Emory Bellard
Encyclopedia
Emory Dilworth Bellard was a college football
coach. He was head coach at Texas A&M University
from 1972 to 1978 and at Mississippi State University
from 1979 until 1985. Bellard died on February 10, 2011 after battling Lou Gehrig's disease since the fall of 2010.
Bellard is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
. He was considered to have had one of the most innovative offensive minds in football and is credited for inventing the wishbone formation
.
, Bellard was one of twelve children. His father was a geologist and driller who arrived in Central Texas in the late 1920s to take part in the emerging oil boom. Bellard graduated from Aransas Pass High School and went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin
, where he played his freshman year under coach Dana X. Bible
. Bellard broke his leg during his sophomore season and later transferred to Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University–San Marcos
).
Bellard began coaching at Ingleside High School, a Class B school in Ingleside, Texas
. He guided the school to two consecutive regional wins (as far as Class B football went) in 1953 and 1954. He was then hired to succeed Joe Kerbel
at Breckenridge High School
, then a state powerhouse in the second highest UIL
classification. Under coach Kerbel and his predecessor Cooper Robbins Breckenridge won three 3A state championships in 1951, 1952 and 1954. Bellard continued that winning tradition with state titles in 1958 and 1959.
In 1960, Bellard was selected over Gordon Wood
to replace Bob Harrell
as head coach at Central High School
in San Angelo, Texas
. San Angelo Central was playing in the highly competitive District 2-4A, nicknamed the "Little Southwest Conference", against perennial state champions like Abilene
and Odessa Permian
. Bellard amassed a 59–19–2 record at San Angelo Central, winning a 4A state championship in 1966. He then left the high school ranks for the University of Texas at Austin
.
In 1988, Bellard returned to the high school level, coaching Spring Westfield High School
near Houston, Texas
to a 41–22–5 record over six seasons.
and was moved to offensive coordinator
in 1968. It was at this time that he developed and implemented the wishbone formation
, a system that was inspired by the variations of the Veer
developed by Homer Rice
and run by Bill Yeoman
at the University of Houston
.
. In his seven years at Texas A&M, he finished with a record of 48–27 and three top-15 finishes.
Acting as his own offensive coordinator, Bellard hired a couple of former high school football coaches to assist him as backfield coaches, including Gil Bartosh
(1973) and Chuck Moser
(1974–1978). Both Bartosh and Moser had won Texas state championships. In 1975, however, Bellard hired Tom Wilson
away from Jim Carlen
's Texas Tech
coaching staff to serve as the Aggies' offensive coordinator. For the defensive department, Bellard hired Melvin Robertson
, one of the top defensive coaches, away from Bill Yeoman
's coaching staff at the University of Houston
. Robertson became defensive coordinator
, and among his assistants were R. C. Slocum
and Dan LaGrasta
.
Bellard's first two seasons at Texas A&M were difficult, as his Aggies finished 3–8 and 5–6, respectively. In 1974, with a pair of his own recruiting classes suited to run the Wishbone formation, the Aggies went 8–3, then followed it up with a couple of 10–2 seasons, including a pair of wins over Royal and the Longhorns and three consecutive bowl game
s. After starting 1978 season 4–0, Bellard resigned mid-season after two consecutive losses: 33–0 to Houston
and 24–6 to Baylor
.
. His best years as the Bulldogs head coach were in 1980 and 1981, when his team finished 9–3 and 8–4, respectively.
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. He was head coach at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
from 1972 to 1978 and at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
from 1979 until 1985. Bellard died on February 10, 2011 after battling Lou Gehrig's disease since the fall of 2010.
Bellard is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made "lasting fame and honor to Texas sports". It was established in 1951 by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Once it made its first induction in 1951, Texas became the first U.S...
. He was considered to have had one of the most innovative offensive minds in football and is credited for inventing the wishbone formation
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...
.
Early life
A native of Luling, TexasLuling, Texas
Luling is a city in Caldwell County, Texas, United States, along the San Marcos River. The population was 5,080 at the 2000 census. There is some debate as to how Luling got its name. Some say it was named for a Chinese railroad worker, others for a judge named Luling, or that it was the maiden...
, Bellard was one of twelve children. His father was a geologist and driller who arrived in Central Texas in the late 1920s to take part in the emerging oil boom. Bellard graduated from Aransas Pass High School and went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he played his freshman year under coach Dana X. Bible
Dana X. Bible
Dana Xenophon Bible was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi College , Louisiana State University , Texas A&M University , the University of Nebraska , and the University of Texas...
. Bellard broke his leg during his sophomore season and later transferred to Southwest Texas State (now Texas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos
Texas State University–San Marcos is a doctoral-granting university located in San Marcos, Texas...
).
High school
Bellard was a high school head coach for 21 seasons where he achieved a record of 177–59–9 and won three state titles. During his time as a high school coach, he explored the idea of running an offense out of a three-back formation.Bellard began coaching at Ingleside High School, a Class B school in Ingleside, Texas
Ingleside, Texas
Ingleside is a town in Nueces and San Patricio Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 9,388 at the 2000 census.Ingleside is also home to Naval Station Ingleside. On August 24, 2005, the BRAC Committee voted to close the base. In 2010, the main base property was turned over to the...
. He guided the school to two consecutive regional wins (as far as Class B football went) in 1953 and 1954. He was then hired to succeed Joe Kerbel
Joe Kerbel
- External links :*...
at Breckenridge High School
Breckenridge High School
Breckenridge High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Breckenridge, Texas . It is part of the Breckenridge Independent School District. Breckenridge High School's mascot is a Buckaroo .-Athletics:...
, then a state powerhouse in the second highest UIL
University Interscholastic League
The University Interscholastic League is an organization that creates rules for and administers almost all athletic, music, and academic contests for public primary and secondary schools in the American state of Texas....
classification. Under coach Kerbel and his predecessor Cooper Robbins Breckenridge won three 3A state championships in 1951, 1952 and 1954. Bellard continued that winning tradition with state titles in 1958 and 1959.
In 1960, Bellard was selected over Gordon Wood
Gordon Wood (American football coach)
Gordon Lenear Wood was an American high school football coach in Texas. He was a head football coach for forty-three seasons, winning or sharing twenty-five district championships and nine state championships....
to replace Bob Harrell
Bob Harrell
Robert “Bob” Harrell was an American football coach. He coached at the high school and collegiate level in Texas and Oklahoma.- Playing career :...
as head coach at Central High School
Central High School (San Angelo, Texas)
Central High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in San Angelo, Texas. It is part of the San Angelo Independent School District. The school serves grades 10-12 while a freshman campus serves grade 9. Its mascot is the Bobcat...
in San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
. San Angelo Central was playing in the highly competitive District 2-4A, nicknamed the "Little Southwest Conference", against perennial state champions like Abilene
Abilene High School (Abilene, Texas)
Abilene High School is a public high school located in Abilene, Texas and is part of the Abilene Independent School District. Abilene High School is the name given to three different schools in the past 150 years. The first Abilene High was an old warehouse. Not long after that, the school was...
and Odessa Permian
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
. Bellard amassed a 59–19–2 record at San Angelo Central, winning a 4A state championship in 1966. He then left the high school ranks for the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
In 1988, Bellard returned to the high school level, coaching Spring Westfield High School
Westfield High School (Harris County, Texas)
Westfield High School is a high school located in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, United States.The school, which serves grades 9-12, is a part of the Spring Independent School District. The school, in the Westfield community, has a Houston, Texas postal address...
near Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
to a 41–22–5 record over six seasons.
Texas
In 1967, Bellard was hired as the linebackers coach at the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and was moved to offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
in 1968. It was at this time that he developed and implemented the wishbone formation
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...
, a system that was inspired by the variations of the Veer
Veer
The Veer is an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football, made famous at the collegiate level by the Houston Cougars. It is currently run primarily on the high school level, with some usage at the collegiate and the professional level with varying degrees of...
developed by Homer Rice
Homer Rice
Homer Rice was a college athletic director and football coach. From 1967 to 1968, he served as the head football coach at Cincinnati, where he compiled an 8-10-1 record. From 1976 to 1977, he coached at Rice, where he compiled a 4-18 record...
and run by Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Starting in 1962, he was the University of Houston's head coach, holding the position through 1986. In his tenure, he became the winningest coach in school history, with an overall record of 160–108–8...
at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Texas A&M
Bellard became head coach at Texas A&M in 1972, taking over head coaching duties from Gene StallingsGene Stallings
Eugene Clifton Stallings, Jr. is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University , where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at his alma mater from 1965 to 1971. Stallings was also the head coach of the St...
. In his seven years at Texas A&M, he finished with a record of 48–27 and three top-15 finishes.
Acting as his own offensive coordinator, Bellard hired a couple of former high school football coaches to assist him as backfield coaches, including Gil Bartosh
Gil Bartosh
-References:...
(1973) and Chuck Moser
Chuck Moser
Charles H. “Chuck” Moser was an American football coach. He was known for guiding Abilene High School to a 49-game winning streak from 1954–57, which as still Texas state record for 4A and 5A schools...
(1974–1978). Both Bartosh and Moser had won Texas state championships. In 1975, however, Bellard hired Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (American football)
-References:...
away from Jim Carlen
Jim Carlen
-External links:...
's Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
coaching staff to serve as the Aggies' offensive coordinator. For the defensive department, Bellard hired Melvin Robertson
Melvin Robertson
Melvin Robertson is a former American football coach. He was considered as one of the top defensive minds in football during the 1970s and 80s....
, one of the top defensive coaches, away from Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Starting in 1962, he was the University of Houston's head coach, holding the position through 1986. In his tenure, he became the winningest coach in school history, with an overall record of 160–108–8...
's coaching staff at the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. Robertson became defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
, and among his assistants were R. C. Slocum
R. C. Slocum
Richard Copeland Slocum , better known as R. C. Slocum, was the head football coach at Texas A&M University from 1989 until 2002. He has won more games as coach than anyone else in Texas A&M football history.-Personal:...
and Dan LaGrasta
Dan LaGrasta
Dan LaGrasta was offensive line coach from 1972 through 1982. He was recruiting co-ordinator from 1983-1985. Dan joined Texas A&M in 1972 after serving as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at San Angelo Central High School in San Angelo, Texas from 1967 through 1972...
.
Bellard's first two seasons at Texas A&M were difficult, as his Aggies finished 3–8 and 5–6, respectively. In 1974, with a pair of his own recruiting classes suited to run the Wishbone formation, the Aggies went 8–3, then followed it up with a couple of 10–2 seasons, including a pair of wins over Royal and the Longhorns and three consecutive bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
s. After starting 1978 season 4–0, Bellard resigned mid-season after two consecutive losses: 33–0 to Houston
Houston Cougars football
The Houston Cougars football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents the University of Houston. The team is commonly referred to as "Houston" or "UH" . The UH football program is currently a member of the Conference USA intercollegiate athletic conference, and is coached by...
and 24–6 to Baylor
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
.
Mississippi State
After A&M, Bellard spent seven seasons as head coach at Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. His best years as the Bulldogs head coach were in 1980 and 1981, when his team finished 9–3 and 8–4, respectively.