Harry R. Jefferson facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 12, 1899 Parkersburg, West Virginia |
| Died | April 24, 1966 (aged 66) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1917 | West Virginia State |
| 1918–1921 | Ohio |
| Position(s) | Guard, center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1922 | Kelly Miller HS (WV) |
| 1923 | Wilberforce |
| 1924 | Kelly Miller HS (WV) |
| 1925–1929 | Bluefield |
| 1930–1931 | North Carolina A&T |
| 1932–1933 | Bluefield State |
| 1934–1948 | Virginia State |
| 1949–1956 | Hampton |
| Basketball | |
| 1924 | Kelly Miller HS (WV) |
| 1934–1949 | Virginia State |
| Baseball | |
| 1924 | Wilberforce |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1924–1925 | Kelly Miller HS (WV) |
| 1925–1930 | Bluefield State |
| 1930–1932 | North Carolina A&T |
| 1932–1934 | Bluefield State |
| 1949–1957 | Hampton |
| 1961–1965 | CIAA (commissioner) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 173–92–25 (college football) |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 black college national (1927, 1928, 1936) 2 MAA (1927–1928) 4 CIAA (1936, 1938, 1939, 1945) |
|
| Awards | |
| All-Ohio center (1921) NAIA Hall of Fame (1961) Virginia State University Hall of Fame (1980) CIAA Hall of Fame (1982) Bluefield State Hall of Fame (teams) (2008) AFCA Trailblazer Award (2010) |
|
Harry Rupert "Big Jeff" Jefferson (born May 12, 1899 – died April 24, 1966) was a very important person in college sports. He was a successful coach for football, basketball, and baseball teams. He also worked as a leader in college sports programs.
"Big Jeff" is famous for leading his football teams to win three national championships for Black colleges. He also helped create and lead important sports organizations. He was a true pioneer in college athletics.
Contents
Harry Jefferson's Early Life and Playing Days
Harry Jefferson was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. This was on May 12, 1899. He later became known as "Big Jeff."
He played college football as a guard and center. He played for West Virginia State in 1917. Then he played for Ohio University from 1918 to 1921. In 1921, he was even named an All-Ohio center.
While at Ohio University, he helped start the Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. This was a very important fraternity.
A Coaching Legend in College Football
Harry Jefferson had a long and successful career as a football coach. He coached at several colleges and high schools. His total college football coaching record was 173 wins, 92 losses, and 25 ties.
Coaching at Wilberforce and Bluefield State
His first college coaching job was at Wilberforce University in 1923. He then coached at Bluefield State College from 1925 to 1929. He returned to Bluefield State from 1932 to 1933.
At Bluefield, he led his teams to amazing success. They won two national championships in 1927 and 1928. These teams were also champions of the Midwest Athletic Association.
Leading Teams at North Carolina A&T and Virginia State
From 1930 to 1931, Jefferson coached at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. After that, he had a very long and successful time at Virginia State University. He coached the Trojans from 1934 to 1948.
At Virginia State, he won another black college football national championship in 1936. His teams also won four CIAA championships. These wins were in 1936, 1938, 1939, and 1945.
Final Coaching Years at Hampton
Harry Jefferson's last coaching job was at Hampton University. He coached the Pirates from 1949 to 1956. He helped many young athletes grow and succeed during his time there.
Beyond Football: Other Coaching Roles
Besides football, Harry Jefferson also coached other sports. He coached basketball at Kelly Miller High School in 1924. He also coached the Virginia State men's basketball team from 1934 to 1949.
He even coached baseball for Wilberforce University in 1924. This shows he was a very versatile coach.
A Leader in College Sports Administration
Harry Jefferson was not just a coach. He was also a respected leader in college sports administration. He served as an athletic director at several schools.
He was the athletic director at Kelly Miller High School from 1924 to 1925. He also held this role at Bluefield State University (1925–1930, 1932–1934). He worked as an athletic director at North Carolina A&T (1930–1932) and Hampton (1949–1957).
Commissioner of the CIAA
In 1961, Harry Jefferson made history. He became the first commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). This was a very important role. He helped guide and grow the league. He served as commissioner until 1965.
National Athletic Steering Committee (NASC)
Jefferson was also a founding member of the National Athletic Steering Committee (NASC) in 1951. This committee was important for Black college sports. He later became the president of the NASC in 1957. He was also an honorary president in 1959. In 1958, the NASC honored him for 35 years of helping young people through sports.
Awards and Recognition
Harry Jefferson received many awards for his contributions to sports. He was inducted into several Halls of Fame.
- NAIA Hall of Fame (1961)
- Virginia State University Hall of Fame (1980)
- CIAA Hall of Fame (1982)
- Bluefield State Hall of Fame (for his teams) (2008)
- AFCA Trailblazer Award (2010)
These awards show how much he impacted college sports.
Death and Legacy
Harry Jefferson passed away on April 24, 1966. He died from a heart attack in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His funeral was held at Arlington National Cemetery.
"Big Jeff" left behind a great legacy. He was a dedicated coach and a visionary leader. He helped shape college athletics, especially for Black colleges. He inspired many young athletes and coaches.
