Quick Facts
Biography
Otto Dean Unruh (September 17, 1899 – May 19, 1992) was an American football player and coach in the United States. He is one of a group of college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure at the same school, with a 25 year break between coaching his team. In 1960, Unruh wrote the book How To Coach Winning Football and is credited with inventing the T-Wing offensive football formation, having run the play as early as 1938. He is a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Playing career
Unruh played one season of basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks under head coach Phog Allen before his graduation in 1926.
Coaching career
Bethel College
Unruh was the head football coach for the Bethel Threshers located in North Newton, Kansas. He held that position for 17 seasons, from 1929 until 1942 and then again took the position for three more seasons, from 1967 through 1969 (making him one of the college football coaches with non-consecutive tenure as a head coach at the same school). His coaching record at Bethel was 53 wins, 76 losses and 6 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #2 at Bethel in total wins and #6 at the school in winning percentage (.415). Bethel College honored his legacy by inducting him into the schools athletic hall of fame.
High school
In between his two times as head coach at Bethel, Unruh was a high school teacher at Clay Center Community High School in Clay Center, Kansas. While teaching high school he was coach of both football and track teams and the high school stadium bears his name. In 2004, the school added him to their "Hall of Fame" for his accomplishments.