Henry B. Hucles facts for kids

Henry Boyd Hucles Jr. (born November 11, 1897 – died September 11, 1979) was a very important American sports coach and manager. He coached football, basketball, and baseball teams at colleges. He also worked as an athletic director, which means he managed all the sports programs at a college.

Hucles coached football at Virginia Union University for many years. He also coached at Prairie View A&M University. In 1997, he was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

Early Life and College Years

Henry Hucles was born in Petersburg, Virginia on November 11, 1897. He went to Wayland Academy in Washington D.C. in 1917. Later, he studied physics at Virginia Union University from 1919 to 1920.

While at Virginia Union, he was a talented football player. He played as a quarterback and halfback. He was even named an All-American player. This means he was one of the best players in the country. During his senior year, he was a player-coach for the team. He also helped start a student group called Omega Psi Phi. In 1933, he earned a science degree from Springfield College. He also helped create the Richmond Coliseum, a large sports and event center.

Coaching Career Highlights

Henry Hucles made history at Virginia Union University. He was the first student-athlete from the school to come back and coach there. He started as a player-coach for football from 1919 to 1920. Then, he became the head football coach from 1926 to 1942.

Besides coaching, he was also the athletic director at Virginia Union. He taught health and physical education too. From 1938 to 1943, he coached the Virginia Union basketball team. In the 1938–39 season, his team won a championship in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). A famous baseball player, Larry Doby, played basketball under Coach Hucles from 1942 to 1943. Larry Doby later became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Before his long career at Virginia Union, Hucles coached at Shaw University for a year, starting in 1921. He also became the first head football coach at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. He coached there for two seasons, from 1924 to 1925. His football teams at Prairie View had a good record of 11 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie.

Later Life and Legacy

Henry Hucles continued to work as the athletic director at Virginia Union until 1950. He dedicated many years to sports and education. His son, Henry B. Hucles III, later became an important religious leader.

Henry Hucles passed away in Brooklyn, New York in 1979. He is remembered as a pioneering coach and athletic leader. He helped many young athletes succeed both in sports and in life.

See also

• List of college football head coaches with non-consecutive tenure