F. Morris Touchstone
Encyclopedia
Francis Morris Touchstone (1897–1957) was an American lacrosse
coach. He served for 29 years as the head coach for the United States Military Academy
's men's lacrosse team
and is their all-time winningest coach by number of wins. While at Army, he led the Cadets to three national championships and 42 of his players received first-team All-American honors. Shortly after his death he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The Touchstone Memorial Award
for the men's college lacrosse coach of the year was established in his honor.
, he played as a member of the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
based in the city's neighborhood of the same name. From 1920 to 1923, he ran the club's summer camp. In 1924, Yale University
hired Touchstone as the head coach for their varsity lacrosse, soccer
, and freshman gymnastics teams.
After success at Yale, he took over the Army lacrosse team
at the United States Military Academy
in September 1928. Touchstone remained in that position until his death 29 years later. During that time, he compiled the most wins of any Army lacrosse coach, with a record of 214–73–4 (0.743). Of Army's total of 82 first-team All-Americans, 42 played under Touchstone. He led the Cadets to back-to-back national championships
, outright in 1944 and shared with Navy
in 1945. Army also won a share of a third national title in 1951 alongside Princeton
.
A year before his death, Sports Illustrated
asked Touchstone, among other authorities, to compare American football
and lacrosse. He said in response:
He served tenures as a member of numerous lacrosse-related governing bodies including the Rules Committee (1934–1937), the All-American Committee (1939–1950), the Executive Board (1939–1940), the Publicity Committee (1943–1944), and the NCAA Lacrosse Rules Committee (1946). From 1951 to 1957, he acted as an advisor to the All-American Committee, and from 1953 to 1955, Touchstone served as the first president of the Lacrosse Coaches Association. With the encouragement of Penn State lacrosse coach Glenn Thiel, Touchstone was instrumental in organizing the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and he served as its first chairman from 1954 until his death three years later. His son Stanford Touchstone, an Army cadet, played for him at West Point in the early 1950s.
Touchstone died on November 7, 1957 of a heart condition at the age of 60. In 1960, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a player. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
began awarding the Touchstone Memorial Award
in his honor in 1958. It is bestowed annually upon the most outstanding Division I men's lacrosse coach.
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
coach. He served for 29 years as the head coach for the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
's men's lacrosse team
Army Black Knights men's lacrosse
The Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
and is their all-time winningest coach by number of wins. While at Army, he led the Cadets to three national championships and 42 of his players received first-team All-American honors. Shortly after his death he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The Touchstone Memorial Award
F. Morris Touchstone Award
The F. Morris Touchstone Award is an award given by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I Lacrosse Head Coach. The award was first presented in 1958....
for the men's college lacrosse coach of the year was established in his honor.
Biography
Touchstone was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and under the guidance of coach Bill SchmeisserBill Schmeisser
William Christian Schmeisser , known widely as "Father Bill", was an American lacrosse player, coach, and patron. He served as the head coach of the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays for ten non-consecutive years, and won eight national championships. He was also an active patron of the sport and promoter of...
, he played as a member of the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
The Mount Washington Lacrosse Club is an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history, which at one point dominated the sport at both the collegiate and club level. The team is sometimes referred to by the...
based in the city's neighborhood of the same name. From 1920 to 1923, he ran the club's summer camp. In 1924, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
hired Touchstone as the head coach for their varsity lacrosse, soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
, and freshman gymnastics teams.
After success at Yale, he took over the Army lacrosse team
Army Black Knights men's lacrosse
The Army Black Knights men's lacrosse team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse competition. During the team's 92-year history, it has won eight national championships and made fifteen postseason NCAA tournament...
at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in September 1928. Touchstone remained in that position until his death 29 years later. During that time, he compiled the most wins of any Army lacrosse coach, with a record of 214–73–4 (0.743). Of Army's total of 82 first-team All-Americans, 42 played under Touchstone. He led the Cadets to back-to-back national championships
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
, outright in 1944 and shared with Navy
Navy Midshipmen
The United States Naval Academy sponsors 30 varsity-sports teams and 12 club-sports teams . Both men's and women's teams are called Navy Midshipmen or "Mids"...
in 1945. Army also won a share of a third national title in 1951 alongside Princeton
Princeton Tigers
The Princeton Tigers are the athletic teams of Princeton University. The school sponsors 31 varsity sports. The school has won several NCAA national championships, including one in men's fencing, six in men's lacrosse, three in women's lacrosse, and eight in men's golf...
.
A year before his death, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
asked Touchstone, among other authorities, to compare American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and lacrosse. He said in response:
"Both appeal to the athlete who enjoys rugged competition. Both are highly developed team efforts, but the skills of the two differ. In football, the emphasis is on blocking and tackling. In lacrosse, ball handling with the stick, dodging and accurate shooting are vital."
Touchstone died on November 7, 1957 of a heart condition at the age of 60. In 1960, he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a player. The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
began awarding the Touchstone Memorial Award
F. Morris Touchstone Award
The F. Morris Touchstone Award is an award given by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association to the nation's most outstanding NCAA Division I Lacrosse Head Coach. The award was first presented in 1958....
in his honor in 1958. It is bestowed annually upon the most outstanding Division I men's lacrosse coach.