Bill Bernlohr

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Bill Bernlohr
Bill Bernlohr c. 1927
Biographical details
Born(1904-09-06)September 6, 1904
Butler, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedSeptember 3, 1991(1991-09-03) (aged 86)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materCapital University (1927)
Ohio State University
Playing career
Football
1923–1926Capital
Baseball
1923–1926Capital
Basketball
1923–1926Capital
Position(s)Outfielder (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1927–1928Butler HS (PA)
1929–1938Capital
1944–1945Capital
Baseball
1927–1928Butler HS (PA)
1929–?Capital
Basketball
1927–1928Butler HS (PA)
1929–1956Capital
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1929–1971Capital
Head coaching record
Overall37–37–10 (college football)
257–173 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Basketball
2 OAC (1942, 1946)
Awards
Capital Hall of Fame (1978)

William Frederick "Mr. Bill" Bernlohr (September 6, 1904 – September 3, 1991) was an American athletic director and athletics coach. He was the head football coach for Capital University from 1929 to 1938 and 1944 to 1945, the baseball coach starting in 1929, and the basketball coach from 1929 to 1956.

Early life and playing career[edit]

Bernlohr was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, on September 6, 1904, to Albert and Margaret Bernlohr. He attended Butler High School and played for the football, baseball, and basketball team.[1] He earned two letters and was the captain of the basketball team during his senior year in 1922.[1] From 1923 to 1926, he attended Capital University and played for the football,[1] baseball,[2] and basketball team.[1] He was an outfielder for the baseball team and was unanimously selected as team captain during his senior year.[2][3] Throughout his basketball career he scored 671 points and averaged 12.24 points per game.[1] Upon his graduation he was regarded as the greatest athlete in Capital history.[4]

Coaching career[edit]

Bernlohr began his coaching career in 1927 with his alma mater, Butler High School.[1] He was the head coach for the football, baseball, and basketball team.[1]

In 1929, Bernlohr returned to his college alma mater, Capital, and took over the head coach positions for the football, baseball, and basketball teams and was named athletic director.[4][5]

Bernlohr served two stints as the head coach for the football team; from 1929 to 1938 and from 1944 to 1945.[6][7][8][9] He resigned from coaching the football team following the 1938 season to focus solely on his athletic director duties.[10] In twelve seasons as head football coach he led the team to an overall record of 37–37–10.[11] His best season came in 1938 when he led the team to a 6–1–1 record.[11] He resigned again following the 1945 season.

Bernlohr served as the head baseball coach for Capital starting in 1929.

Bernlohr served as the head basketball coach for Capital from 1929 to 1956.[12][13] He led the team to an overall record of 257–173.[14] He won the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) twice during his tenure in 1942 and 1946.[14]

Bernlohr retired from his post as athletic director in 1971.[15][16][17]

Honors and death[edit]

In 1978, Bernlohr was inducted into the Capital Hall of Fame.[18]

Bernlohr died on September 3, 1991, in Columbus, Ohio.

Head coaching record[edit]

College football[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Capital Fighting Lutherans (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1929–1938)
1929 Capital 0–5–2 0–5 17th
1930 Capital 5–1–1 4–0–1 N/A[n 1]
1931 Capital 1–5–1 1–4 T–15th
1932 Capital 1–4–2 1–4–2 14th
1933 Capital 1–4–2 1–4–2 17th
1934 Capital 2–5 2–5 T–18th
1935 Capital 5–2 4–2 4th
1936 Capital 4–2–1 3–2–1 10th
1937 Capital 4–4 3–4 11th
1938 Capital 6–1–1 5–1–1 4th
Capital Fighting Lutherans (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1944–1945)
1944 Capital 3–3
1945 Capital 5–1 5–1 2nd
Capital: 37–37–10
Total: 37–37–10

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Did not compete for championship

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Bernlohr Will Coach Butler High Sports". The Pittsburgh Press. March 29, 1927. p. 31. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Butler Boy Honored". The Pittsburgh Press. June 18, 1925. p. 26. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ "Depend on Heasley". The Pittsburgh Press. April 17, 1927. p. 54. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Bernlohr Named Coach at Capital". Springfield News-Sun. March 6, 1929. p. 18. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ "Named Athletic Director". Republican and Herald. March 6, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "Emmert and Nicol among graduates". Marysville Journal-Tribune. June 14, 1929. p. 2. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "College Football". The News-Messenger. September 19, 1929. p. 11. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Meet North High". News-Journal. September 30, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "Ashland to Have Football Season". The Coshocton Tribune. August 22, 1944. p. 2. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  10. ^ Emerson, Jim (September 10, 1939). "Ohio Scholastic Grid Skeds Open; Colleges Start Practice". The Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Capital Football Coaching History". Capital University. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  12. ^ "Muskingum College quintet plays Capital University in local Y.M.C.A on Jan. 8". The Times Recorder. January 3, 1930. p. 14. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  13. ^ "Unbeaten Capital Meets Denison in Feature Contest". The Coshocton Tribune. January 18, 1938. p. 7. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Men's Basketball Coaching History". Capital University. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  15. ^ "John Plinke Named Cap AD". The Tribune. May 10, 1971. p. 8. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  16. ^ "Muskingum To Hold All-Sports Banquet". The Times Recorder. May 12, 1971. p. 21. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  17. ^ "Capital AD Announces Retirement". Marysville Journal-Tribune. January 22, 1971. p. 5. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  18. ^ "William F. Bernlohr (1978)". Capital University. Retrieved March 31, 2024.

External links[edit]