Mike Gary

Mitchell J. "Mike" Gary (April 17, 1900 – December 30, 1969) was an American athlete, coach and athletic director. He was an All-Big Ten football player for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 1926 and 1927 and served in various coaching, teaching and administrative positions at Western Michigan University from 1928 through 1967. With a record of 59–34–5 (.628 winning percentage), Gary ranks third in wins among Western Michigan football coaches, behind William H. Spaulding and Al Molde.[1]

Mike Gary
Biographical details
Born(1900-04-17)April 17, 1900
DiedDecember 30, 1969(1969-12-30) (aged 69)
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Playing career
1925–1927Minnesota
Position(s)Tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1928Western State (assistant)
1929–1941Western State / Western Michigan
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1949–1967Western Michigan
Head coaching record
Overall59–34–5

Minnesota

He played college football for the University of Minnesota from 1925 to 1927 and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten tackle in 1926 and 1927.

Western Michigan

Coach

Gary was hired as an assistant football coach at Western State Teachers College (now known as Western Michigan University) in 1928. He worked under head coach Earl Martineau during the 1928 season and took over as head coach in 1929. He served as the head football coach at Western Michigan from 1929 to 1941. In 13 years as the head football coach, Gary's teams compiled a record of 59–34–5 (.627 winning percentage) and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 1,426 to 683.[2] He twice coached undefeated football teams. His 1932 team compiled a record of 6–0–1 and outscored opponents 174 to 6. That team gave up six points in the first game of the season and held its opponents scoreless in the remaining six games.[3] In his last season as head coach, the 1941 team compiled a perfect record of 8–0 and outscored opponents 183 to 27.[4] At the end of the 1941 season, the Associated Press wrote the following about Gary's 1941 team:

"Largest of the small undefeated, untied outfits is Western Michigan College where 2,200 students (but only 700 men) all but went crazy as their heroes tripped Western Reserve, Sun Bowl champion, 7–0 in the opener and went on to win seven more. Coach Mitchell J. Gary, who played with Bronko Nagurski at Minnesota, took over as head coach at Western in 1929. He used the T-formation to shake loose Horace Coleman, colored halfback, for 10 touchdowns in seven games."[5]

War service

With the United States entry into World War II, the 41-year-old Gary joined the United States Navy and served three years in the Naval Air Corps with the rank of commander.[6][7]

Athletic director

After the war, Gary returned to Western Michigan as the associate athletic director and professor of physical education. In 1949, he took over as athletic director and held that position until his retirement in 1967.[7] He was also the chairman of the school's Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation from 1952 to 1957.[8] During Gary's tenure as athletic director, Western Michigan joined the Mid-American Conference.

Death and posthumous honors

Gary died from a heart attack at his home in Kalamazoo, Michigan in December 1969.[6] In 1978, he was inducted into the Western Michigan University Hall of Fame.[9] The Gary Physical Education Center on the Western Michigan campus is named in his honor.[8]

The Mike Gary Athletic Fund was established in 1956. It is a community-based support program dedicated to improving the athletic program at Western Michigan.[9]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Western State Hilltoppers (Michigan Collegiate Conference) (1929–1930)
1929 Western State 5–2–1
1930 Western State 5–1–1
Western State Hilltoppers / Western State Broncos / Western Michigan Broncos (Independent) (1931–1941)
1931 Western State 5–2
1932 Western State 6–0–1
1933 Western State 3–3–1
1934 Western State 7–1
1935 Western State 5–3
1936 Western State 2–4
1937 Western State 5–3
1938 Western State 4–3
1939 Western State 2–6–1
1940 Western State 2–5
1941 Western Michigan 8–0
Western State / Western Michigan: 59–34–5
Total:59–34–5
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References
  1. "Western Michigan Coaching Records". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  2. "Mitchell Gary Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  3. "1932". College Football Date Warehouse.
  4. "1941". College Football Date Warehouse.
  5. "5,000 Students Would Like the College Football Fans to Know their Seven Little Colleges Had Perfect Seasons, Too". The Pittsburgh Press. 1941-12-02.
  6. "Mike Gary Dies". The News-Palladium (AP story). 1969-12-31.
  7. "Former WMU Football Coach Dies at 69". The Holland Evening Sentinel (UPI story). 1969-12-31.
  8. "Western Michigan University Building Timeline ~ 1954-1963". Western Michigan University.
  9. "History of the Mike Gary Athletic Fund". Western Michigan University.
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