Ossie Solem

Ossie Solem
Solem, c. 1927
Biographical details
Born(1891-12-13)December 13, 1891
DiedOctober 26, 1970(1970-10-26) (aged 78)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1910–1912Minnesota
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1913–1920Minneapolis Marines
1920Luther (IA)
1921–1931Drake
1932–1936Iowa
1937–1945Syracuse
1946–1957Springfield
Basketball
1921–1925Drake
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1925–1932Drake
1934–1937Iowa
Head coaching record
Overall162–117–20 (college football)
44–7–3 (pro football)
37–31 (basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
5 MVC (1922; 1928–1931)

Oscar Martin "Ossie" Solem (December 13, 1891 – October 26, 1970) was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa (1920), Drake University (1921–1931), the University of Iowa (1932–1936), Syracuse University (1937–1945), and Springfield College (1946–1957), compiling a career college football record of 162–117–20. From 1913 until 1920, Solem was the head coach of the Minneapolis Marines, prior to that team's entry into the National Football League (NFL). During his time with the Marines, Solem introduced the team to the single-wing formation, developed by the famed coach, Pop Warner, and used by the University of Minnesota, where Solem had played football.[1] Solem was also the head basketball coach at Drake University for four seasons, from 1921 to 1925, tallying a mark of 37–31.

  1. ^ Quirk, Jim (1998). "The Minneapolis Marines: Minnesota's Forgotten NFL Team" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 20 (1). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1–3. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2010.