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Paul Pierce (American football)
Encyclopedia
Paul Edward "Red" Pierce (December 29, 1914 – March 31, 2004) was an American football
player and coach. He served as head coach at Sul Ross State University
from 1946 to 1951 and at Sam Houston State University
from 1952 to 1967, amassing a career college football
record of 94–52–7 134–72–9. His Sam Houston State Bearkats shared the NAIA Football National Championship in 1964 after tying the Concordia Cobbers in the title game.
, Pierce grew up in Fort Stockton, Texas
, graduating from high school there in 1932. He went on to attend Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner University
) in Kerrville, Texas
, where he earned his associate of arts degree while playing football
, basketball
and track. Pierce continued his collegiate career at Sul Ross State Teachers College (now Sul Ross State University
) in Alpine, Texas
. He participated in varsity football and basketball, and graduated two years later with his bachelor of science
degree in chemistry. He earned his Ed.D. degree from the University of Houston
in 1961.
During World War II
, Pierce served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy
, and became the head football coach at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Port Deposit, Maryland
near the conclusion of the war.
s, including the 1949 Tangerine Bowl
in Orlando, Florida
.
In 1952, Pierce became the head football coach, head track coach and athletic director at Sam Houston State. His teams at SHSU tied for four conference championships and played in five bowl games. His 1964 Bearcat team tied Concordia College for a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
co-championship. In 1965, he was named the Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year.
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 head coach at Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University , a public university in Alpine, Texas, is named for former Texas governor, Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969....
from 1946 to 1951 and at Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
from 1952 to 1967, amassing 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 94–52–7 134–72–9. His Sam Houston State Bearkats shared the NAIA Football National Championship in 1964 after tying the Concordia Cobbers in the title game.
Early years
A native of Hill, New MexicoDoña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Pierce grew up in Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton, Texas
Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pecos County.-Geography:Fort Stockton is located at ....
, graduating from high school there in 1932. He went on to attend Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner University
Schreiner University
Schreiner University is a private liberal arts institution located in Kerrville, Texas. The University enrolls an estimated 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students. It offers 27 four-year undergraduate programs, an MBA and a master of education. Its religious affiliation is to the Presbyterian...
) in Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville, Texas
Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20,425 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the population was 22,826...
, where he earned his associate of arts degree while playing 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...
, basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
and track. Pierce continued his collegiate career at Sul Ross State Teachers College (now Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University , a public university in Alpine, Texas, is named for former Texas governor, Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969....
) in Alpine, Texas
Alpine, Texas
Alpine is a city in and the county seat of Brewster County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,786 people at the 2000 census, and had increased to 5,905 by 2010.-History:...
. He participated in varsity football and basketball, and graduated two years later with his bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in chemistry. He earned his Ed.D. degree from 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...
in 1961.
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...
, Pierce served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and became the head football coach at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Port Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit, Maryland
Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay...
near the conclusion of the war.
Coaching career
In 1946 Pierce was hired at his alma mater Sul Ross State to rebuild a football program that was discontinued during the war. He guided the Lobos to 18 consecutive wins, four conference championships and two bowl gameBowl 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, including the 1949 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...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
.
In 1952, Pierce became the head football coach, head track coach and athletic director at Sam Houston State. His teams at SHSU tied for four conference championships and played in five bowl games. His 1964 Bearcat team tied Concordia College for a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
co-championship. In 1965, he was named the Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year.