William McCracken
Encyclopedia
William McCracken was an educator, American football
coach, and sports figure in the United States.
coach for the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes
located in Beaver Falls
, Pennsylvania
, United States
and he held that position for seven seasons, from 1890 until 1896. His coaching record at Geneva was 17 wins, 18 losses, and 1 tie. As of the completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him tenth at Geneva in total wins and 15th at Geneva in winning percentage (48.6).
(now Northern Michigan University
) to teach chemistry and physics. Records show that he was on staff at Normal as early as 1901.
In 1904, he was asked to start the program there, making the second school where he was the first coach. His team produced a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in the inaugural 1904 season and played their games at the County Fairgrounds.
department at Michigan's Western State Normal School in Kalamazoo
(now called Western Michigan University
). He remained at Western Michigan until his retirement in 1939, also serving as acting university president in the 1922–23 school year. In 1946, the school began plans for McCracken Hall to honor his legacy.
McCracken offered his services wherever he believed he could add value to the school and its students. In yet another string of "firsts", he was the first faculty advisor for the Western Herald
student newspaper in 1916.
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...
coach, and sports figure in the United States.
Geneva College
McCracken was the first head college footballCollege 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...
coach for the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
located in Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and he held that position for seven seasons, from 1890 until 1896. His coaching record at Geneva was 17 wins, 18 losses, and 1 tie. As of the completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him tenth at Geneva in total wins and 15th at Geneva in winning percentage (48.6).
Northern Michigan
After starting the program at Geneva College, McCracken went to the newly-formed Normal School of Northern Michigan in Marquette, MichiganMarquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
(now Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University
Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...
) to teach chemistry and physics. Records show that he was on staff at Normal as early as 1901.
In 1904, he was asked to start the program there, making the second school where he was the first coach. His team produced a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in the inaugural 1904 season and played their games at the County Fairgrounds.
Contributions to education
In 1907, McCracken took a position as head of the chemistryChemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
department at Michigan's Western State Normal School in Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
(now called Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
). He remained at Western Michigan until his retirement in 1939, also serving as acting university president in the 1922–23 school year. In 1946, the school began plans for McCracken Hall to honor his legacy.
McCracken offered his services wherever he believed he could add value to the school and its students. In yet another string of "firsts", he was the first faculty advisor for the Western Herald
Western Herald
The Western Herald is the student newspaper of Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It began printing in 1916.The Western Herald is different from many student newspapers because it does not receive university funding...
student newspaper in 1916.