Frank Lauterbur
Encyclopedia
Francis X. Lauterbur is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Toledo
from 1963 to 1970 and at the University of Iowa
from 1971 to 1973, compiling a career college football
record of 52–60–3. Lauterbur was earlier an assistant coach in the NFL
.
, but when his widowed mother remarried, he moved north to Michigan
. He played high school football at University of Detroit Jesuit High School
. Lauterbur served in the United States Marine Corps
during World War II
before going to college. He returned to Ohio and played three years of college football at Mount Union College
.
. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Kent State
from 1953–1954, followed by two years as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts
of the NFL
. Lauterbur wanted to return to college football, so he left the Colts to take a job as the offensive line coach at Army under Coach Earl "Red" Blaik
in 1957.
He spent five years at West Point, including the undefeated 1958 season that featured Heisman Trophy
winner Pete Dawkins
. He then served as an assistant coach for one season at the University of Pittsburgh
in 1962. Lauterbur was offered his first college head coaching job by the University of Toledo
before the 1963 season. He was Toledo's head football coach and athletic director for eight years from 1963–1970.
Lauterbur struggled his first four seasons at Toledo, compiling an 11–27–1 record from 1963–1966. But he eventually turned the program around, going 9–1 in 1967 and winning the first Mid-American Conference
title in school history. He then led Toledo to consecutive undefeated seasons in 1969 and 1970. Toledo was riding a 23 game winning streak and had won consecutive Tangerine Bowl
s at the end of the 1970 season. Lauterbur had led Toledo to a 37–5–1 record in his final four years, including three conference titles, two bowl victories, and a number 14 ranking in the final AP Poll
in 1970. All these accomplishments caught the eye of Bump Elliott
, the athletic director of the University of Iowa
.
before the 1971 season. He was expected to bring strong defense to Iowa, since his 1970 Toledo team had led the nation in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in the nation in scoring defense.
Iowa went just 1–10 in Lauterbur's first season in 1971, which was not a big surprise, considering that Iowa had graduated 17 starters off of a team that had won just three games the previous season. In 1972, Iowa improved to 3–7–1 and played competitively in most of the losses. Several players were set to return in 1973, and it looked as though progress was being made.
The 1973 season was a disaster. Iowa finished with the worst record in school history. The Hawkeyes lost all 11 games in 1973 to finish the year 0–11. The only other winless season in Iowa history occurred in 1889, their inaugural campaign, when they lost the only game they scheduled that year.
Despite the 0–11 record, Lauterbur had two years left on a five year contract, and Elliott considered retaining him. Iowa fans were unhappy with Lauterbur, obviously, but they were more unhappy with defensive coordinator Ducky Lewis. Lewis' defensive units, so spectacular at Toledo, were horrible at Iowa. In 1973, Iowa yielded 401 points on the season, the most in school history. In addition, Lewis was notoriously profane in public, which embarrassed and appalled several fans. That might be tolerated if Iowa was winning, but not at 0–11.
Elliott approached Lauterbur about firing Lewis as defensive coordinator. Lauterbur refused, stating that he had to have full control of his staff and that it was his right, not Elliott's, to hire and fire assistant coaches. Elliott agreed, but then reminded Lauterbur that it was his right, as athletic director, to hire and fire head football coaches by relieving him of his duties as Iowa head coach.
Lauterbur's loyalty to his assistant backfired, as now Lauterbur and Lewis were both out of a job. Ron Maly, a reporter for the Des Moines Register
, wrote, "On the day he was fired, Lauterbur held an umbrella over my head so he could protect the notepad I was using from the rain that was falling near the stadium. He was a good guy, but Iowa clearly was not the right place for him."
in 1980. He also coached in the USFL for the Pittsburgh Maulers
. After retiring from coaching, Lauterbur worked for a decade with the National Scouting Service.
Lauterbur retired in 1993 and lives in Ohio. He has a wife, Mary, as well as four children and two grandchildren.
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...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
from 1963 to 1970 and at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1971 to 1973, compiling a career college football
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...
record of 52–60–3. Lauterbur was earlier an assistant coach in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Early life and playing career
Lauterbur was born in Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, but when his widowed mother remarried, he moved north to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He played high school football at University of Detroit Jesuit High School
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy
The University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy, founded in 1877, is one of two Jesuit high schools in the city of Detroit, Michigan...
. Lauterbur served 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...
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...
before going to college. He returned to Ohio and played three years of college football at Mount Union College
Mount Union College
The University of Mount Union is a 4-year private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Alliance, Ohio.Mount Union enrolls 2200 undergraduates. Approximately 50 percent are women and 50 percent are men, representing more than 22 states and 13 countries. Mount Union has an active alumni base of...
.
Early coaching career
Lauterbur began his coaching career at Wickliffe and Collinwood high schools near Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He spent two years as an assistant coach at Kent State
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
from 1953–1954, followed by two years as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Colts
History of the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Lauterbur wanted to return to college football, so he left the Colts to take a job as the offensive line coach at Army under Coach Earl "Red" Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
in 1957.
He spent five years at West Point, including the undefeated 1958 season that featured Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Pete Dawkins
Pete Dawkins
Peter Miller Dawkins is a Heisman Trophy winner, Rhodes Scholar, U.S. Army Brigadier General, and Republican candidate for Senate. He is the former vice chairman of Citigroup Private Bank.-Early life, education and athletic career:...
. He then served as an assistant coach for one season 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...
in 1962. Lauterbur was offered his first college head coaching job by the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
before the 1963 season. He was Toledo's head football coach and athletic director for eight years from 1963–1970.
Lauterbur struggled his first four seasons at Toledo, compiling an 11–27–1 record from 1963–1966. But he eventually turned the program around, going 9–1 in 1967 and winning the first Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
title in school history. He then led Toledo to consecutive undefeated seasons in 1969 and 1970. Toledo was riding a 23 game winning streak and had won consecutive Tangerine Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
s at the end of the 1970 season. Lauterbur had led Toledo to a 37–5–1 record in his final four years, including three conference titles, two bowl victories, and a number 14 ranking in the final AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
in 1970. All these accomplishments caught the eye of Bump Elliott
Bump Elliott
Chalmers W. "Bump" Elliott is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played halfback at Purdue University and the University of Michigan...
, the athletic director of the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Iowa coaching career
Lauterbur was hired as the 22nd head coach in the history of Iowa footballIowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
before the 1971 season. He was expected to bring strong defense to Iowa, since his 1970 Toledo team had led the nation in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in the nation in scoring defense.
Iowa went just 1–10 in Lauterbur's first season in 1971, which was not a big surprise, considering that Iowa had graduated 17 starters off of a team that had won just three games the previous season. In 1972, Iowa improved to 3–7–1 and played competitively in most of the losses. Several players were set to return in 1973, and it looked as though progress was being made.
The 1973 season was a disaster. Iowa finished with the worst record in school history. The Hawkeyes lost all 11 games in 1973 to finish the year 0–11. The only other winless season in Iowa history occurred in 1889, their inaugural campaign, when they lost the only game they scheduled that year.
Despite the 0–11 record, Lauterbur had two years left on a five year contract, and Elliott considered retaining him. Iowa fans were unhappy with Lauterbur, obviously, but they were more unhappy with defensive coordinator Ducky Lewis. Lewis' defensive units, so spectacular at Toledo, were horrible at Iowa. In 1973, Iowa yielded 401 points on the season, the most in school history. In addition, Lewis was notoriously profane in public, which embarrassed and appalled several fans. That might be tolerated if Iowa was winning, but not at 0–11.
Elliott approached Lauterbur about firing Lewis as defensive coordinator. Lauterbur refused, stating that he had to have full control of his staff and that it was his right, not Elliott's, to hire and fire assistant coaches. Elliott agreed, but then reminded Lauterbur that it was his right, as athletic director, to hire and fire head football coaches by relieving him of his duties as Iowa head coach.
Lauterbur's loyalty to his assistant backfired, as now Lauterbur and Lewis were both out of a job. Ron Maly, a reporter for the Des Moines Register
Des Moines Register
The Des Moines Register is the daily morning newspaper of Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. A separate edition of the Register is sold throughout much of Iowa.-History:...
, wrote, "On the day he was fired, Lauterbur held an umbrella over my head so he could protect the notepad I was using from the rain that was falling near the stadium. He was a good guy, but Iowa clearly was not the right place for him."
Retirement
Frank Lauterbur spent the rest of his career as an NFL assistant. He worked for years as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Rams, coaching in Super Bowl XIVSuper Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
in 1980. He also coached in the USFL for the Pittsburgh Maulers
Pittsburgh Maulers
The Pittsburgh Maulers competed in the 1984 season of the United States Football League. Their most prominent player was first pick overall in the 1984 USFL draft, running back Mike Rozier of Nebraska, who won the Heisman Trophy, collegiate football's most prestigious individual award.They were...
. After retiring from coaching, Lauterbur worked for a decade with the National Scouting Service.
Lauterbur retired in 1993 and lives in Ohio. He has a wife, Mary, as well as four children and two grandchildren.