J. Orlean Christian

Joseph Orlean Christian (May 10, 1898 – October 21, 1979) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the University of Connecticut from 1934 to 1949 and as the head baseball coach there from 1936 to 1961. Christian was also the school's athletic director from 1950 to 1966 and filled in as interim head basketball coach during the 1935–36 season. He served as the first commissioner of the Yankee Conference, from 1966 to 1971. Christian died on October 21, 1979, at the age of 81 in a convalescent home in Willimantic, Connecticut.[1] The University of Connecticut's home baseball field, J. O. Christian Field, is named in his honor. Christian's 66 wins as head football coach at Connecticut were the most in program history until Randy Edsall surpassed him in 2010.

J. Orlean Christian
Biographical details
BornMay 10, 1898
Roland, Iowa, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 1979 (aged 81)
Willimantic, Connecticut, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1934–1949Connecticut State / Connecticut
Basketball
1935–1936Connecticut State (interim HC)
Baseball
1936–1961Connecticut State / Connecticut
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1950–1966Connecticut
1966–1971Yankee Conf. (commissioner)
Head coaching record
Overall66–51–4 (football)
3–10 (basketball)
254–170–7 (baseball)

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Connecticut State / Connecticut Huskies (New England Conference) (1934–1946)
1934 Connecticut State 1–70–14th
1935 Connecticut State 2–4–10–1T–3rd
1936 Connecticut State 7–22–01st
1937 Connecticut State 6–2–11–0T–1st
1938 Connecticut State 4–30–35th
1939 Connecticut 5–31–1T–2nd
1940 Connecticut 4–41–2T–3rd
1941 Connecticut 2–60–25th
1942 Connecticut 6–22–0T–1st
1943 No team—World War II
1944 Connecticut 7–10–03rd
1945 Connecticut 7–12–0T–1st
1946 Connecticut 4–3–12–0–1T–1st
Connecticut Huskies (Yankee Conference) (1947–1949)
1947 Connecticut 4–41–23rd
1948 Connecticut 3–52–12nd
1949 Connecticut 4–4–12–0–1T–1st
Connecticut: 66–51–416–13–2
Total:66–51–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Connecticut State Huskies (New England Conference) (1935–1936)
1935–36 Connecticut State 3–100–3
Connecticut State: 3–10 (.231)0–3 (.000)
Total:3–10 (.231)

Baseball

The following table depicts Christian's record as head baseball coach at Connecticut.[2]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Connecticut State / Connecticut Huskies (1936–1961)
1936 Connecticut State 7–5
1937 Connecticut State 7–8
1938 Connecticut State 8–6
1939 Connecticut 7–7
1940 Connecticut 8–8–1
1941 Connecticut 4–10
1942 Connecticut 4–8
1943 Connecticut 8–6
1944 Connecticut 4–4–1
1945 Connecticut 6–2
1946 Connecticut 6–10–1
1947 Connecticut 12–5
1948 Connecticut 13–2
1949 Connecticut 14–5
1950 Connecticut 7–8
1951 Connecticut 9–9–1
1952 Connecticut 9–5–1
1953 Connecticut 9–6–1
1954 Connecticut 9–9
1955 Connecticut 11–6
1956 Connecticut 9–8–2
1957 Connecticut 14–105–5College World Series
1958 Connecticut 11–5NCAA tournament
1959 Connecticut 20–310–01stCollege World Series
1960 Connecticut 13–3NCAA tournament
1961 Connecticut 24–19–2NCAA tournament
Connecticut: 257–171–7
Total:257–171–7

References
  1. "J.Orlean Christian, Ex-Head of Athletics At U. of Connecticut" (PDF). The New York Times. United Press International. October 23, 1979. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  2. 2012 Baseball Media Guide. uconnhuskies.com. pp. 63–64. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
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