James Francis "Jimmy" Duffy Jr. (June 3, 1892 - February 23, 1961) is an American football and coach. A native of Massachusetts, Duffy played college football as a midfielder at Colgate University. He was the head coach of the University of Detroit soccer team for six seasons between 1917 and 1924 and led the program to become famous at the national level. His coaching career was disrupted by a one-year military service during World War I and after retiring after the 1922 season. In his first five years as team head coach, his team set a 39-7-1 record. He returned to training in 1924 and retained his only record of losing his career. After retiring from football, Duffy practiced law and served for time as a Michigan boxing commissioner.
Video James F. Duffy
Initial years
Duffy was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1892. He was the son of James F. Duffy Sr. and Helen W. Duffy. He attended preparatory school at Tilton School in New Hampshire and then attended Colgate University where he became a quarterback for the football team. He suffered a broken collarbone and became an assistant coach at Colgate's football team.
In 1916, Duffy accepted a position as a football coach at Eastern High School in Detroit.
Maps James F. Duffy
Detroit University
In August 1917, following Gil Dobie's sudden resignation, Duffy was hired as a soccer coach at the University of Detroit.
In his first year as head coach, Duffy led the 1917 team to an 8-1 record. In his first game, Detroit defeated Toledo with a score of 145-0 which stands as a record of a single school game score. The team's only loss in 1917 was for Wolverines Michigan Fielding H. Yost by a score of 14-3.
Duffy missed the 1918 Detroit University season because of wartime military service. In the spring of 1918, Duffy was registered in the United States Navy and stationed at Cleveland Navy Station, Great Lakes Naval Station, and Pelham Bay. He was assigned as a banner.
Upon exiting the Navy, Duffy returns to the University of Detroit as an athletic director. He also coached the football team and led the 1919 team to an 8-1 record. His team recorded five shutouts and defeated all opponents, 257 to 30.
Duffy continued to lead the football team to win records in 1920 (8-2), 1921 (8-1), and 1922 (7-2-1). His 1921 team was unbeaten in the regular season but lost to Washington's unbeaten peers & amp; Jefferson in a postseason playoff game to determine which team will play in the 1922 Rose Bowl. Washington & Jefferson then won the Rose Bowl and was recognized as a co-national champion for 1921.
After the 1922 season, Duffy retired as the headmaster's football coach to start legal practice. In March 1924, Durfy agreed to return for a year in his old position. His team 1924 set a 4-5 record.
In six seasons as head coach, Duffy drew a 43-12-1 record, giving him the highest winning percentage (0.777) of any coach in the history of the Detroit Titans. His 43 wins ranked second in school history behind Gus Dorais. During Duffy's time as head coach, the team was "ranked in the country's giant gridiron."
Duffy players at the University of Detroit included Father Celestin J. Steiner who later became university rector and federal judge Thomas Patrick Thornton. More than 20 Duffy players continue to play in the National Football League (NFL), including Tillie Voss (nine years in the NFL), Gus Sonnenberg (eight years in NFL), Eddie Moegle (scored first for the Detroit NFL Team), Walt Clago in the NFL on Sunday while serving at the Detroit Police Department), and Dutch Lauer (four years in the NFL).
Next year
Duffy received a law degree from the University of Detroit. He began his legal practice in 1923 in Denby, Kennedy & amp; O'Brien. In 1933, he was appointed by Governor William Comstock to the State Athletic Supervisory Board as a Michigan boxing commissioner. At that time, Detroit Free Press describes him as "a nervous little man with chunky gray eyes with an Irish map stamped on his face."
Duffy is not married. He died at Detroit Veterans' Hospital in Detroit in 1961.
Head coaching record
Higher Education
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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