Andy Pilney

Antone James "Andy" Pilney (January 19, 1913 – September 15, 1996) was an American football coach and player of football and baseball. He played football and baseball at the University of Notre Dame in the mid-1930s and then professional baseball from 1936 to 1939. Pilney had a three-game stint in Major League Baseball with the Boston Bees in July 1936. He served as the head football coach at Tulane University from 1954 to 1961, compiling a record of 25–49–6.

Andy Pilney
Pilney pictured in Jambalaya 1955, Tulane yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1913-01-19)January 19, 1913
Frontenac, Kansas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 15, 1996(1996-09-15) (aged 83)
Kenner, Louisiana, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1933–1935Notre Dame
Baseball
1934–1936Notre Dame
1936Boston Bees
1936Syracuse Chiefs
1937Columbia Senators
1937Scranton Miners
1938Indianapolis Indians
1939Erie Sailors
1939Hartford Bees
Position(s)Halfback (football)
Outfielder (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1942Washington University (backfield)
1943Georgia Pre-Flight (assistant)
1946–1953Tulane (backfield)
1954–1961Tulane
Head coaching record
Overall25–49–6
Andy Pilney
Pinch hitter
Born: (1913-01-13)January 13, 1913
Frontenac, Kansas
Died: September 15, 1996(1996-09-15) (aged 83)
Kenner, Louisiana
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 12, 1936, for the Boston Bees
Last MLB appearance
June 26, 1936, for the Boston Bees
MLB statistics
Games played3
At bats2
Strikeouts1
Teams

College playing career

Pilney played football as a halfback at Notre Dame. In 1935, he led the Irish to a come-from-behind win against top-ranked Ohio State in a contest considered to be a "Game of the Century". Pilney was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (26th overall pick) of the 1936 NFL Draft.[1]

Professional baseball career

Pilney began his professional baseball career in 1936 as an outfielder. While he spent most of the season with the minor league Syracuse Chiefs, he played three games with the Boston Bees in July. He appeared twice as a pinch hitter and once as a pinch runner, but did not play the field. He continued to play in the minors until 1939.

Coaching career

Pilney began his college football coaching career in 1942 when he was hired as backfield coach at Washington University in St. Louis.[2]

His final game at Tulane on November 25, 1961 resulted in a 62–0 loss to rival LSU at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Pilney's successor, Tommy O'Boyle, also lost his final game at the helm of the Green Wave in 1965 to LSU by the same score, 62–0 in Baton Rouge.

Life after coaching

Following his departure from Tulane, Pilney continued to live in the New Orleans area, in the Jefferson Parish suburb of Metairie. He served three terms on the Jefferson Parish Council representing District 4 from 1964 to 1976.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Tulane Green Wave (Southeastern Conference) (1954–1961)
1954 Tulane 1–6–31–6–110th
1955 Tulane 5–4–13–3–1T–6th
1956 Tulane 6–43–3T–6th
1957 Tulane 2–81–511th
1958 Tulane 3–71–511th
1959 Tulane 3–6–10–5–111th
1960 Tulane 3–6–11–4–110th
1961 Tulane 2–81–5T–10th
Tulane: 25–49–611–36–4
Total:25–49–6

References

  1. "1936 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  2. "Washington U. Picks Gorman" (PDF). The New York Times. Associated Press. February 13, 1942. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
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