetuous fellow, is beloved of his boys. He has done much for Missouri athletics. He is entitled to the best Missouri can give him."
From 1919 to 1920, he was the head football coach at Nebraska, where he compiled an 8–6–3 record. He also served as the school's track coach from 1919 to 1938, and was an assistant coach for the football team from 1922 to 1927. One newspaper columnist noted that "his work with the big, sturdy plainsmen of the Cornhusker state largely was responsible for the name the school built for itself." Schulte was credited with building great football lines for Nebraska, evn in his years as an assistant coach; Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne
Knute Kenneth Rockne was an American football player and coach. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in college football history...
frequently mentioned Schulte as "the greatest line coach in the game." In 20 years as the Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
' track coach, Schulte coached his teams to 15 conference titles. Schulte also served as a coach on the U.S. track team at the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
. At Nebraska, the track athletes coached by Schulte included Ed Weir
Ed Weir
Samuel Edwin Weir was an American collegiate and professional football player.He was the first Nebraska Cornhusker football player elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and is known as one of Nebraska's greatest athletes...
, John "Choppy" Rhodes, Hugh Rhea, Sam Francis
Sam Francis
Samuel Lewis Francis was an American painter and printmaker.-Early life:...
and Lloyd Cardwell
Lloyd Cardwell
Lloyd Raymond Cardwell was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and professionally for the Detroit Lions for seven seasons. After his playing days, Cardwell coached the track & field and football teams at Omaha University and the University...
.
In later years, Schulte served as an instructor at coaching schools. In 1934, Schulte taught track coaching at a program in which Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
also taught football coaching. A newspaper story on the coaching school reflected the popularity of Schulte's classes:
"Henry 'Indian' Schulte, University of Nebraska, concluded his track and field work yesterday, and was given a rousing send-off by the 200 or more coaches who have been attending his lectures. It was the opinion of numerous coaches yesterday that the Texas Tech coaching school authorities would do well to sign Schulte immediately for another course next year. ... One of the most popular lecturers to appear here, Schulte, who is getting along in years but younger in ideas and thought, has had almost as large a following as any football coach on the staff."
Family, death and tributes
In 1939, Schulte resigned as Nebraska's track coach due to illness. After several years of illness, Schulte died at 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....
in October 1944 at age 65. In its obituary for Schulte, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
referred to Schulte as the "grand old man" of the University of Nebraska track teams.
Schulte was married to Neva Schulte, born in 1889 in Marcellus, Michigan
Marcellus, Michigan
Marcellus is a village in Cass County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,162 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Marcellus Township...
. They had a son, Henry A. Schulte, born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1924.
When Nebraska completed a new athletic field house in 1946, it was named Schulte Fieldhouse in his honor. Schulte Fieldhouse was demolished to make room for the Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, which was completed in 2006.