Lloyd Eaton
Encyclopedia
Lloyd W. Eaton was an American football
player, coach, and executive. He served as the head coach at Alma College
(1949–1955), Northern Michigan University
(1956), and the University of Wyoming
(1962–1970), compiling a career college football
record of 104–53–4. He then served as the director of player personnel for the NFL
's Green Bay Packers
.
Growing up in Belle Fourche, South Dakota
, Eaton was an outstanding football, track, and boxing athlete at Belle Fourche High School. After High School, he graduated from Black Hills State Teachers College
where he played end and became captain of the team in his junior year. He remained at Black Hills after graduation, becoming the line coach there for one year.
Eaton then coached football at DuPre High School for several years leading up to his service in World War II
.
Following the War, he returned to coaching at Bennett County High School in Martin, South Dakota
, and then earned a master's degree at the University of Michigan
. While at Michigan, he coached the 150-pound football team.
He began doctoral studies at Indiana University, then moved on to coach football at Alma College
in Michigan. There his teams won the 1950 and 1951 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
championship titles, and he compiled a record of 40–20–2. His influence there was felt by player Denny Stolz
, who later became a successful coach.
Eaton was a detail-oriented disciplinarian who made a name for himself by introducing new techniques that helped smaller defensive linemen. "[Smaller defensive linemen] became very popular as a result," recalled Paul Roach
, Eaton's assistant at Wyoming. "I think this became somewhat of a springboard for him to be elevated as a head football coach, and he certainly had an outstanding career as a head football coach."
Eaton left Alma in 1956, and coached at Northern Michigan University
for one year before. From 1957 to 1961, Eaton served as defensive line coach at the University of Wyoming
, and in 1962, he succeeded Bob Devaney
as head coach there. In that role, he became one of the university's most successful coaches, compiling a record of 57–33–2. His greatest success came in the 1966, 1967, and 1968 seasons. In those three years, the team posted back-to-back 10–1 seasons, including a 14-game winning streak from November 5, 1966 to January 1, 1968, then followed this by going undefeated through the 1968 regular season. His teams won the 1966 Sun Bowl
and played in the 1968 Sugar Bowl
.
Eaton was coach during the 1969 "Black 14" episode in which 14 Wyoming players were kicked off the team for planning to wear black armbands during a game against BYU. The players were protesting the racial policies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Before leaving Wyoming, Eaton had compiled a career record of 104–53–5 and was the 16th winningest major college coach to that time.
In 1970, the NFL
came calling, and Eaton became the Director of Player Personnel for the Green Bay Packers
and later served as the western regional director for the BLESKO player rating service of the NFL. In 1973, he was elected to the Alma (College) Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 1984 to the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Eaton retired in the mid-1980s, and died at the age of 88 on March 14, 2007 in Nampa, Idaho
.
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 executive. He served as the head coach at Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
(1949–1955), Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
(1956), and the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
(1962–1970), 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 104–53–4. He then served as the director of player personnel for the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
Growing up in Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Belle Fourche, South Dakota
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which are land and is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,565 people, 1,854 households, and 1,186 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,446.9 people per square mile...
, Eaton was an outstanding football, track, and boxing athlete at Belle Fourche High School. After High School, he graduated from Black Hills State Teachers College
Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 5,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton,...
where he played end and became captain of the team in his junior year. He remained at Black Hills after graduation, becoming the line coach there for one year.
Eaton then coached football at DuPre High School for several years leading up to his service in 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...
.
Following the War, he returned to coaching at Bennett County High School in Martin, South Dakota
Martin, South Dakota
Martin is a city in Bennett County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,071 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Bennett County.-Geography:Martin is located at ....
, and then earned a master's degree 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...
. While at Michigan, he coached the 150-pound football team.
He began doctoral studies at Indiana University, then moved on to coach football at Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
in Michigan. There his teams won the 1950 and 1951 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association is an athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. The nine teams in the conference are all located in the states of Michigan and Indiana. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association was established on March 24, 1888, making...
championship titles, and he compiled a record of 40–20–2. His influence there was felt by player Denny Stolz
Denny Stolz
Dennis E. "Denny" Stolz is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Alma College , Michigan State University , Bowling Green State University , and San Diego State University , compiling a career college football record of 125–93–5.Stolz graduated...
, who later became a successful coach.
Eaton was a detail-oriented disciplinarian who made a name for himself by introducing new techniques that helped smaller defensive linemen. "[Smaller defensive linemen] became very popular as a result," recalled Paul Roach
Paul Roach (coach)
Paul Roach was the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1987 to 1990. While there, he compiled a 35-15 record, had a .700 winning percentage, highest in school history, and two seasons of ten or more wins . During that time he also served as the school's athletic director, and won...
, Eaton's assistant at Wyoming. "I think this became somewhat of a springboard for him to be elevated as a head football coach, and he certainly had an outstanding career as a head football coach."
Eaton left Alma in 1956, and coached at Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
for one year before. From 1957 to 1961, Eaton served as defensive line coach at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, and in 1962, he succeeded Bob Devaney
Bob Devaney
Robert S. "Bob" Devaney was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 136–30–7...
as head coach there. In that role, he became one of the university's most successful coaches, compiling a record of 57–33–2. His greatest success came in the 1966, 1967, and 1968 seasons. In those three years, the team posted back-to-back 10–1 seasons, including a 14-game winning streak from November 5, 1966 to January 1, 1968, then followed this by going undefeated through the 1968 regular season. His teams won the 1966 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
and played in the 1968 Sugar Bowl
1968 Sugar Bowl
The 1968 Sugar Bowl featured the 5th ranked Wyoming Cowboys, and the unranked LSU Tigers.Wyoming scored first in the second quarter, on a 1 yard touchdown run from Jim Kiick, as Wyoming took a 7-0 lead. Jerry DePoyster added field goals of 24 and 49 yards as Wyoming extended its lead to 13-0 at...
.
Eaton was coach during the 1969 "Black 14" episode in which 14 Wyoming players were kicked off the team for planning to wear black armbands during a game against BYU. The players were protesting the racial policies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Before leaving Wyoming, Eaton had compiled a career record of 104–53–5 and was the 16th winningest major college coach to that time.
In 1970, the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
came calling, and Eaton became the Director of Player Personnel for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and later served as the western regional director for the BLESKO player rating service of the NFL. In 1973, he was elected to the Alma (College) Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 1984 to the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Eaton retired in the mid-1980s, and died at the age of 88 on March 14, 2007 in Nampa, Idaho
Nampa, Idaho
Nampa is the largest and the fastest growing city in Canyon County, Idaho, USA. The population of Nampa was 81,557 at the 2010 census. Nampa is located about west of Boise along Interstate 84, and six miles west of Meridian. Nampa is part of the Boise metropolitan area...
.