Ray Van Orman
Encyclopedia
Ray Van Orman, D.V.M.
, (c. 1883 – May 24, 1954) was an American veterinarian and college football
and lacrosse
coach. He served as the head lacrosse and football coach at Johns Hopkins University
, from 1920 to 1935 and 1926 to 1935 respectively, and the head lacrosse coach at Cornell University
from 1940 to 1949. Van Orman was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1992.
in upstate New York
, where he played football
and was a team captain. He attended college at Cornell University
, where he continued his football career as an end under head coach Glenn "Pop" Warner
from 1904 to 1906.
During his freshman year in 1904, he was elected class president. He served as the football team captain in 1906. Van Orman was expelled from the university in March 1906 by the student conduct committee for allegedly "cribbing
" during a veterinary surgery examination. He later returned to the school and graduated with a doctorate of veterinary medicine
in 1908.
staff under head coach A. H. Sharpe
. He remained in that position until 1920, when he left to become head football coach and athletic director
at Johns Hopkins University
in Baltimore, Maryland. Van Orman worked in those roles through 1935. In 1933, The Sunday Spartanburg Herald-Journal
ran a story on his invention of a "scrimmage machine". The contraption was a large wooden triangular frame from which dummies filled with sand or sawdust were arranged in the formation
used by the opposing team. As a head football coach, he compiled a 60–64–7 record. Despite never having seen a game of lacrosse
before, he became the coach of the Johns Hopkins team in 1926. In 1928 and 1932, his teams won tournaments to represent the United States in the Olympic Games
. During his tenure as Hopkins lacrosse coach from 1926 to 1934, Van Orman's teams amassed a 71–11 record and captured six national championships.
In 1935, the Johns Hopkins University administration began a policy to "de-emphasize" football, and Van Orman left to coach the highly successful amateur Mount Washington Lacrosse Club
. In February, he was offered the position as head coach of the Yale University
lacrosse team
, but that ultimately fell through. The following year, he returned to Cornell as an assistant football coach. From 1940 to 1949, Van Orman served as the head coach of the Cornell lacrosse team
and amassed a 24–45 record.
Van Orman died of a heart attack on May 24, 1954 in Ithaca, New York
at the age of 71. The Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously inducted him in 1982. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a player in 1992.
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, (c. 1883 – May 24, 1954) was an American veterinarian and 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...
and lacrosse
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 as the head lacrosse and football coach at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, from 1920 to 1935 and 1926 to 1935 respectively, and the head lacrosse coach at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
from 1940 to 1949. Van Orman was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1992.
Early life
Van Orman attended Ithaca High SchoolIthaca High School (Ithaca, New York)
Ithaca High School is a public high school in Ithaca, New York. It is part of the Ithaca City School District, and has an enrollment of approximately 1,675. Jarett Powers has been principal since 2011.-About:...
in upstate New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and was a team captain. He attended college at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he continued his football career as an end under head coach Glenn "Pop" Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner
Glenn Scobey Warner , most commonly known as Pop Warner, was an American football player and coach...
from 1904 to 1906.
During his freshman year in 1904, he was elected class president. He served as the football team captain in 1906. Van Orman was expelled from the university in March 1906 by the student conduct committee for allegedly "cribbing
Cheat sheet
A cheat sheet or crib sheet is a concise set of notes used for quick reference. "Cheat sheet" may also be rendered "cheatsheet".Cheat sheets are so named because they may be used by students without the instructor's knowledge to cheat on a test...
" during a veterinary surgery examination. He later returned to the school and graduated with a doctorate of veterinary medicine
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
in 1908.
Coaching career
In 1912, Van Orman returned to his alma mater to serve on the Cornell footballCornell Big Red football
The Cornell Big Red football team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Championship Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Ivy League. It is one of the oldest and most storied football programs in the nation...
staff under head coach A. H. Sharpe
Albert Sharpe (American football)
Dr. Albert Hayes Sharpe was an All-American football player, coach and athletic director and medical doctor. He played football for Yale University and was selected as a halfback for the 1899 College Football All-America Team. Sharpe was also a star basketball player in the early years of the...
. He remained in that position until 1920, when he left to become head football coach and athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in Baltimore, Maryland. Van Orman worked in those roles through 1935. In 1933, The Sunday Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
The Spartanburg Herald-Journal is a daily newspaper, and the primary newspaper for Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States.It is part of the New York Times Regional Media Group.- History :...
ran a story on his invention of a "scrimmage machine". The contraption was a large wooden triangular frame from which dummies filled with sand or sawdust were arranged in the formation
Formation (American football)
A formation in American football refers to the position players line up in before the start of a down. There are both offensive and defensive formations and there are many formations in both categories.-Offense:...
used by the opposing team. As a head football coach, he compiled a 60–64–7 record. Despite never having seen a game of lacrosse
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....
before, he became the coach of the Johns Hopkins team in 1926. In 1928 and 1932, his teams won tournaments to represent the United States in the Olympic Games
Lacrosse at the Summer Olympics
Lacrosse has been contested at two editions of the Summer Olympic Games, 1904 and 1908. Both times it has been open only to men; both times a Canadian team has won the competition. In its first year, three teams from two nations competed...
. During his tenure as Hopkins lacrosse coach from 1926 to 1934, Van Orman's teams amassed a 71–11 record and captured six national championships.
In 1935, the Johns Hopkins University administration began a policy to "de-emphasize" football, and Van Orman left to coach the highly successful amateur 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...
. In February, he was offered the position as head coach of the 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...
lacrosse team
Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse
The Yale Bulldogs men's lacrosse team represents Yale University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Yale competes as a member of the Ivy League and plays their home games at Reese Stadium in New Haven, Connecticut. The Bulldogs have captured the Ivy League...
, but that ultimately fell through. The following year, he returned to Cornell as an assistant football coach. From 1940 to 1949, Van Orman served as the head coach of the Cornell lacrosse team
Cornell Big Red men's lacrosse
The Cornell Big Red Men's Lacrosse team represents Cornell University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's lacrosse. Cornell competes as a member of the Ivy League, of which they have won 23 conference championships. The Big Red have appeared in the NCAA tournament 22...
and amassed a 24–45 record.
Van Orman died of a heart attack on May 24, 1954 in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
at the age of 71. The Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame posthumously inducted him in 1982. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a player in 1992.