Red Sanders
Sanders, circa 1955
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| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
May 7, 1905 Asheville, North Carolina |
| Died | August 14, 1958 (aged 53) Los Angeles, California |
| Playing career | |
| 1924–1926 | Vanderbilt |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1927–1930 | Clemson (assistant) |
| 1934–1937 | Riverside Military Academy |
| 1938 | Florida (assistant) |
| 1939 | LSU (assistant) |
| 1940–1942 | Vanderbilt |
| 1946–1948 | Vanderbilt |
| 1949–1957 | UCLA |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1945–1949 | Vanderbilt |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 102–41–3 |
| Bowls | 0–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 National (1954) 3 PCC (1953–1955) |
|
| Awards | |
| AFCA Coach of the Year (1954) | |
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College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1996 (profile) |
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Henry Russell "Red" Sanders (May 7, 1905 – August 14, 1958) was an American football player and coach. He was head coach at Vanderbilt University (1940–1942, 1946–1948) and the University of California at Los Angeles (1949–1957), compiling a career college football record of 102–41–3 (.709). Sanders' 1954 UCLA team was named national champions by the Coaches Poll and the Football Writers Association of America. Sanders was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1996.
Known for being witty and hard driving, Sanders used the single-wing formation at Vanderbilt and UCLA. He is widely credited with coining the saying, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing". When asked about the UCLA–USC rivalry, Sanders said "it's not a matter of life and death, it's more important than that!" He was the first "Wizard of Westwood" before that title was attributed to UCLA Basketball coach John Wooden.
Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Sanders spent most of his youth in Nashville, Tennessee. One of his best boyhood friends and classmate at Duncan was renowned sports writer Fred Russell, with whom he would remain close friends his entire life.
Sanders attended college at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. He was a four-year letterman both in football and baseball. Sanders was captain of the baseball team in his senior year and a substitute quarterback on the football team. His football coach, Dan McGugin, said of him, "Red Sanders has one of the best football minds I have ever known."
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