![]() Cowan at Princeton during his playing years | |
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Hobart, New York, U.S. | July 12, 1863
Died | October 19, 1941 Stamford, New York, U.S. | (aged 78)
Playing career | |
1885–1889 | Princeton |
Position(s) | Tackle |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1888 | North Carolina |
1894–1896 | Kansas |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 18–8–1 |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1 WIUFA (1895) | |
Awards | |
First-team All-American (1889) | |
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 1951 (profile) |
Hector William "Hec" Cowan (July 12, 1863 – October 19, 1941) was an American college football player and coach, and an ordained Presbyterian minister.[1][2] He played football at Princeton University from 1885 to 1889. He was team captain for Princeton and selected to the first College Football All-America Team in 1889. Cowan served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for two games during the 1888 season and at the University of Kansas from 1894 to 1896, compiling a career coaching record of 18–8–1. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1951.