Pete Cawthon
Encyclopedia
Peter Willis Cawthon was the head coach
of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football
team from 1930-1941.
Cawthon graduated from Houston Central High School
in 1917 and went on to attend Southwestern University
in Georgetown, Texas
. He lettered
in baseball
, football
, and basketball
during his freshman year. When the baseball coach left to fight in World War I
, Cawthon took over the position. Cawthon earned four letters his sophomore year and was selected as an All-State halfback.
In 1919, Cawthon took his first regular coaching job at Beaumont High School
before becoming the baseball and basketball coach at Rice Institute (now Rice University
) in 1920. The following year, he moved on to coach at Austin College
in Sherman, Texas
, where he established the Cawthon Trophy, given annually to an outstanding individual at the school on the basis of athletic participation, leadership, and sportsmanship.
In 1930, he was hired by Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University
). By 1932, the Matadors (now the Red Raiders
) became the highest-scoring team in the nation. He coached at the school through the 1940 season. During his tenure, he compiled a record of 76–32–6. Cawthon was a line coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide
during the 1942 season. From 1943-1944, Cawthon coached in the National Football League
for the Brooklyn Dodgers-Tigers
. He posted a 2-18 record during his time in the NFL. From 1952 to 1953, Cawthon served as athletic director at the University of Alabama
.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
team from 1930-1941.
Cawthon graduated from Houston Central High School
Education in Houston
-Healthcare and scientific research:Houston is the seat of the internationally renowned Texas Medical Center, which contains the world's largest concentration of research and healthcare institutions. All 47 member institutions of the Texas Medical Center are non-profit organizations...
in 1917 and went on to attend Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
in Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
. He lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
, 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...
, and 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....
during his freshman year. When the baseball coach left to fight in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Cawthon took over the position. Cawthon earned four letters his sophomore year and was selected as an All-State halfback.
In 1919, Cawthon took his first regular coaching job at Beaumont High School
Beaumont Independent School District
Beaumont Independent School District is a public school district based in Beaumont, Texas .In addition to Beaumont, the district also serves the city of Bevil Oaks.In 2010, the school district was rated "Recognized" by the Texas Education Agency....
before becoming the baseball and basketball coach at Rice Institute (now Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
) in 1920. The following year, he moved on to coach at Austin College
Austin College
Austin College is a private liberal arts college affiliated by covenant relationship with the Presbyterian Church and located in Sherman, Texas, about 60 miles North of Dallas....
in Sherman, Texas
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where he established the Cawthon Trophy, given annually to an outstanding individual at the school on the basis of athletic participation, leadership, and sportsmanship.
In 1930, he was hired by Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
). By 1932, the Matadors (now the Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
) became the highest-scoring team in the nation. He coached at the school through the 1940 season. During his tenure, he compiled a record of 76–32–6. Cawthon was a line coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
during the 1942 season. From 1943-1944, Cawthon coached in the National Football League
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...
for the Brooklyn Dodgers-Tigers
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks...
. He posted a 2-18 record during his time in the NFL. From 1952 to 1953, Cawthon served as athletic director at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.