Paul Belting
Encyclopedia
Paul E. Belting was an athletic director
for the University of Iowa
from 1924-1929. He was the third athletic director in school history, and he oversaw the construction of the Iowa Field House in 1927 and Iowa Stadium
in 1929.
. He played football for Eastern Illinois State Teachers College in 1907 and 1908. He then attended the University of Illinois, where he played football, lettering in the sport in 1911. He later served as a high school principal in Oskaloosa, Iowa
, Globe, Arizona
, and Martinsville, Illinois
. Belting coached Oskaloosa High School to the football state championship in 1916. He then was a high school athletic director in New York City
from 1917-1920. Belting joined the College of Education at the University of Illinois in 1920. He wrote “The Development of the Free Public High School in Illinois to 1860” (ISBN 1-14020-704-0) in 1919.
. The University of Iowa
hired Paul Belting to succeed Jones as Iowa’s athletic director on March 13, 1924. Belting now needed to hire a football coach, and after a failed attempt to hire Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne
, Belting hired fellow Illinois alumnus Burt Ingwersen
. Many Iowa alumni were displeased with Belting hiring a fellow Illini to the post.
Paul Belting consolidated athletics with the Physical Education program at Iowa and planned several new athletic buildings. Within five years, Belting oversaw the constructions of the Iowa Field House and Iowa Stadium
. Belting got funding and architectural plans approved in a surprisingly short time. “If it hadn’t been for him, Iowa’s new stadium probably wouldn’t have been built for another 20 years,” former Iowa sports information director George Wine wrote.
Belting abruptly resigned at the end of his five year contract on April 26, 1929. Two weeks later, Iowa was suspended from Big Ten athletic competition by the conference for allegedly maintaining a “slush fund” for prospective athletes. This fund was nicknamed the “Belting fund” in the press, while Belting accused the university of not having proper faculty control of athletics. Iowa fans held Belting responsible for their suspension from Big Ten athletic competition and threw eggs at his home.
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...
for the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1924-1929. He was the third athletic director in school history, and he oversaw the construction of the Iowa Field House in 1927 and Iowa Stadium
Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium, formerly known as Iowa Stadium, and known in the area simply as Kinnick, is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, in the sport of college football...
in 1929.
Background
Paul Belting graduated from Eastern Illinois State Normal High School in Illiopolis, IllinoisIlliopolis, Illinois
Illiopolis is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Illiopolis is located at ....
. He played football for Eastern Illinois State Teachers College in 1907 and 1908. He then attended the University of Illinois, where he played football, lettering in the sport in 1911. He later served as a high school principal in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa is the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,463 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,938 in the 2000 census. -History:...
, Globe, Arizona
Globe, Arizona
Globe has an arid climate, characterized by hot summers and moderate to warm winters. Globe's arid climate is somewhat tempered by its elevation, however, leading to slightly cooler temperatures and slightly more precipitation than Phoenix or Yuma....
, and Martinsville, Illinois
Martinsville, Illinois
Martinsville is a city in Clark County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,225 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Martinsville is located at ....
. Belting coached Oskaloosa High School to the football state championship in 1916. He then was a high school athletic director in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1917-1920. Belting joined the College of Education at the University of Illinois in 1920. He wrote “The Development of the Free Public High School in Illinois to 1860” (ISBN 1-14020-704-0) in 1919.
Athletic director
In 1924, Iowa’s head football coach and athletic director, Howard Jones, left Iowa to take the head coaching position at Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
. The University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
hired Paul Belting to succeed Jones as Iowa’s athletic director on March 13, 1924. Belting now needed to hire a football coach, and after a failed attempt to hire Notre Dame head 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...
, Belting hired fellow Illinois alumnus Burt Ingwersen
Burt Ingwersen
Burton Aherns Ingwersen was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and baseball. He served as the head football coach at the University of Iowa from 1924 to 1931, compiling a career college football record of 33–27–4...
. Many Iowa alumni were displeased with Belting hiring a fellow Illini to the post.
Paul Belting consolidated athletics with the Physical Education program at Iowa and planned several new athletic buildings. Within five years, Belting oversaw the constructions of the Iowa Field House and Iowa Stadium
Kinnick Stadium
Kinnick Stadium, formerly known as Iowa Stadium, and known in the area simply as Kinnick, is a stadium located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the home stadium of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, in the sport of college football...
. Belting got funding and architectural plans approved in a surprisingly short time. “If it hadn’t been for him, Iowa’s new stadium probably wouldn’t have been built for another 20 years,” former Iowa sports information director George Wine wrote.
Belting abruptly resigned at the end of his five year contract on April 26, 1929. Two weeks later, Iowa was suspended from Big Ten athletic competition by the conference for allegedly maintaining a “slush fund” for prospective athletes. This fund was nicknamed the “Belting fund” in the press, while Belting accused the university of not having proper faculty control of athletics. Iowa fans held Belting responsible for their suspension from Big Ten athletic competition and threw eggs at his home.