Sam T. Selby

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Sam T. Selby
Playing career
Football
1928-1930Ohio State
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1931Port Clinton HS (OH)
1932–1938Wyoming HS (OH)
1939–1941Otterbein
1945–1948Ohio State (assistant)
Basketball
1939–1942Otterbein
Head coaching record
Overall8–16 (college football)
22–32 (college basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
All-Big Ten-2nd Team (1929)
All-American-3rd Team (1930)

Sam T. Selby was an American football and basketball coach.

Early life[edit]

Selby attended Middletown High School, where he played football under Elmo Lingrell.[1] He then attended and graduated from Ohio State University.[2] He played guard for the Buckeyes football team under both coach John Wilce and coach Sam Willaman. He lettered in the 1928, 1929, and 1930 seasons.[3] In the 1929 game against arch-rival Michigan, he recovered a critical fumble that helped the Buckeyes to a 7–0 victory.[4] During the 1930 season, Selby blocked a punt that resulted in safety preventing a shut out by Northwestern University.[5] At the end of his final season of football, Selby was recognized for his gridiron career in several ways. He was named 3rd team All-America by the Central Press Association.[6] He was also honored by being selected play in the 1930 East-West Shrine Bowl All-Star game in San Francisco.[3]

Coaching career[edit]

After college, he was the head football coach for one season at Port Clinton High School, followed by seven seasons at Wyoming High School.[7] In 1939, Selby accepted a position at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, where he served as head coach and director of athletics.[2] He served as the head football coach from 1939 to 1941. Coach Selby took over an Otterbein team that had only won one game the season before. After a winless season in his first year and a 3–5 season his second, his team was able to finish the 1941 season with a winning record.[8] He also served as Otterbein's head men's basketball coach from 1939 to 1942.[9]

In 1942 he was granted a leave of absence from Otterbein to enter the US Navy, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was first stationed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he served as a physical training officer with the Atlantic Fleet Air Force. Eventually, he moved on to Naval Air Station in Glenview, Illinois, where Welfare and Recreation Officer.[2]

After being discharged from the Navy, he officially resigned as director of athletics at Otterbein to accept a job as an assistant football coach at the Ohio State University.[2] He served as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes from 1945 to 1948.[3] In the first two years, he served as assistant line coach and the next two years as the freshman coach.[7]

Later life[edit]

After resigning from coaching, Selby remained in the Columbus, Ohio area and take a position with Equitable Life Insurance.[7]

Head coaching record[edit]

College football[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Otterbein Cardinals (Ohio Athletic Conference) (1939–1941)
1939 Otterbein 0–8 0–7 T–17th
1940 Otterbein 3–5 1–4 15th
1941 Otterbein 5–3 4–2 8th
Otterbein: 8–16 5–13
Total: 8–16

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Otterbein Coaches", Official Football Program: Otterbein Vs. Marietta, Varsity O Association: 14, November 4, 1939
  2. ^ a b c d "Coach Selby Resigns", Otterbein Towers, XVIII (3), Westerville, Ohio: Otterbein College, March 1946
  3. ^ a b c 2019 Ohio State Football Media Guide (PDF), Ohio State University, 2019, retrieved May 19, 2020
  4. ^ Plain Dealer staff (Jan 26, 2012), OSU-Michigan 1929: Wes Fesler's TD catch from Alan Holman gives Buckeyes 7-0 win, Cleveland.com (Cleveland Plain Dealer), retrieved May 19, 2020
  5. ^ Park, Jack (2003), The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia, Sports Publishing L.L.C., p. 124, ISBN 1-58261-695-7
  6. ^ William Ritt (December 14, 1930). "College Football Captains Select Own All-American Eleven". Charleston Gazette.
  7. ^ a b c "Shelby Quits Coaching Job for Insurance Position", Ohio State Lantern, vol. LXVIII, no. 85, Columbus, Ohio, p. 1 and 8, January 20, 1949
  8. ^ "All-Time Results" (PDF). Otterbein Cardinals. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Otterbein Cardinals. Retrieved October 9, 2019.