Tuesday, 03 December 2024

Fielding Yost

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Football
Statistics: 6 NCAA National Championships (1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918 & 1923)
10 Western/Big Ten Championships (1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1918, 1922, 1923, 1925 & 1926)
198-35-12 NCAA Record
1-0 Bowl Record
Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
Fielding Yost was one of the early pioneers of college football coaching, beginning his head coaching career in 1896. Lucrative (or even paying) contracts were not the norm in the late 1890s, and Yost bounced from Ohio Wesleyan, Nebraska, Kansas, and Stanford, where he had a sparkling record in each one-year stop. His vagabond ways ended when he joined the University of Michigan as their head coach in 1901, where he would stay in some capacity until 1940.

At Michigan, Yost gave himself to the game of football and the school, innovating new positions (linebacker) and creating the hurry-up offense. The Wolverines were recognized as National Champions four straight years (1901-04) and would win two more in 1918 and 1923. With the exception of 1924, Yost was Michigan's head coach from 1901 to 1926 and would have a record of 165-29-10.

Yost was also Michigan’s athletic director from 1921 to 1940.

We are proud to nominate Fielding Yost for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.