Members
Inductee
THOMAS, FRANK
THOMAS, FRANK
Born on November 15, 1892
Muncie, IN
May 10, 1954 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
Inducted On
May 5, 2019
Location Inducted
Merrillville, IN
Region Number
1
Ec Washington
Pioneer
East Chicago Washington
1915
Western State Normal College (Western Michigan) 1917-1918; University of Notre Dame
1923
Offered pro baseball contract by Giants 1918 but enrolled in Notre Dame instead; quarterback under Knute Rockne 1920-1922; earned a law degree.
Wife, Francis (deceased); children, Rita, Frank, Jr., and Hugh
Coaching Experience: Assistant at Georgia 1923-1924; head coach, University of Chattanooga 1925-1928; backfield coach, Georgia, 1929-1930; took Rockne's forward pass to University of Alabama as head coach 1931-1946; head coahing record of 141-33-9; retired from coaching after the 1946 season; was also UA athletic director 1940 until his death.
Coaching Honors: National Championships 1934, 1941; SIAA Championships 1926-1928; SEC Championships 1933-1934, 1937, 1945; won 4 bowls - Rose 1935 and 1946, Cotton 1942, Orange 1943; with a 10-0 record, named SEC Coach of the Year 1945; inducted into College Football Hall of Fame 1951; University of Alabama football field co-honors his name; a bronze statute was erected in his honor outside the stadium 2006.
Coaching Honors: National Championships 1934, 1941; SIAA Championships 1926-1928; SEC Championships 1933-1934, 1937, 1945; won 4 bowls - Rose 1935 and 1946, Cotton 1942, Orange 1943; with a 10-0 record, named SEC Coach of the Year 1945; inducted into College Football Hall of Fame 1951; University of Alabama football field co-honors his name; a bronze statute was erected in his honor outside the stadium 2006.