Carl F. Ullrich
Encyclopedia
Carl Farnum Ullrich is a longtime college rowing
coach and administrator who most notably served as the first civilian director of athletics
at the United States Military Academy (West Point) from 1980 to 1990.
in 1928. He attended Cornell University, where he received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1950. While at Cornell, he joined Sigma Chi
fraternity and was a member of the 1949 national champion lightweight crew
team, serving as captain in 1950. He also was a member of the Quill and Dagger
society. After graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps
, and served as an infantry
officer
during the Korean War
.
in 1960. After a stint as head coach
at Boston University
, Ullrich took over the boathouse at the United States Naval Academy
in 1968, where he served as head coach
and assistant athletic director for over a decade.
. Under Young's wishbone system
, the Black Knights returned to relevance, turning in six winning seasons, capturing the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy three times, and reaching the first three bowls in Army football history. During this time Ullrich served as President of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
and on the executive committee of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
.
From his post at West Point, Ullrich transitioned to become the first Executive Director of the Patriot League
. Under his leadership the conference expanded its offerings from football to a full slate of 22 intercollegiate sports. After retiring to North Carolina, he served two separate stints as athletic director for St. Andrews Presbyterian College
.
, and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
, respectively, honored as a "Significant Sig" by Sigma Chi
fraternity, and received the Eastern College Athletic Conference
's James Lynah
Award for distinguished achievement.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
coach and administrator who most notably served as the first civilian director of athletics
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...
at the United States Military Academy (West Point) from 1980 to 1990.
Background and Education
Ullrich was born on Long Island, New YorkLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in 1928. He attended Cornell University, where he received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1950. While at Cornell, he joined Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity and was a member of the 1949 national champion lightweight crew
Lightweight rowing
Lightweight rowing is a special category of rowing where limits are placed on the maximum weight of competitors. The rationale is that larger, taller people have a small but significant physical advantage and tend to dominate the sport...
team, serving as captain in 1950. He also was a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. After graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, and served as an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Rowing Coach
Ullrich returned to Cornell as the freshman crew coach in 1955, before taking over the varsity team at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 1960. After a stint as 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...
at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, Ullrich took over the boathouse at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1968, where he served as 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...
and assistant athletic director for over a decade.
Athletic Administrator
Ullrich arrived at West Point in 1980, making his mark on the Army football program two years later with the hiring of head coach Jim YoungJim Young (American football coach)
-External links:...
. Under Young's wishbone system
Wishbone formation
The wishbone formation, also known simply as the ’bone, is an offensive formation in American football. The style of attack to which it gives rise is known as the wishbone offense...
, the Black Knights returned to relevance, turning in six winning seasons, capturing the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy three times, and reaching the first three bowls in Army football history. During this time Ullrich served as President of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
and on the executive committee of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics is a professional organization for college and university athletic directors in the United States. NACDA boasts a membership of more than 6,100 individuals and more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico...
.
From his post at West Point, Ullrich transitioned to become the first Executive Director of the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
. Under his leadership the conference expanded its offerings from football to a full slate of 22 intercollegiate sports. After retiring to North Carolina, he served two separate stints as athletic director for St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
.
Awards and Honors
Ullrich has been inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame for West Point, St. Andrews Presbyterian CollegeSt. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Andrews University, formerly St. Andrews Presbyterian College, is a private, Presbyterian, four-year liberal arts college in Laurinburg, North Carolina....
, and National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
NACDA
NACDA may refer to:* NACDA - National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging* NACDA - National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics...
, respectively, honored as a "Significant Sig" by Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity, and received the Eastern College Athletic Conference
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
's James Lynah
James Lynah
James Lynah was an American businessman and sports administrator who is considered the principal founder of the Eastern College Athletic Conference....
Award for distinguished achievement.