Joe Brandy

Joe Brandy
Born:(1897-11-06)November 6, 1897
Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.
Died:July 20, 1971(1971-07-20) (aged 73)
near Ogdensburg, New York, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Quarterback, halfback
CollegeNotre Dame
Career history
As coach
1921–1925St. Thomas (MN)
1924Minneapolis Marines
Career stats
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branchUnited States Army seal U.S. Army
Years of service1917–1919
RankLieutenant
Battles / warsWorld War I

Joseph Ralph Brandy (November 6, 1897 – July 20, 1971) was an American football player and coach.

After serving as a United States Army lieutenant in World War I, Brandy enrolled at the University of Notre Dame and became the starting quarterback for the Fighting Irish football team during the undefeated 1920 season—which was the final season for the legendary George Gipp prior to his death from pneumonia. Brandy was also a starting guard and a captain for the basketball team.

After graduation, Brandy accepted a position as a mathematics instructor and coach at the College of St. Thomas—now known as University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota for five years, directing nearly all of the athletic programs, including football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. He also spent one year in the National Football League (NFL) coaching the Minneapolis Marines in 1924.

In 1926, he returned to his hometown of Ogdensburg, New York, where he headed up the Advance News weekly newspaper for 16 years, and also coached for three seasons at the Ogdensburg Free Academy. He then founded radio station WSLB and operated it until the late 1950s, at which time he became president of the board at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.

Brandy died on July 20, 1971, at his summer home located on the Saint Lawrence River near Ogdensburg.[1]

  1. ^ Byrne, Jimmy (July 23, 1971). "Brandy Fame Lasted". The Minneapolis Star. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 26. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.