Charley Bowser
Encyclopedia
Charles W. Bowser was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh
from 1939 to 1942 and amassed a combined record of 14–20–1.
and attended Johnstown High School
, where he played football
. He left high school as a senior, in April 1918, in order to enlist in the Army
. From May 1918 to April 1919, he served overseas in the Ambulance Corps
.
In 1919, Bowser enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
. That season, he played on the freshman football team under freshman coach Andy Kerr
. The following year, he joined the varsity team under head coach Pop Warner
, and played at end, quarterback
, tackle
, and center
. Bowser earned a varsity letter
in 1922. He studied business administration and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma
and Omicron Delta Kappa
honor societies.
under Guy "Chalky" Williamson. After the 1923 season, Williamson left for the Pittsburgh football staff, and Bowser took over as Grove City head coach. The Grove City Crimson went 3–5–1 in his first season, but improved in the next two years. In 1925, they posted a 7–1 record, with the sole loss coming against . The next season, Grove City finished with a perfect 7–0 mark, including a 3–0 victory against Bo McMillin
's Geneva College
which defeated Harvard
.
In 1927, Bowser returned to Pittsburgh, to aid head coach Jock Sutherland
as the ends, backs, and centers mentor. In 1930, Bowser took over as the head coach of Bowdoin College
, a post he held through 1934. He was replaced by Adam Walsh, former captain of the "Four Horsemen
" at Notre Dame
. Bowser then became assistant at Pitt again in 1935, and in 1937, he was promoted to the chief assistant position.
After that season, he left the coaching ranks to work as an insurance agent in Pittsburgh. In 1939, Bowser returned to Pittsburgh as its head coach, and served in that position through the 1942 season. He resigned his post in January 1943 to take a commission in the United States Navy during World War II
. He was replaced by T formation
innovator Clark Shaughnessy
.
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
from 1939 to 1942 and amassed a combined record of 14–20–1.
Early life
Bowser was born in Ligonier, PennsylvaniaLigonier, Pennsylvania
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,695 at the 2000 census. Ligonier was settled in the 1760s. The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort...
and attended Johnstown High School
Johnstown High School
Johnstown High School is a high school located at 1 Sir Bills Circle, in Johnstown, New York. The school provides education in grades 9-12, and offers summer school for pupils who fail classes...
, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. He left high school as a senior, in April 1918, in order to enlist in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. From May 1918 to April 1919, he served overseas in the Ambulance Corps
United States Army Ambulance Service
The United States Army Ambulance Service was a unit of the United States Army during World War I. It was established by General Order No. 75 of the War Department in May 1917...
.
In 1919, Bowser enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. That season, he played on the freshman football team under freshman coach Andy Kerr
Andrew Kerr
Andrew "Andy" Kerr IV was an American football, basketball, and track and field coach. He served as the head football coach at Stanford University , Washington & Jefferson College , Colgate University , and Lebanon Valley College , compiling a career college football record...
. The following year, he joined the varsity team under head coach Pop Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...
, and played at end, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
, and center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
. Bowser earned a varsity letter
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 1922. He studied business administration and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma
Beta Gamma Sigma or ΒΓΣ is an honor society for business students and scholars. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, it has over 650,000 members, selected from over 500 chapters in AACSB-accredited business schools...
and Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
honor societies.
Coaching career
Upon graduation from Pittsburgh, Bowser served as an assistant at Grove City CollegeGrove City College
Grove City College is a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pennsylvania, about north of Pittsburgh. According to the College Bulletin, its stated three-fold mission is to provide an excellent education at an affordable price in a thoroughly Christian environment...
under Guy "Chalky" Williamson. After the 1923 season, Williamson left for the Pittsburgh football staff, and Bowser took over as Grove City head coach. The Grove City Crimson went 3–5–1 in his first season, but improved in the next two years. In 1925, they posted a 7–1 record, with the sole loss coming against . The next season, Grove City finished with a perfect 7–0 mark, including a 3–0 victory against Bo McMillin
Bo McMillin
Alvin Nugent "Bo" McMillin was an American football player and coach, who served at both the collegiate and professional levels. He played college football at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where was a three-time All-American at quarterback, and led the Centre Praying Colonels to a...
's Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
which defeated 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...
.
In 1927, Bowser returned to Pittsburgh, to aid head coach Jock Sutherland
Jock Sutherland
Dr. John Bain "Jock" Sutherland, D.D.S., was an American football coach. He coached college football at Lafayette College and the University of Pittsburgh and professional football for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Steelers...
as the ends, backs, and centers mentor. In 1930, Bowser took over as the head coach of Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, a post he held through 1934. He was replaced by Adam Walsh, former captain of the "Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (football)
The Four Horsemen of Notre Dame comprised a winning group of American football players at the University of Notre Dame under coach Knute Rockne. They were the backfield of Notre Dame's 1924 football team...
" at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. Bowser then became assistant at Pitt again in 1935, and in 1937, he was promoted to the chief assistant position.
After that season, he left the coaching ranks to work as an insurance agent in Pittsburgh. In 1939, Bowser returned to Pittsburgh as its head coach, and served in that position through the 1942 season. He resigned his post in January 1943 to take a commission in the United States Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was replaced by T formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
innovator Clark Shaughnessy
Clark Shaughnessy
Clark Daniel Shaughnessy was an American football coach and innovator. He is sometimes called the "father of the T formation", although that system had previously been used as early as the 1880s. Shaughnessy did, however, modernize the obsolescent T formation to make it once again relevant in the...
.