Raymond A. Curfman

Raymond A. "Babe" Curfman (June 16, 1915 – April 5, 1993) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach at the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Las Cruces (now New Mexico State University), from 1946 to 1947 and at the University of Idaho in Moscow from 1951 to 1953, compiling a career college football record of 15–30–1.

Raymond A. Curfman
Biographical details
Born(1915-06-16)June 16, 1915
DiedApril 5, 1993(1993-04-05) (aged 77)
Tucson, Arizona
Playing career
1936–1937Texas Tech
Position(s)End, quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946–1947New Mexico A&M
1949–1950Idaho (ends)
1951–1953Idaho
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1947–1949New Mexico A&M
Head coaching record
Overall15–30–1
Raymond A. Curfman
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Army Air Forces
Rank  Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

Coaching career

After a brief stay as a player with the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1938, Curfman coached at the high school level in Texas and New Mexico, at Tulia, Santa Rosa, and Las Cruces. His 1942 Las Cruces basketball team advanced to the state finals. Curfman served as a lieutenant in the Army Air Corps in World War II.[1]

From 1946 to 1947, Curfman was the head coach at New Mexico A&M, then in the Border Conference, where he compiled an 8–11 record. He resigned in December to work in the sporting goods industry in Texas, then joined the staff of third-year head coach Dixie Howell at Idaho in February 1949.[2][3] Two years later, Howell and Curfman submitted their resignations in March 1951,[4] and Curfman remained on campus as an interim coach for the upcoming 1951 spring drills. The administration was impressed with his handling of the team during the first week of practice and hired him as head coach in mid-April.[5] He guided the Vandals for three seasons in the Pacific Coast Conference and compiled a .278 record.[6] His salary in his final year at Idaho in 1953 was $7,920.[7]

Curfman made headlines during the 1953 season as his overmatched Vandals struggled in conference play in the PCC.[8] Following his resignation as Idaho head coach in December,[9][10][11] he was hired as the business manager for the Spokane Indians minor league baseball team in January 1954.[12]

He later coached high school football back in Texas, at Pampa (1958–1961) and Pecos (1962–1964).[13]

Curfman died at age 77 in 1993 in Tucson, Arizona; he and his wife are buried at the East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson.

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
New Mexico A&M Aggies (Border Conference) (1946–1947)
1946 New Mexico A&M 5–51–49th
1947 New Mexico A&M 3–61–48th
New Mexico A&M: 8–112–8
Idaho Vandals (Pacific Coast Conference) (1951–1953)
1951 Idaho 2–70–39th
1952 Idaho 4–4–11–38th
1953 Idaho 1–80–39th
Idaho: 7–19–11–9
Total:15–30–1
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References
  1. "Curfman resigns as A&M football coach" (PDF). The Round-up. December 10, 1947. p. 1.
  2. "Curfman named new Idaho assistant grid coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 2, 1949. p. 10.
  3. "New Vandal grid coach signs on dotted line". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). February 2, 1949. p. 1-sports.
  4. "Dixie Howell resigns as Idaho football coach". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 3, 1951. p. 21.
  5. "Idaho selects Curfman as coach". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. April 17, 1951. p. 14.
  6. CFB Data Warehouse - Raymond A. Curfman - head coaching results
  7. "Salary of $9000 set for Stahley". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). United Press. February 23, 1954. p. 16.
  8. "Vandal gridders rated too 'pure'". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 20, 1953. p. 3B.
  9. "Curfman and three aides resign posts at Idaho". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. December 21, 1953. p. 21.
  10. "'Circumstances' force Curfman's resignation". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 22, 1953. p. 12.
  11. "Idaho plans thorough search for coach; Curfman out". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). December 22, 1953. p. 12.
  12. May, Danny (January 29, 1954). "Indians sign Curfman as business manager". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 8.
  13. "Coaches' records by seasons". Texas High School Football History. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
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