Herbert M. Kopf
Encyclopedia
Herbert M. "Herb" Kopf was an American football
coach who was head coach of Manhattan College
from 1938–1942 and the Boston Yanks
from 1944-1946.
A star baseball player at New Britain High School
in New Britain, Connecticut
, Kopf switched to football when Washington & Jefferson College
dropped its baseball program before his freshman season. A star offensive and defensive end, Kopf was a member of the 10-0 Presidents team that played in the 1922 Rose Bowl
, becoming the first freshman ever to play in a Rose Bowl. As a sophomore, Kopf was selected by coach John W. Heisman to call the offesnive plays and was a Walter Camp All-America selection.
While attending Georgetown Law School
, Kopf was hired as an offensive assistant by Lou Little
in 1925. Kopf would follow Little to Columbia
in 1930 where he would coach the ends and backfield for eight seasons. In 1934, Columbia won the Ivy League
championship, finishing the season with a 7-1 record, a #7 ranking, and a 7-0 win in the 1934 Rose Bowl
.
Kopf was the head football coach for the Manhattan College Jaspers
from 1938 until the program ended in 1942. His career coaching record at Manhattan was 18 wins, 24 losses, and 1 ties. This ranks him second at Manhattan in total wins and fifth at Manhattan in winning percentage.
Upon the conclusion of the 1942 season, Manhattan College (like many schools of the day) suspended intercollegiate football games because of World War II
. Upon completion of the war, the school decided not to reactivate the program. Kopf was the school's athletic director from 1938-1943.
In 1944, Kopf was named head coach of the Boston Yanks
. This job was supposed to be temporary until Jim Crowley
returned from the Navy however, instead of coaching the Yanks, Crowley became commissioner of the new All-America Football Conference
and Kopf would remain as the Yanks head coach until 1946. In his three seasons with the Yanks, Kopf had a record of 7-22-2. In 1948, Kopf was hired as an assistant under Denny Myers
at Boston College
. Kopf was not retained by new head coach Mike Holovak
in 1951. Kopf's final coaching job was as an assistant to Benny Friedman
at Brandeis
.
He was the brother of Larry Kopf
, an infielder in the Major Leagues from 1913-1923. Kopf served as the Cincinnati Reds
on-field messenger during his brother's time there. He was with the Reds during the 1919 World Series
, made famous by the Black Sox Scandal
.
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...
coach who was head coach of Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
from 1938–1942 and the Boston Yanks
Boston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
from 1944-1946.
A star baseball player at New Britain High School
New Britain High School
New Britain High School is a public high school in New Britain, Connecticut. It is a part of New Britain Public Schools. The school's teams go by the name of "Golden Hurricanes"...
in New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, Kopf switched to football when Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
dropped its baseball program before his freshman season. A star offensive and defensive end, Kopf was a member of the 10-0 Presidents team that played in the 1922 Rose Bowl
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
, becoming the first freshman ever to play in a Rose Bowl. As a sophomore, Kopf was selected by coach John W. Heisman to call the offesnive plays and was a Walter Camp All-America selection.
While attending Georgetown Law School
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
, Kopf was hired as an offensive assistant by Lou Little
Lou Little
Lou "Luigi Piccolo" Little was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Georgetown College, now Georgetown University, from 1924 to 1929 and at Columbia University from 1930 to 1956, compiling a career college football record of 151–128–13...
in 1925. Kopf would follow Little to Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1930 where he would coach the ends and backfield for eight seasons. In 1934, Columbia won the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championship, finishing the season with a 7-1 record, a #7 ranking, and a 7-0 win in the 1934 Rose Bowl
1934 Rose Bowl
The 1934 Rose Bowl, played on January 1, 1934, was an American Football bowl game. It was the 20th Rose Bowl Game. The Columbia Lions defeated the Stanford Indians 7-0. Cliff Montgomery, the Columbia quarterback, was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game when the award was created in 1953 and...
.
Kopf was the head football coach for the Manhattan College Jaspers
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
from 1938 until the program ended in 1942. His career coaching record at Manhattan was 18 wins, 24 losses, and 1 ties. This ranks him second at Manhattan in total wins and fifth at Manhattan in winning percentage.
Upon the conclusion of the 1942 season, Manhattan College (like many schools of the day) suspended intercollegiate football games because of 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...
. Upon completion of the war, the school decided not to reactivate the program. Kopf was the school's athletic director from 1938-1943.
In 1944, Kopf was named head coach of the Boston Yanks
Boston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
. This job was supposed to be temporary until Jim Crowley
Jim Crowley
James Harold "Jim" Crowley was an American football player and coach. He gained fame as one-fourth of the University of Notre Dame's legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield where he played halfback from 1922 to 1924. After a brief career as a professional football player, Crowley turned to coaching...
returned from the Navy however, instead of coaching the Yanks, Crowley became commissioner of the new All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
and Kopf would remain as the Yanks head coach until 1946. In his three seasons with the Yanks, Kopf had a record of 7-22-2. In 1948, Kopf was hired as an assistant under Denny Myers
Denny Myers
-External links:...
at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. Kopf was not retained by new head coach Mike Holovak
Mike Holovak
Michael Joseph Holovak was an American football player, coach, and executive. He played college football at Boston College, where he was named an All-American at fullback in 1942. Holovak was selected in the first round of the 1943 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams...
in 1951. Kopf's final coaching job was as an assistant to Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan , Cleveland Bulldogs , Detroit Wolverines , New York Giants , and Brooklyn Dodgers .He is generally considered the first great passer in professional football...
at Brandeis
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
.
He was the brother of Larry Kopf
Larry Kopf
William Lorenz "Larry" Kopf , is a former professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from to . He would play for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Braves and Cincinnati Reds.He was the brother of football coach Herbert M...
, an infielder in the Major Leagues from 1913-1923. Kopf served as the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on-field messenger during his brother's time there. He was with the Reds during the 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
, made famous by the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
.