From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Courtright
Ray Courtright
Ray Courtright Head coaching record
Overall 48–41–10 (football)
25–29 (basketball)
Statistics
College Football Data Warehouse
Raymond O. "Ray" Courtright (September 19, 1891 – Au-
gust 1979) was an American football and baseball player
and college coach of football, basketball, golf, and
wrestling. Courtright attended the University of Okla-
homa where he played halfback for the football team
from 1911 to 1913 and also competed in baseball, basket-
ball and track. He was the head football coach at Pitts-
burg State University (1915–1917), the University of Ne-
vada, Reno (1919–1923), and Colorado School of Mines
(1924–1926). Courtright was also an assistant football
coach (1927–1936), head golf coach (1929–1944) and head
wrestling coach (1942–1944) at the University of Michi-
gan.
University of Oklahoma
Courtright was a multi-sport athlete at the University of
Ray Courtright, University of Michigan golf coach, 1934
Oklahoma competing in football, baseball, basketball and
Sport(s) Football, basketball, baseball, golf, wrestling, track. He played halfback for Bennie Owen’s Oklahoma
track and field Sooners football team from 1911 to 1913. In November
Biographical details 1911, he helped Oklahoma break a nine-game losing
streak to Kansas with a long run that set up a field goal
Born September 19, 1891 for the game’s only points in a 3–0 win.[1] He was also re-
Died August 1979 ported to be one of the "Sooner stars" in a 14–6 win over
Missouri in 1911.[2] In November 1912, he scored all six of
Playing career
the Sooners’ points on two field goals in the fourth quar-
1911–1913 Oklahoma ter of a 6–5 win over Kansas. One Oklahoma newspaper
noted:
Position(s) Halfback (football)
Pitcher (baseball)
Hurdler (track) "Oklahoma owes her victory to the educated toe of
Raymond Courtright, who left a sick bed that he
Coaching career (HC unless noted) might give his team the advantage of his kicking in
Football a pinch. For ten days he has not been in a football
1915–1917 Pittsburg State suit until Saturday."[3]
1919–1923 Nevada
1924–1926 Colorado School of Mines And as a senior in 1913, he scored one of the Sooners’ two
1927–1936 Michigan (assistant)
touchdowns in a 14–3 win over Colorado in a game played
1946 Fresno State (assistant)
in five inches of mud in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Okla-
Basketball homa City.[4] He was reportedly selected as an All-South-
1919–1923 Nevada western halfback for three consecutive years.[5] In 1919,
one sports writer noted that Courtright was "considered
Golf
the best halfback ever developed at Oklahoma."[6]
1929–1944 Michigan
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Courtright
Courtright was also a pitcher for Oklahoma’s baseball game at Nevada was a scoreless tie with California on
team. He once pitched a no-hitter against Missouri, and November 3, 1923. The 1923 California team was known
on another occasion he pitched 20 innings in a 1–1 game as the "Wonder Team."[10][14] It had gone through three
against Oklahoma A&M.[7] He also received varsity letters full seasons without a loss, and had outscored its oppo-
for basketball and track (as a hurdler). He graduated Phi nents 151 to 0 in the first seven games of the 1923 season.
Beta Kappa from Oklahoma in 1914.[7] Nevada had only 15 men on its football team in 1923 and
was considered to be a decided underdog. When Cour-
Early years as coach tright returned to the Nevada campus in 1961, he was
shown souvenirs of his time at the school. Ty Cobb, then
After graduating from Oklahoma, Courtright started his a sports columnist, accompanied Courtright and wrote:
coaching career either at Oklahoma Preparatory,[6] or "Courtright chuckled when he saw a huge framed layout
at Atlanta Union Preparatory School.[5] In 1915, he was of newspaper headlines from 1923 -- when Nevada tied
hired by Kansas State Normal School at Pittsburg (now the great California ’Wonder Team.’ ’Yep, that WAS quite
known as Pittsburg State University). He served as the a game,’ he chortled."[14]
head football coach at Pittsburg for three seasons from Courtright compiled a record of 26–13–7 while at Ne-
1915 to 1917, compiling a record of 15–11–2.[8] Courtright vada,[8] and his teams outscored opponents by a com-
also served as the athletic director at Pittsburg.[6] bined total of 993 to 464.[15] Shortly before his resigna-
tion in 1924, the Nevada State Journal credited Courtright
University of Nevada, Reno with having "brought the Nevada eleven from the class
of a second rate team to its present rank among the best
In April 1919, Courtright was hired by the University of of the western college football squads."[16]
Nevada, Reno as its director of athletics and head coach Courtright was also the head basketball coach at Ne-
of the football, basketball, baseball and track teams.[6][9] vada and led the basketball team to championships of
Courtright was Nevada’s football coach for five years the California-Nevada Basketball League in both 1920 and
from 1919 to 1923. During his years at Nevada, Courtright 1921.[10] Courtright’s teams finished with records of 6–2
was "affectionately known as ’Corky’."[10] and 10–3 in 1920 and 1921, but suffered losing seasons
In his first year as Nevada’s coach, Courtright led the in 1922 and 1923. In four seasons as Nevada’s basketball
team to an 8–1–1 record, doubling the highest season win coach, Courtright compiled a record of 25 wins and 29
total of any prior Nevada football team. The only loss losses.[17]
came in the first game of the season, a 13–7 loss to the
California freshman team. Courtright’s 1919 Nevada team
outscored its opponents 450 to 32, including scores of Colorado School of Mines
132–0 over College of the Pacific, 102–0 over the Mare In March 1924, Courtright was hired away from Nevada
Island Marines, and 56–0 over UC Davis.[11] At the time, by the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. At
Courtright called the 1919 Nevada team "the best team I the time, the School of Mines had an enrollment of 450
ever had," and others called it the "best team that ever students. Courtright was given a three-year contract at
played on Mackay Field."[12] At the end of the 1919 sea- an advanced salary with a promise of a raise after the
son, the Reno Evening Gazette wrote: first season. Courtright stated that he regretted leaving
Nevada but could not turn down the offer made by the
"It was a good move when the students and regents Colorado school.[18] He was the head football coach at the
decided last spring to go east and get one of the Colorado School of Mines from 1924 to 1926 and compiled
best men to come to Nevada and build up a football a record of 7–17–1.[8]
team. In selecting a coach they also demanded an
all-round man, who could coach basket ball, track,
baseball and put into operation a regular system of University of Michigan
physical culture for all the students as well. Coach In September 1927, Courtright was hired as an assistant
Courtright fitted the requirements and the football football coach at the University of Michigan.[5] He served
season proves the wisdom of the selection ..."[9] in that capacity from 1927 to 1936.
Courtright was also the head golf coach at Michigan
In 1920, Courtright’s team finished with a record of 7–3–1 from 1929 to 1944.[19][20] His teams won two NCAA Na-
with wins over both the Utah Utes (14–7) and Utah State tional Championships (1934–1935), and he coached two
Aggies (21–0), and losses to California (79–7), USC (38–7), NCAA individual champions, John Fischer (1932) and
and Santa Clara (27–21).[13] Chuck Kocsis (1936).[20] His 1943 Michigan golf team was
Courtright never reached the same level of success also the runner up in the NCAA National Champion-
after the 1920 season, finishing 4–3–1 in 1921, 5–3–1 in ship.[20]
1922 and 2–3–3 in 1923.[13] However, his most notable
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Courtright
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Pittsburg State (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1915–1917)
1915 Pittsburg State 4–5 2–2
1916 Pittsburg State 7–3 3–1
1917 Pittsburg State 4–3–2 3–2–1
Pittsburg State: 15–11–2 8–5–1
Nevada Sagebrush/Wolf Pack (Independent) (1919–1923)
1919 Nevada 8–1–1
1920 Nevada 7–3–1
1921 Nevada 4–3–1
1922 Nevada 5–3–1
1923 Nevada 2–3–3
Nevada: 26–13–7
Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) (1924–1926)
1924 Colorado School of Mines 4–4–1 3–4–1 8th
1925 Colorado School of Mines 2–7 2–6 9th
1926 Colorado School of Mines 1–6 1–5 11th
Oklahoma: 7–17–1 6–15–1
Total: 48–41–10
In 1942, he was also appointed as the head coach
of Michigan’s wrestling team while regular coach Cliff
Head coaching record
Keen was serving in the military.[21] In addition to the
NCAA golf championship, Courtright’s teams won eight Football
Big Ten Conference golf championships and one Big Ten
wrestling championship. In August 1944, Courtright re- References
ported that he had received notice from the University
[1] "Oklahoma Trounces Kansas". Cherokee Republican
of Michigan that his coaching position was being ter-
minated, effective November 1, 1944, for economic rea- (Oklahoma). 1911-11-16.
sons.[22][23] [2] "Football at the University: Oklahoma Defeats
Missouri". Star Gazette, Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
1911-11-17.
Fresno State [3] "Kicking of Courtright Won For Sooners Over
In May 1946, Courtright was hired by Fresno State College Kansas Saturday, Score 6 to 3". Muskogee Times
(now known as California State University, Fresno) as Democrat. 1912-11-04.
an assistant football coach. Fresno State’s head football [4] "Okla. 14, Colorado 3: 5000 See Brilliant Game on
coach, Jimmy Bradshaw, had been Courtright’s top Muddy Field". San Antonio Light. 1913-11-28.
ground gainer when Courtright was the head coach at [5] ^ "Southern Athlete Gets Place With Michigan’s
Nevada.[24] The Fresno State Bulldogs finished with an Football Coaching Staff". INdiana Evening News,
8–4 record in 1946.[25] Indiana, Pennsylvania. 1927-10-01.
[6] ^ "Courtright Wins Place as Coach at University".
Reno Evening Gazette. 1919-04-20.
[7] ^ "Michigan’s Ray Courtright Proud of Family and
Team". The Christian Science Monitor. 1940-04-26.
[8] ^ "R.O. "William" Courtright Records by Year".
College Football Data Warehouse.
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/
coaching/
alltime_coach_year_by_year.php?coachid=457.
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Courtright
[9] ^ Lyle Kimmel (1919-11-29). "Nevada Varsity of [22] "Michigan Drops Courtright". 1944-08-16.
1920 Finishes Great Season: All but Two of Varsity 1944-08-16. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/
Will Probably Be Back Next Year and Big Games abstract.html?res=F10914F93D5B1B7B93C4A81783D85F408485F9.
with Best on Coast Assured". Reno Evening Gazette. [23] "RAY COURTRIGHT MICHIGAN GOLF COACH
[10] ^ "Courtright Plans To Play ’Pro’ Baseball". Reno RELEASED". Chicago Daily Tribune. 1944-08-16.
Evening Gazette. 1921-02-01. ("The climax of his [24] Ty Cobb (1946-05-17). "Inside Stuff". Nevada State
work in Nevada came during the past season when Journal.
the Wolf pack held California to a 0 to 0 tie.") [25] "Fresno State Yearly Results". College Football Data
[11] "Nevada Yearly Results 1915 to 1919". College Warehouse. http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/
Football Data Warehouse. data/div_ia/wac/fresno_state/
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/ yearly_results.php?year=1945.
wac/nevada/yearly_results.php?year=1915.
[12] "Nevada Runs Away With Game With Davis Farm".
Reno Evening Gazette. 1919-11-28.
External links
[13] ^ "Nevada Yearly Results 1920 to 1924". College • Ray Courtright at the College Football Data
Football Data Warehouse. Warehouse
http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/
wac/nevada/yearly_results.php?year=1920. Persondata
[14] ^ Ty Cobb (1961-09-14). "Ex-Nevada Football Coach Name Courtright, Ray
Returns to Scene of Old-Time Glory". Nevada State
Journal. Alternative Courtright, Raymond O.; Courtright, R. O.
[15] Dick Stoddard (1935-12-04). "Courtright Named As names
Likely Coach for Wolves". Nevada State Journal. Short de- American football and baseball player
[16] "U.N. line Coach Adds to Tangle: Courtright scription and coach of football, basketball, golf,
Considers Move to New Fields". Nevada State and wrestling
Journal. 1925-02-22. Date of September 19, 1891
[17] "Raymond Courtright Coaching Record". Sports birth
Reference: College Basketball. http://www.sports-
Place of
reference.com/cbb/coaches/c/courtra01.html.
birth
[18] "’Corky’ Courtright Resigns as Coach at
University". Reno Evening Gazette. 1924-03-31. Date of August 1979
[19] "Michigan Drops Courtright". The New York Times. death
1944-08-16. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/ Place of
death
abstract.html?res=F10914F93D5B1B7B93C4A81783D85F408485F9. (This
account indicates that Courtright was Michigan’s
golf coach starting in 1929.)
[20] ^ "U of M Men’s Golf". University of Michigan,
Bentley Historical Library.
http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/golfmen/
golfmen.htm. (University of Michigan records
indicate that Thomas Trueblood was listed
officially as the head golf coach until 1935.
However, Trueblood had retired to professor
emeritus status in 1926 at age 70. By the time
Trueblood "officially" retired and was given the
title of "coach emeritus" in 1935, he was nearly 80.
As some sources list Courtright as the head coach
starting in 1929, it is unclear what the precise
division of responsibilities were between
Courtright and Trueblood from 1929 to 1935.)
[21] "Ray Courtright to Coach Michigan Golf Squad".
Chicago Daily Tribune. 1942-10-08.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ray_Courtright&oldid=467763617"
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ray Courtright
Categories:
• 1891 births
• 1978 deaths
• Fresno State Bulldogs football coaches
• Michigan Wolverines football coaches
• Oklahoma Sooners baseball players
• Oklahoma Sooners football players
• Nevada Wolf Pack football coaches
• Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball coaches
• Pittsburg State Gorillas football coaches
• College athletic directors in the United States
• High school football coaches in the United States
• Colorado Mines Orediggers football coaches
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