View source for Eugene Oberst

{{Short description|American sportsperson (1901–1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Eugene Oberst
| image = Eugene Oberst.png
| alt = 
| caption = Oberst pictured in ''The Calyx 1930'', Washington and Lee yearbook
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1901|7|23}}
| birth_place = [[Owensboro, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1991|5|30|1901|7|23}}
| death_place = [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_sport1 = Football
| player_years2 = 1920
| player_team2 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
| player_years3 = 1922–1923
| player_team3 = Notre Dame
| player_sport4 = Track and field
| player_years5 = 1922–1924
| player_team5 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish|Notre Dame]]
| player_positions = [[Tackle (American football)|Tackle]] (football)
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1926–1927
| coach_team2 = [[Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia)|Roman Catholic HS (PA)]]
| coach_years3 = 1929–1930
| coach_team3 = [[Washington and Lee Generals football|Washington and Lee]]
| coach_years4 = 1931–1932
| coach_team4 = [[Canisius Golden Griffins football|Canisius]]
| coach_years5 = 1936–1942
| coach_team5 = [[John Carroll Blue Streaks football|John Carroll]] (line)
| coach_years6 = 1946
| coach_team6 = John Carroll
| coach_sport7 = Basketball
| coach_years8 = 1945–1946
| coach_team8 = [[John Carroll Blue Streaks men's basketball|John Carroll]]
| admin_years1 = 1947–1951
| admin_team1 = [[John Carroll Blue Streaks|John Carroll]]
| overall_record = 9–25–5 (college football)<br />15–3–1 (high school football)<br />4–11 (college basketball)
| bowl_record = 
| tournament_record = 
| championships = 
| awards = 
| coaching_records = 
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]] }}
{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Paris]] | [[Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's javelin throw|Javelin throw]] }}
}}
'''Eugene G. Oberst''' (July 23, 1901 – May 30, 1991) was an [[American football]] player, [[track and field]] athlete, coach of football and [[basketball]], and college athletics administrator. Oberst was born the youngest of eleven children.<ref name="Obit"/>  A native of [[Owensboro, Kentucky]], he played football at the [[University of Notre Dame]] in the 1920s under coach [[Knute Rockne]], and competed in track and field as a [[javelin throw]]er. He won the [[Bronze medal|Olympic bronze medal]] at the [[1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Summer Games]] in [[Paris]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78851 |title=Eugene Oberst |work=Olympedia |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>  Oberst served as the head football coach at [[Washington and Lee University]] (1929–1930), [[Canisius College]] (1931–1932), and [[John Carroll University]] (1946).<ref name="Obit"/>

==Football career==
Oberst, who was listed at {{convert|6|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|203|lb|kg}},<ref>{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ob/gene-oberst-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417175107/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ob/gene-oberst-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> was a [[Offensive tackle|right tackle]] for the [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame Fighting Irish]] in 1920, 1922, and 1923, wearing uniform No. 30, while missing the 1921 season due to injury. In 1922 and 1923, he was one of Notre Dame's "Seven Mules," the offensive linemen who blocked for the team's legendary [[Four Horsemen (American football)|Four Horsemen]], before those terms were coined during Notre Dame's [[1924 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1924 national championship season]]. Oberst's teammates also included halfback [[George Gipp]].

==Javelin throw==
As the possibly apocryphal story goes, Oberst was walking by a Notre Dame track and field practice one day when a [[javelin]] landed nearby. He picked it up and threw it far beyond the original thrower. Rockne, who coached track and field as well as football, saw the toss, and drafted Oberst on the spot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/olympics/index.ssf/2008/08/tim_warsinskeys_take_how_does.html|title = Tim Warsinskey's take: How does one become a javelin thrower?|date = 15 August 2008}}</ref> Oberst was the 1921 NCAA javelin champion, with a throw of {{convert|191|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}}. At the 1924 [[Penn Relays]], Oberst's throw of {{convert|196|ft|2+5/8|in|m|abbr=on}} beat the meet record by more than 8 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.pennrelaysonline.com/timeline-at-the-penns |title=Timeline@The Penns « the Penn Relays |access-date=2008-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106140952/http://blog.pennrelaysonline.com/timeline-at-the-penns/ |archive-date=2009-01-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Oberst had a disappointing performance at the U.S. Olympic Trials in [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]], finishing in 5th place with a throw of {{convert|180|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-09-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327114422/http://www.usatf.org/statistics/champions/OlympicTrials/HistoryOfTheOlympicTrials.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[United States Olympic Committee|U.S. Olympic Committee]] added Oberst to the Olympic team, anyway, because of his better results at previous meets. The Olympic Trials winner, [[William Neufeld]] of [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] went on to finish 5th at the Olympics.

==Bronze Olympic medal==
In Paris, Oberst's throw of 58.35 m won him the bronze medal, behind the defending Olympic champion, [[Jonni Myyrä]] of Finland (62.96 m) and [[Gunnar Lindström]] of Sweden (60.92 m). Oberst was the first American to win an Olympic medal in the javelin throw, and only seven Americans have medaled since, most notably [[Babe Didrikson]] at the [[1932 Summer Olympics|1932 Olympics]] in [[Los Angeles]]. Oberst was somewhat disappointed with his reception after returning with the medal and his niece noted few ever remarked on the accomplishment. She later told a reporter, "I don't think he was ever given the honor for winning an Olympic medal".<ref name="Obit">"Owensboro Native Eugene Oberst, Olympic Medal Winner, Dies at 89", ''Messenger-Inquirer'', Owensboro, Kentucky, pg. 21, 2 June 1991</ref>

Oberst's Notre Dame football teammate [[Tom Lieb]] also made the 1924 U.S. Olympic team, in the [[discus throw]], and won the bronze medal.

==Coaching career==
After college, Oberst became a coach, teacher, and athletics administrator. In 1926 and 1927, his football teams at [[Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia)|Roman Catholic High School]] won the championships of the [[Philadelphia]] Catholic League,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tedsilary.com/CLFBchamps.htm|title=Catholic League FB Champions}}</ref> with a combined record of 15–3–1. From 1929 to 1930, Oberst coached the [[Washington and Lee University]] Generals, compiling a 6–11–2 record.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www1.wlu.edu/documents/athletics/football/08fbguide.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601221219/http://www.wlu.edu/Documents/athletics/football/08fbguide.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1931 and 1932, Oberst coached at [[Canisius College]], where his record was 2–7–3.

Oberst later moved on to John Carroll College, now [[John Carroll University]], where he finished his career. He was a football line coach for the Blue Streaks from 1936 to 1942. Oberst then served as director of the school's [[V-12 Navy College Training Program|V-12 Navy training program]] from 1942 to 1946. He was head [[basketball]] coach during the 1945–46 season, with a 4–11 record,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jcusports.com/custompages/mbball/seasons/1945_1946.htm|title = Varsity Athletics Teams}}</ref> and head football coach in 1946, with a 1–7 record.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jcusports.com/sports/2008/9/9/FB_1946.aspx|title = JCU Football Season-By-Season:1946}}</ref> Oberst also coached the school's track and field team from 1947 to 1948. Finally, Oberst served as John Carroll's athletic director from 1947 to 1951. During that time period, John Carroll's football halfback was future Hall of Famer [[Don Shula]].

==Later years==

In 1971, Oberst was inducted into John Carroll University's Athletic Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jcusports.com/hof.aspx?hof=159|title = Gene Oberst (1971) - Hall of Fame}}</ref> In 1976, he was inducted into the Greater [[Cleveland]] Sports Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clevelandsportshall.com/oberst-eugene/|title = Oberst, Eugene &#124; Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame| date=20 November 2009 }}</ref> Oberst died in Cleveland in 1991.

==Head coaching record==
===Football===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Washington and Lee Generals football|Washington and Lee Generals]]
 | conf      = [[Southern Conference]]
 | startyear = 1929
 | endyear   = 1930
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1929 college football season|1929]]
 | name         = [[1929 Washington and Lee Generals football team|Washington and Lee]]
 | overall      = 3–5–1
 | conference   = 1–4–1
 | confstanding = 18th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1930 college football season|1930]]
 | name         = [[1930 Washington and Lee Generals football team|Washington and Lee]]
 | overall      = 3–6–1
 | conference   = 0–4–1
 | confstanding = 22nd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Washington and Lee
 | overall    = 6–11–2
 | confrecord = 1–8–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Canisius Golden Griffins football|Canisius Golden Griffins]]
 | conf      = [[Western New York Little Three Conference]]
 | startyear = 1931
 | endyear   = 1932
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1931 college football season|1931]]
 | name         = Canisius
 | overall      = 1–5–2
 | conference   = 0–1–1
 | confstanding = 3rd
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1932 college football season|1932]]
 | name         = Canisius
 | overall      = 1–2–1{{#tag:ref|Oberst coached only the first four games of the season.  [[Mike Traynor]] coached the final four games.|group="n"|name="1932season"}}
 | conference   = 0–0
 | confstanding =
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Canisius
 | overall    = 2–7–3
 | confrecord = 0–1–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[John Carroll Blue Streaks football|John Carroll Blue Streaks]]
 | conf      = [[Ohio Athletic Conference]]
 | startyear = 1946
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1946 college football season|1946]]
 | name         = [[1946 John Carroll Blue Streaks football team|John Carroll]]
 | overall      = 1–7
 | conference   = 1–4
 | confstanding = T–16th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = John Carroll
 | overall    = 1–7
 | confrecord = 1–4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 9–25–5
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
 | legend   = no
}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="n"}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Olympedia|78851}}
* {{Find a Grave|75596643}}

{{navboxes|list=
{{Washington and Lee Generals football coach navbox}}
{{Canisius Golden Griffins football coach navbox}}
{{John Carroll Blue Streaks athletic director navbox}}
{{John Carroll Blue Streaks football coach navbox}}
{{John Carroll Blue Streaks men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{1920 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football navbox}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1924 Summer Olympics}}
}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oberst, Eugene}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]
[[Category:American football tackles]]
[[Category:American male javelin throwers]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1924 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1924 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Canisius Golden Griffins football coaches]]
[[Category:John Carroll Blue Streaks athletic directors]]
[[Category:John Carroll Blue Streaks football coaches]]
[[Category:John Carroll Blue Streaks men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players]]
[[Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Washington and Lee Generals football coaches]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Owensboro, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Kentucky]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]