Hall of Fame
Innovator. Visionary. Educator. "Blitz-T" passing game tutor (to NFL's Tom Landry and others). Known to all simply as "Fletch." Nominated for College Football HOF. One of only 33 coaches in nation to lead alma mater to National Championship (as of 1998). Raised profile of Northern Illinois football with 10-0-0 NAIA and AP national titles (1963). Posted 74-48-1 career record (.606 pct.) in 13 seasons (1956-68). Finished as runner-up for National Kodak College Division Coach of Year (1963). Two-time District Coach of Year (1962-63). Won three IIAC crowns (1963-65) and made three Mineral Water Bowls (1962-63, 1965). Coached two NFL draft picks, NIU's highest NFL draftee (WR John Spilis, 3rd round by Green Bay in 1969), ten NFL free agents, nine Little All-Americas, three Academic All-Americas, two College Football HOFers, seven individual NCAA stats champs, 36 First-Team All-IIAC players, 11 of NIU's Top 26 All-Century performers, and five IIAC Players of Year. Polished Little All-America QBs Lew Flinn, Tom Beck, Bork, and Ron Christian. Made All-Decade Team (1930s) during NIU Centennial (1999). Two-time All-State and All-Little 19 Conference tackle for coach "Chick" Evans (1938-39). Transferred from Illinois. Lettered in football (4), basketball (3), and track (3) at Streator High. Won All-Big 12 grid honors. Captained loop cage champs. World War II U. S. Navy vet. Won IHSFCA Ray Eliot Award (2001). Guided 80-plus ex-NIU players into coaching. Coached at West Chicago & Cincinnati (OH) Walnut Hills high schools (Deceased).
