Skip Stahley
Encyclopedia
J. Neil "Skip" Stahley was a college football
coach and athletic director
. In sixteen seasons as a head coach
, his overall record was 56–85–3 (.399).
Stahley was born in Lebanon
, Pennsylvania
, and was a 1931 graduate of Penn State
, where he majored in English
and played football
, earning honorable mention All-American honors. A three-sport letterman, Stahley also captained the basketball
and lacrosse
teams.
He began his coaching career in 1931 as an assistant at Western Maryland. In 1934, he became the head coach at Delaware, and compiled a 4–3–1 record, then moved on to Harvard
as an assistant. From 1941 to 1943, he was the head coach at Brown
, and compiled a 14–11 record. From 1946 to 1947, he coached George Washington University
to a 5–10–1 record in Washington, DC. He joined the new staff under Howie Odell
at Washington
in Seattle in March 1948 as backfield coach, but left two months later to be the head coach at Toledo
and compiled a 11–10 record in two seasons. Stahley returned to Seattle in 1950 as backfield coach at Washington
for three seasons under Odell, where he mentored notable Huskies Hugh McElhenny
and Don Heinrich
. Odell was pressured to resign by the athletic director after a 7-3 season in 1952 and was replaced by John Cherberg
, the coach of the freshman team. Stahley left the Huskies to coach in the NFL
as the backfield coach with the Chicago Cardinals
under head coach Joe Stydahar
. The Cardinals ended 1953
at 1-10-1, the worst record in the twelve team league.
Stahley returned to college football in February 1954 as the head coach at Idaho
and compiled a 22–51–1 (.304) record in eight seasons in Moscow
. While on the Palouse
, he coached future NFL
notables Jerry Kramer
and Wayne Walker
, and AFL
all-star Jim Norton. The Vandals
were members of the Pacific Coast Conference
for Stahley's first five seasons, then played as an independent when the conference disbanded.
When Idaho athletic director Bob Gibb left in mid-1960, Stahley took over those duties for four years. He handled both jobs for two years, then stepped aside as football coach after the 1961 season and hired Dee Andros
, an assistant coach at Illinois
. Stahley stepped down as Idaho's athletic director in 1964 to become the first director of athletics at Portland State College
, where he served until retirement in 1972. He is a member of the University of Idaho Hall of Fame, the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Collegiate athletic directors Hall of Fame.
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...
coach and athletic director
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...
. In sixteen seasons as a head coach
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...
, his overall record was 56–85–3 (.399).
Stahley was born in Lebanon
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Lebanon, formerly known as Steitztown, is a city in and the county seat of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,477 at the 2010 census, a 4.2% increase from the 2000 count of 24,461...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and was a 1931 graduate of Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, where he majored in English
English major
The English Major is a term in the United States and a few other countries for an undergraduate university degree focused around the consumption, analysis, and production of texts in the English language...
and played football
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...
, earning honorable mention All-American honors. A three-sport letterman, Stahley also captained the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
teams.
He began his coaching career in 1931 as an assistant at Western Maryland. In 1934, he became the head coach at Delaware, and compiled a 4–3–1 record, then moved on to Harvard
Harvard Crimson football
The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873...
as an assistant. From 1941 to 1943, he was the head coach at Brown
Brown Bears
The Brown Bears is a name shared by all sports teams at Brown University, a university located in Providence, Rhode Island in the United States. The Bears are part of the Ivy League conference. Brown's mascot is Bruno. Both the men's and women's teams share the name, competing in 37 National...
, and compiled a 14–11 record. From 1946 to 1947, he coached George Washington University
George Washington Colonials football
The George Washington Colonials football team represented The George Washington University in National Collegiate Athletic Association major college-level football competition from 1881 to 1966. The Colonials were most successful between the 1930s and 1950s when they regularly played top-level...
to a 5–10–1 record in Washington, DC. He joined the new staff under Howie Odell
Howard Odell
-External links:* *...
at Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
in Seattle in March 1948 as backfield coach, but left two months later to be the head coach at Toledo
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
and compiled a 11–10 record in two seasons. Stahley returned to Seattle in 1950 as backfield coach at Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
for three seasons under Odell, where he mentored notable Huskies Hugh McElhenny
Hugh McElhenny
Hugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The...
and Don Heinrich
Don Heinrich
Donald Alan Heinrich was an American collegiate and Professional Football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Washington, and also played professionally for the NFL's New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, and in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders in...
. Odell was pressured to resign by the athletic director after a 7-3 season in 1952 and was replaced by John Cherberg
John Cherberg
-External links:*...
, the coach of the freshman team. Stahley left the Huskies to coach in 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...
as the backfield coach with the Chicago Cardinals
History of the Arizona Cardinals
This article details the history of the Arizona Cardinals American Football Club. The Cardinals are the oldest existing professional football club in the United States.-Chicago years :...
under head coach Joe Stydahar
Joe Stydahar
Joseph "Jumbo Joe" Lee Stydahar was an American football offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears from 1936 to 1942 and 1945 to 1946 and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was born and raised about east of Pittsburgh in the small mining community of Kaylor, Pennsylvania in Armstrong...
. The Cardinals ended 1953
1953 NFL season
The 1953 NFL season was the 34th regular season of the National Football League. The names of the American and National conferences were changed to the Eastern and Western conferences....
at 1-10-1, the worst record in the twelve team league.
Stahley returned to college football in February 1954 as the head coach at Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
and compiled a 22–51–1 (.304) record in eight seasons in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
. While on the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
, he coached future 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...
notables Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
and Wayne Walker
Wayne Walker
Wayne Harrison Walker is a former professional football player and sports broadcaster. He played in the NFL for fifteen seasons, from 1958-72 for the Detroit Lions. A starter throughout his career, #55 played in 200 regular season games as a 6'2", 225 lb...
, and AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
all-star Jim Norton. The Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
were members of the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
for Stahley's first five seasons, then played as an independent when the conference disbanded.
When Idaho athletic director Bob Gibb left in mid-1960, Stahley took over those duties for four years. He handled both jobs for two years, then stepped aside as football coach after the 1961 season and hired Dee Andros
Dee Andros
Demosthenes Konstandies "Dee" Andrecopoulos was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the United States. He served as the head football coach at the University of Idaho from 1962 to 1964 and at Oregon State University from 1965 to 1975, compiling career...
, an assistant coach at Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
. Stahley stepped down as Idaho's athletic director in 1964 to become the first director of athletics at Portland State College
Portland State Vikings
Portland State Vikings is the nickname of the NCAA-affiliated, intercollegiate athletic teams representing Portland State University of Portland, Oregon...
, where he served until retirement in 1972. He is a member of the University of Idaho Hall of Fame, the Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Collegiate athletic directors Hall of Fame.