Paul Pierce (American football)

Paul Pierce
Sport(s) Football
Biographical details
Born (1914-12-29)December 29, 1914
Hill, New Mexico
Died March 31, 2004(2004-03-31) (aged 89)
Austin, Texas
Playing career
1932–1933 Schreiner Institute
1934–1935 Sul Ross State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1946–1951 Sul Ross State
1952–1967 Sam Houston State
Head coaching record
Overall 134–72–9
Bowls 3–2–1
Tournaments 1–0–1 (NAIA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NAIA National (1964)
5 LSC (1950, 1955–1956, 1961, 1964)
Awards
1965 Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year

Paul Edward "Red" Pierce (December 29, 1914 – March 31, 2004) was an American football player and coach. He served as head coach at Sul Ross State University from 1946 to 1951 and at Sam Houston State University from 1952 to 1967, amassing a career college football record of 94–52–7 134–72–9. His Sam Houston State Bearkats shared the NAIA Football National Championship in 1964 after tying the Concordia Cobbers in the title game.

Early years

A native of Hill, New Mexico, Pierce grew up in Fort Stockton, Texas, graduating from high school there in 1932. He went on to attend Schreiner Institute (now Schreiner University) in Kerrville, Texas, where he earned his associate of arts degree while playing football, basketball and track. Pierce continued his collegiate career at Sul Ross State Teachers College (now Sul Ross State University) in Alpine, Texas. He participated in varsity football and basketball, and graduated two years later with his bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He earned his Ed.D. degree from the University of Houston in 1961.

During World War II, Pierce served as a gunnery officer in the US Navy, and became the head football coach at the Bainbridge Naval Training Center in Port Deposit, Maryland near the conclusion of the war.

Coaching career

In 1946 Pierce was hired at his alma mater Sul Ross State to rebuild a football program that was discontinued during the war. He guided the Lobos to 18 consecutive wins, four conference championships and two bowl games, including the 1949 Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

In 1952, Pierce became the head football coach, head track coach and athletic director at Sam Houston State. His teams at SHSU tied for four conference championships and played in five bowl games. His 1964 Bearcat team tied Concordia College for a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics co-championship. In 1965, he was named the Knute Rockne Little All-American Coach of the Year.

He returned to Sul Ross in 1968 as a professor of health and education and chairman of the physical education department. Although better known for his football teams, he had an outstanding record at Sul Ross as the women's volleyball coach. From 1971–75, he directed them to the national tournament three times, won the national championship and placed fifth in the nation twice.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Sul Ross State Lobos () (1946–1949)
1946 Sul Ross State 5–5
1947 Sul Ross State 7–3
1948 Sul Ross State 10–0–1 T Tangerine
1949 Sul Ross State 7–3
Sul Ross State Lobos (Lone Star Conference) (1950–1951)
1950 Sul Ross State 8–2–1 3–0–1 1st
1951 Sul Ross State 3–7 1–4 6th
Sul Ross State: 40–20–2
Sam Houston State Bearkats (Lone Star Conference) (1952–1967)
1952 Sam Houston State 6–4 2–3 T–3rd W Shrimp
1953 Sam Houston State 9–1 4–1 2nd W Refrigerator
1954 Sam Houston State 6–4
1955 Sam Houston State 6–1–2 5–1 T–1st
1956 Sam Houston State 10–0 6–0 1st W Refrigerator
1957 Sam Houston State 3–5–1 3–3–1 4th
1958 Sam Houston State 7–3 L Christmas Festival
1959 Sam Houston State 5–5 5–2 T–2nd
1960 Sam Houston State 3–6 2–5 6th
1961 Sam Houston State 8–1 7–0 1st
1962 Sam Houston State 5–3–1 4–2–1 3rd
1963 Sam Houston State 4–3–1
1964 Sam Houston State 9–1–1 5–1 1st T NAIA Championship
1965 Sam Houston State 4–6 1–5 6th
1966 Sam Houston State 6–3–1 4–2–1 2nd
1967 Sam Houston State 3–6 1–6 7th
Sam Houston State: 94–52–7
Total: 134–72–9
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title

References

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