John W. Breen
 |
|
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
May 9, 1907 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Died | February 9, 1984 (aged 76) |
| Playing career | |
| 1930–1934 | Carroll (WI) |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1938–1948 | Carroll (WI) |
| 1949–1951 | Lake Forest |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 43–46–8 |
John W. Breen (May 9, 1907 – February 9, 1984) was an American football and basketball player, coach, and executive. He was active in the college ranks before becoming an administrator in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers.
Breen grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and played high school football at Milwaukee East Division High School. He then went on to Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where he was named "most valuable player" and team captain in both football and basketball.
After graduation from Carroll in 1935, Breen began coaching freshman teams and teaching classes. Breen the 19th head football coach (as well as assuming the position of athletic director) for the Carroll College (Wisconsin) Pioneers and he held that position for eleven seasons, from 1938 until 1948. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 34 wins, 33 losses, and 6 ties. This ranks him fifth at Carroll College in total wins and 14th at Carroll College in winning percentage.
In 1949, Breen became the head coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois and held the position for three seasons, through 1951. During his tenure as head coach, he accumulated a record of 9 wins, 13 losses, and 2 ties. While at Lake Forest he received nationwide publicity for defending the interests of small college athletics. In 1974, Lake Forest inducted him into their athletic "Hall of Fame" for his contribution to the football and basketball programs at the school.
After a successful college career as an educator and coach, Breen went into the professional ranks with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) as director of player personnel in 1957. He was later the first person hired by the Houston Oilers in 1960 as director of player personnel and was named General Manager in 1971 and he held that position until his retirement in 1973.
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