Lou Agase
Encyclopedia
Lou Agase was a Gridiron football
player and coach of Assyrian
ancestry.
Agase played Tight End
and Offensive tackle for the Illinois Fighting Illini football
team 1944-1947. He was a member of the Illini team that won the 1947 Rose Bowl
. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers
with the 131st pick of the 1948 NFL Draft
, but never played a game for the team.
During the 1948-1949 and 1949-1950 school years, Agase was a teacher at Paxton High School in Paxton, Illinois
. He coached football and track for the Mustangs and also started the school's first wrestling team. His two-year coaching record in football was 9-7.
On July 30, 1950, Agase returned to Illinois as an assistant coach. In 1955, he moved to Michigan State
, where he was the Spartan's defensive line coach. During Mr. Agase’s tenure as an assistant, MSU's football team won the Rose Bowl in 1956. On December 4, 1959, Agase was named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts
, replacing Steve Owen. After finishing the prior season
in last place, Agase coached the Argonauts to the Eastern Finals in 1960 and 1961. He was fired three games into the 1962 season and replaced by assistant coach Nobby Wirkowski
. His overall coaching record with the Argonauts is 17-13-1.
Agase's older brother Alex
was also an American football
player and coach.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
player and coach of Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
ancestry.
Agase played Tight End
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
and Offensive tackle for the Illinois Fighting Illini football
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
team 1944-1947. He was a member of the Illini team that won the 1947 Rose Bowl
1947 Rose Bowl
The 1947 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game. It was the 33rd Rose Bowl Game. The Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the UCLA Bruins, 45–14. Illinois halfbacks Claude "Buddy" Young and Julius Rykovich shared the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game award. They were named the Rose Bowl Players...
. He was selected by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
with the 131st pick of the 1948 NFL Draft
1948 NFL Draft
The 1948 National Football League Draft was held on December 19, 1947 at the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:...
, but never played a game for the team.
During the 1948-1949 and 1949-1950 school years, Agase was a teacher at Paxton High School in Paxton, Illinois
Paxton, Illinois
Paxton is a city in Ford County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,473 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Ford County.-History:...
. He coached football and track for the Mustangs and also started the school's first wrestling team. His two-year coaching record in football was 9-7.
On July 30, 1950, Agase returned to Illinois as an assistant coach. In 1955, he moved to Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
, where he was the Spartan's defensive line coach. During Mr. Agase’s tenure as an assistant, MSU's football team won the Rose Bowl in 1956. On December 4, 1959, Agase was named head coach of the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, replacing Steve Owen. After finishing the prior season
1959 CFL season
The 1959 CFL season was the sixth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it was the second season of the Canadian Football League.-Final regular season standings:...
in last place, Agase coached the Argonauts to the Eastern Finals in 1960 and 1961. He was fired three games into the 1962 season and replaced by assistant coach Nobby Wirkowski
Nobby Wirkowski
Norbert Wirkowski is a retired American and Canadian football player and coach. He is best known as quarterback of the Toronto Argonauts...
. His overall coaching record with the Argonauts is 17-13-1.
Agase's older brother Alex
Alex Agase
-External links:...
was also an 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...
player and coach.