Wesley Fry

Wesley Leonard "Cowboy" Fry (December 10, 1902 – November 11, 1970) was an American football player, coach of football and baseball, and professional football executive. He served as the head football coach at Oklahoma City University in 1933 and at Kansas State University from 1935 to 1939, tallying a career college football coach mark of 26–22–6. Fry was also the head baseball coach at Kansas State from 1935 to 1938 and at Northwestern University from 1944 to 1946, compiling a career college baseball record of 53–53–2. He later served as director of player personnel and then as general manager with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) from 1960 to 1963.

Wesley Fry
Biographical details
Born(1902-12-10)December 10, 1902
Hartley, Iowa, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 1970(1970-11-11) (aged 67)
La Mesa, California, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1923–1925Iowa
1926–1927New York Yankees
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1928–1932Classen HS (OK)
1933Oklahoma City
1934Kansas State (assistant)
1935–1939Kansas State
1940–1946Northwestern (assistant)
1947–1956California (assistant)
Baseball
1935–1938Kansas State
1944–1946Northwestern
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1960–1963Oakland Raiders (GM)
Head coaching record
Overall26–22–6 (college football)
44–9–1 (high school football)
53–53–2 (college baseball)

Playing career

Fry played college football at the University of Iowa under legendary coach Howard Jones, excelling as a fullback. He was named to play in the first East–West Shrine Game following his senior season in 1925. Fry then spent the 1926 and 1927 seasons playing professional football with Red Grange for the New York Yankees of the National Football League (NFL). At the same time, Fry attended law school.

Coaching career

After earning his law degree, Fry quit playing professional football and sought to practice law in Oklahoma, but he was quickly diverted onto the path of a football coach. He began his career coaching football at Classen High School in Oklahoma City. In his five seasons at Classen, from 1928 to 1932, his football teams compiled a record of 44–9–1. At Classen, Fry also coached the track team. In 1933, Fry served at the head football coach at Oklahoma City University, leading his squad to an 8–1 record.[1] The following year, when future Hall of Fame coach Pappy Waldorf moved north from Oklahoma A&M to Kansas State University, he hired Fry to be his lone assistant coach. Waldorf left Kansas State after one season, and Fry was hired as the new head coach in 1935.

Fry held the head coaching position at Kansas State for five seasons, posting an 18–21–6 record. Fry also coached the baseball team at Kansas State during this time. Fry stepped aside following the 1939 season when his own assistant coach began politicking for the job of head football coach, but not before coaching the second-ever televised college football game.

For the 1940 season, Fry rejoined Waldorf as an assistant coach at Northwestern University. In 1947, Fry moved with Waldorf to the University of California. Fry remained Waldorf's assistant coach at Cal through the end of Waldorf's term, in 1956, despite receiving offers of head coaching positions from Oregon State University and Arizona State University.

Administrative career and later life

In 1960, Fry joined the Oakland Raiders organization, which was commencing operations as a member of the American Football League. He first served as director of player personnel, then as general manager of the franchise until 1963, when Al Davis was hired as general manager and head coach. Fry died on November 11, 1970 at his home in La Mesa, California.[2]

Head coaching record

College football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Oklahoma City Goldbugs (Independent) (1933)
1933 Oklahoma City 8–1
Oklahoma City: 8–1
Kansas State Wildcats (Big Six Conference) (1935–1939)
1935 Kansas State 2–4–31–2–24th
1936 Kansas State 4–3–22–1–23rd
1937 Kansas State 4–51–4T–5th
1938 Kansas State 4–4–11–3–15th
1939 Kansas State 4–51–4T–4th
Kansas State: 18–21–66–14–5
Total:26–22–6

References
  1. "Will Aid Waldorf; Wes Fry, Oklahoma City U. Mentor, Named as Aggie Assistant". Lawrence Journal-World. March 26, 1934. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  2. "Wesley L. Fry, 67, Coached California Football Team" (PDF). The New York Times. Associated Press. November 13, 1970. Retrieved March 30, 2011.

Additional sources
  • Fitzgerald, Tim (2001). Wildcat Gridiron Guide (ISBN 0-9703458-0-1)
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