William C. McCracken (April 11, 1864 – June 13, 1940) was an American college football coach and educator.Science "Scientific Notes And News" June 21, 1940 He served as the head football coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania from 1890 to 1896 and Northern State Normal School—now known as Northern Michigan University–in Marquette, Michigan in 1904, compiling a career coaching record of 19–19–1. McCracken chaired the chemistry department at Western State Normal School—now known as Western Michigan University—in Kalamazoo, Michigan for many years, and served as the school's acting president in 1922–23.
Early life and education Born in St. Louis, McCracken attended Columbia University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago.
Coaching career Geneva McCracken was the first head football coach at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, serving for seven seasons, from 1890 to 1896, and compiling a record of 17–18–1. He also played on Geneva's teams of 1891, 1892, and 1894.
Northern Michigan After starting the program at Geneva, McCracken went to the newly-formed Normal School of Northern Michigan—now known as now Northern Michigan University—in Marquette, Michigan to teach chemistry and physics.Michigan Teachers' Directory "Northern State Normal School Faculty" Published by Robert Smith & Co., 1899The Decennial Publications of the University of Chicago Published by The University of Chicago Press, 1908 Records show that he was on staff at Normal as early as 1901.Biennial Report By State Board for Vocational Education, Michigan State Board of Education, 1903
In 1904, he was asked to start the program there, making the second school where he was the first coach. His team produced a record of 2–1 in the inaugural 1904 seasonNorthern Michigan University Varsity Athletics Football-Coaching Records and played their games at the County Fairgrounds.Northern Horizons "100 YEARS OF WILDCAT" Fall 2004
Education career In 1907, McCracken took a position as head of the chemistry department at Western State Normal School—now known as Western Michigan University—in Kalamazoo, Michigan.New York Times "Obituaries-William McCracken" June 14, 1940 He remained at Western Michigan until his retirement in 1939, also serving as acting university president for the 1922–23 school year.Western Michigan University Building Timeline ~ 1944-1953 He was the first faculty advisor for the Western Herald student newspaper in 1916.Western Herald "Happy Anniversary, Western Herald" By Shawntai Brown, November 3, 2008
Death and honors McCracken died on June 13, 1940, at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, following a two-week-long illness. In 1946, the school began plans for McCracken Hall to honor his legacy.Western Michigan 1946 Architectural Rendering of McCracken Hall
Head coaching record
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