Mark Devlin (American football)

Mark Henry Devlin Jr. (December 5, 1894 – December 11, 1973) was a professional American football player.

Mark Devlin
Personal information
Born:(1894-12-05)December 5, 1894
Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died:December 11, 1973(1973-12-11) (aged 79)
Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
College:Holy Cross
St. Ambrose
Position:Quarterback
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Early life

Devlin was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts. During World War I he served in the United States Navy.[1] He attended and played college football and baseball at Holy Cross College. He was named captain of the football team for 1917, but left Holy Cross before the season began.[2] He then transferred to St. Ambrose University to finish his education.[1]

Playing career

In 1919, Devlin received an offer from Jim Thorpe to play for the Canton Bulldogs. The Bulldogs went on to win the World Championship that year.[1] Devlin then played in the American Professional Football League (which became the National Football League in 1922) with the Rock Island Independents, Cleveland Tigers and the New York Brickley Giants. He also a player-coach for a football team based in Moline, Illinois and played baseball for Lawrence in the New England League.[1]

Coaching

Devlin returned to St. Ambrose University in 1920 to coach. While at St. Ambrose, Devlin led the team to a 4–0–2 record.[3] He also served as the school's basketball coach from 1919 to 1921.[4] From 1921 to 1947, Devlin was the head football, baseball, and basketball coach at Lawrence High School. He led the football team to a 147-74-26 record and three state championships.[5][6] He then served as the school's athletic director and facilities manager until illness forced him to retire in 1958.[1][7]

Later life and legacy

Devlin spent his later years in North Andover, Massachusetts before moving to a nursing home in Lawrence.[6] In 1965, Lawrence High School's baseball field was named after him.[8] He died on December 11, 1973, in Lawrence.[6]

References
  1. Ashby, Ted (June 8, 1968). "Mark Devlin Played With Thorpe in '19". The Boston Globe.
  2. "Terse News of Sports". The New York Times. 24 March 1916. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-08-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-06-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Ames, Larry (September 24, 1980). "Best coaching records". The Boston Globe.
  6. "Mark Devlin of Lawrence, athlete and coach, at 79". The Boston Globe. December 12, 1973.
  7. Mack, Gene Jr (October 30, 1947). "Lawrence High to Retain Devlin as Athletic Chief". The Boston Daily Globe.
  8. "Lawrence, English Plan Inductions". The Boston Globe. September 6, 1988.
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