Dick Offenhamer

Richard W. Offenhamer (June 30, 1913 – August 7, 1998) was an American football and baseball player and later a successful college football coach.

Dick Offenhamer
Biographical details
Born(1913-06-30)June 30, 1913
DiedAugust 7, 1998(1998-08-07) (aged 85)
Amherst, New York
Playing career
1934–1935Colgate
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1955–1965Buffalo
Head coaching record
Overall58–37–5

Playing career

A native of Buffalo, New York, Offenhamer starred in football as a halfback and in baseball as a catcher at Bennett High School and at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York. At Colgate, he started at right halfback on the 1934 football team which lost only to Ohio State, and again on the successful 1935 team. For the Colgate baseball team, Offenhamer hit .380 as a senior where he was both a catcher and an outfielder. He was also intramural light heavyweight boxing champion all four years.[1]

Coaching career

Kenmore High School

After graduating from Colgate in 1936, he was an English teacher and the head football coach at Kenmore High School. In 1939, he played summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League, playing catcher for the league's Harwich team.[2][3][4] From 1936 through 1946, his Kenmore teams compiling an outstanding record of 50-7 capturing Niagara Frontier League championships in 1943, 1944 and 1945.

Colgate

From 1946 until 1955, he was the head coach of the freshmen football team at Colgate.

University of Buffalo

In 1955, Offenhamer was recruited by University of Buffalo (U.B.) President Dr. Clifford C. Furnas to revive the school’s football team.[5] Offenhamer went on to serve as the head football coach at Buffalo from 1955 to 1965, compiling a record of 58-37-5. His 1958 team won the Lambert Cup, making U.B. the top-rated small school in the East. Offenhamer was named by United Press International as Coach of the Week after the Bulls upset highly regarded Columbia University 34-14 on October 25, 1958.[6] Offenhamer’s program at U.B. produced several individuals who went on to distinguished professional careers, including Gerry Philbin, a member of the 1968 Super Bowl champion New York Jets, and Buddy Ryan who was on Offenhamer's staff as the defensive line coach.[7]

Later years

In 1984, Offenhamer was inducted in the University of Buffalo Athletics Hall of Fame, and in 1985, he was inducted in the Colgate Athletics Hall of Fame for baseball. In 1998, he was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Offenhamer died in Amherst, New York in 1998 at age 85.[8]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA College Division independent) (1955–1961)
1955 Buffalo 4–4–1
1956 Buffalo 5–3
1957 Buffalo 5–4
1958 Buffalo 8–1
1959 Buffalo 8–1
1960 Buffalo 4–6
1961 Buffalo 4–5
Buffalo Bulls (NCAA University Division independent) (1962–1965)
1962 Buffalo 6–3
1963 Buffalo 5–3–1
1964 Buffalo 4–4–1
1965 Buffalo 5–3–2
Buffalo: 58–37–5
Total:58–37–5

References
  1. "Richard W. Offenhamer Class of 1936," Colgate Athletics Hall of Fame - Baseball - Class of 1985.
  2. "Many New Players and Managers In Cape Cod Baseball League This Season". Hyannis Patriot. Hyannis, MA. July 6, 1939. p. 10.
  3. "Falmouth Wins Fourth Straight". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. July 7, 1939. p. 8.
  4. "Weekend Baseball". Falmouth Enterprise. Falmouth, MA. August 15, 1939. p. 7.
  5. "Offenhamer Appointed Head Football Coach," University of Buffalo Alumni Publication - April 1, 1955.
  6. "Our Coach Rates Tops Every Week," University of Buffalo Spectrum Newspaper - October 31, 1958.
  7. "Meet "Buddy" Ryan New Defense Coach," University of Buffalo Spectrum Newspaper - October 6, 1961.
  8. "Richard W. Offenhamer, 85, legendary UB football coach," University at Buffalo Reporter - April 1, 1955.
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