View source for Gus Dorais

{{Short description|American football player, coach, and administrator (1891–1954)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Gus Dorais
| image = Dorais-Gus-c1913.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Dorais, {{Circa|1913}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1891|7|2}}
| birth_place = [[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1954|1|3|1891|7|2}}
| death_place = [[Southfield, Michigan]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_sport1 = Football
| player_years2 = 1910–1913
| player_team2 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]
| player_years3 = 1915
| player_team3 = [[Massillon Tigers]]
| player_years4 = 1916
| player_team4 = [[Fort Wayne Friars]]
| player_years5 = 1918–1919
| player_team5 = [[Massillon Tigers]]
| player_positions = [[Quarterback]]
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1914–1917
| coach_team2 = [[Loras Duhawks football|Dubuque]]
| coach_years3 = 1919
| coach_team3 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 1920–1924
| coach_team4 = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs football|Gonzaga]]
| coach_years5 = 1925–1942
| coach_team5 = [[Detroit Titans football|Detroit]]
| coach_years6 = 1943–1947
| coach_team6 = [[Detroit Lions]]
| coach_years7 = 1952
| coach_team7 = [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] (backfield)
| coach_sport8 = Basketball
| coach_years9 = 1914–1918
| coach_team9 = [[Loras Duhawks men's basketball|Dubuque]]
| coach_years10 = 1918–1920
| coach_team10 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]]
| coach_years11 = 1920–1925
| coach_team11 = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]]
| coach_years12 = 1925–1929
| coach_team12 = [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|Detroit]]
| coach_sport13 = Baseball
| coach_years14 = 1919–1920
| coach_team14 = [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball|Notre Dame]]
| coach_years15 = 1921–1925
| coach_team15 = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball|Gonzaga]]
| admin_years1 = 1920–1925
| admin_team1 = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs|Gonzaga]]
| overall_record = 151–70–12 (college football)<br>20–31–2 (NFL)<br>93–113 (college basketball)<br>41–31–1 (college baseball)
| bowl_record = 0–1
| tournament_record = 
| championships = Football<br>1 [[Northwest Conference (1908–1925)|Northwest Conference]] (1924)
| awards = 
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1913 College Football All-America Team|1913]])
* First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Western]] ([[1913 All-Western college football team|1913]])
| coaching_records = 
| CFBHOF_year = 1954
| CFBHOF_id = 1494
}}
'''Charles Emile''' "'''Gus'''" '''Dorais''' (July 2, 1891 – January 3, 1954) was an [[American football]] player, coach, and athletics administrator.<ref name=cdtdorobt>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1954/01/04/page/73/article/dorais-dies-ace-football-player-coach |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |agency=Associated Press |title=Dorais dies; ace football player, coach |date=January 4, 1954 |page=1, sec. 4}}</ref><ref name=gdfafwdp>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y3YpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1091%2C961751 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Gus Dorais, father of forward pass, dies |date=January 4, 1954 |page=9 }}</ref><ref name=fgfbpsdc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R_NXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ffYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7168%2C473512 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Former Gonzaga football coach taken by death |date=January 4, 1954 |page=16}}</ref>

Dorais played [[college football]] at the [[University of Notre Dame]], where he was an [[1913 College Football All-America Team|All-American in 1913]] at [[quarterback]], and then played professionally with the [[Fort Wayne Friars]] and [[Massillon Tigers]]. He was the head football coach at Dubuque College (now known as [[Loras College]]) in [[Dubuque, Iowa]] from 1914 to 1917, [[Gonzaga University]] in [[Spokane, Washington]] from 1920 to 1925, and the University of Detroit (now known as the [[University of Detroit Mercy]]) from 1925 to 1942, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 151–70–12 ({{winning percentage|151|70|12}}). He was also the head coach of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[Detroit Lions]] from 1943 to 1947, tallying a mark of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|20|31|2|record=y}}}}. In addition, Dorais was the head basketball coach at [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]], [[Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball|Gonzaga]], and [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|Detroit]] and the head baseball coach at [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball|Notre Dame]] and [[Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball|Gonzaga]]. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a coach in 1954.

==Early years==
Dorais was born in [[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin]], in 1891. He was the son of David Dorais, a native of Quebec, and Malvina (Murphy) Dorais, a Wisconsin native sometimes referred to as Mary. When Dorais was a child, his parents separated. According to one account, the father abandoned the family.<ref name=Rock/> According to another, the mother left the father.<ref name=Butte/> Dorais remained with his mother, who took in laundry, worked as a midwife, and did odd jobs to support her children.<ref name=Rock>{{cite book|title=Coach For A Nation: The Life and Times of Knute Rockne|author=Jim Lefebvre|publisher=Cardinal Publishing Group|year=2013|isbn=978-0981884127|page=118}}</ref> Dorais' father moved to Montana where he worked in the mines and died of acute alcoholism in a [[Butte, Montana|Butte]] boarding house in November 1911 (one month before his son was elected captain of the Notre Dame football team).<ref name=Butte>{{cite news|title=Dying Man Taken About the City|newspaper=The Butte Miner|date=November 24, 1911|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16011649/dying_man_taken_about_the_city_father/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}(according to this account, the mother left the father in approximately 1896, but the 1900 U.S. Census shows the family living together in Butte.)</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Refused a Room at Hospital and Dies|newspaper=The Anaconda Standard|date=November 24, 1911|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16040124/dorais_refused_a_room_at_hospital_and/}}</ref>

Dorais attended [[Chippewa Falls High School]] and was captain of the school's 1909 football team that won the state championship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chippewa Honors Former Player|newspaper=Eau Claire (WI) Leader|date=October 29, 1946|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16011198/chippewa_honors_former_player/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Football player==
===Notre Dame===
Dorais enrolled at the [[University of Notre Dame]] in the summer of 1910 at {{height|ft=5|in=7}} and {{convert|145|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=gdfafwdp/> As a freshman, he was the quarterback on the Fighting Irish second team and became "the star performer, dodging in a way that showed up many of the first team men."<ref>{{cite news|title=Chippewa In Brief|newspaper=Eau Claire (WI) Leader|date=October 1, 1910|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16040424/chippewa_in_brief/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

As a sophomore, Dorais was the starting quarterback on the [[1911 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1911 Notre Dame football team]] that compiled a 6–0–2 record. He was rated as "the star" of the 1911 team, winning praise for his tackling on defense.<ref>{{cite news|title=Third Successive Tie for Two Teams|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Herald|date=December 1, 1911|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16040834/third_successive_tie_for_two_teams/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> At the team banquet following the 1911 season, Dorais was elected by his teammates as the captain of the [[1912 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1912 team]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Gains Honor|newspaper=The Indianapolis News|date=December 18, 1911|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16040715/dorais_gains_honor/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

As captain and starting quarterback, Dorais led the 1912 team to a 7–0 record, the first perfect season in Notre Dame history. The team outscored opponents, 389 to 27, including a 116–7 victory over [[St. Viator College]] and a 69–0 victory over [[1912 Marquette Golden Avalanche football team|Marquette]]. At the end of the 1912 season, ''The Notre Dame Scholastic'' wrote: "Captain Dorais is the type of young man Notre Dame feels proud of. He is a great player,—resourceful, vigilant, always calm,—and what is vastly more important, he is a fine type of gentleman. Much of the 'helping' spirit among the players was the result of his ever present tact."<ref>{{cite news|title=The Year and The Men|newspaper=The Notre Dame Scholastic|date=December 7, 1912|page=190|url=http://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1912s.pdf|access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>

During the summer before his senior season, Dorais and his teammate [[Knute Rockne]] worked as lifeguards and busboys at [[Cedar Point]] Resort on [[Lake Erie]] in [[Sandusky, Ohio]]. During their free time there, they practiced passing on the beach with Dorais throwing to Rockne, an [[End (American football)|end]].<ref name=nddainhst>{{cite web |url=http://125.nd.edu/moments/this-day-in-history-the-forward-pass-1913-vs-army/ |publisher=University of Notre Dame Athletics |title=This Day In History: The Forward Pass (1913 vs. Army) |access-date=March 26, 2017}}</ref> Rockne later wrote, "We mastered the technique of losing the football with hands relaxed and tried to master the more difficult feat of catching it with one hand," Rockne later wrote.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} From that point forward, no longer was the forward pass an obscure weapon, or a little-used gimmick to be used when trailing late in games. "The press and the football public hailed this new game, and Notre Dame received credit as the originator of a style of play that we simply systematized," Rockne said.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Dorais and Rockne, along with fullback [[Ray Eichenlaub]], led the [[1913 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1913 Notre Dame team]] to a 7–0, the team's third consecutive undefeated season with Dorais at quarterback. The 1913 outscored opponents by a margin of 268 to 41. Dorais shone for Notre Dame in multiple roles in 1913, as a dual threat quarterback on offense and as a defender, punter, placekicker, and punt returner. The ''Chicago Examiner'' wrote: "Dorais is a great general, a sure catcher of punts, a fast and elusive runner, a great punter and
a field goal kicker."<ref>{{cite news|title=Football season in review|newspaper=The Notre Dame Scholastic|date=December 13, 1913|page=380|url=http://archives.nd.edu/Football/Football-1913s.pdf}}</ref> His greatest acclaim came for his passing performance (14 of 17 for 243 yards and three touchdowns) in a 35–13 victory over undefeated [[1913 Army Cadets football team|Army]] at [[West Point, New York]] on November 1. Dorais' performance against Army has been credited with popularizing the modern passing game.

At the end of the season, Dorais was selected as a first-team All-American by [[Frank G. Menke]] of the [[International News Service]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Menke Picks His All-American Team: Harvard Champion Team Gets Only Three Places|work=Naugatuck Daily News|date=December 3, 1913}}</ref> the ''Milwaukee Free Press'',<ref>{{cite news|title=Badger Tackle Among Stars: Butler, Wisconsin's Great Lineman, Placed on All-American Team|work=Wisconsin State Journal|date=December 2, 1913}}</ref> [[Tom Thorp]],<ref name=Spalding>{{cite book|title=Spalding's Official Football Guide |year=1914|page=21|url=https://archive.org/stream/officialnational06nati#page/21/mode/1up/search/hogsett}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Tom Thorp Picks Team From Cream of Football World|work=The Lima Daily News|date=December 3, 1913}}</ref> and the ''[[The Times (Trenton)|Trenton Evening-Times]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Times' All-American Eleven|work=Trenton Evening Times|date=December 4, 1913}}</ref> He was the first consensus All-American in Notre Dame history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Football Award Winners|publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)|year=2016|access-date=October 21, 2017|page=6|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf}}</ref>

''Vanity Fair'' in 1913 praised Dorais' versatility: "Dorais is not only a sure catcher of punts, but he is also a master of the forward pass, a sure tackler, a good punter, an open-field runner with few equals, and altogether able to meet any emergencies of his position."<ref>Dome yearbook for 1914, p. 153.</ref> Notre Dame's "Dome" yearbook for 1914 declared Dorais to be "the 'Little Napoleon' of our great football teams" and Notre Dame's "greatest all time football player."<ref>1914 "Dome" yearbook, p. 32.</ref>

===Professional football===
Dorais later played professional football for the [[Massillon Tigers]] (1915, 1918–1919) and [[Fort Wayne Friars]] (1916). Despite weighing only 138 pounds, he was one of the early stars of professional football in the years before the formation of the [[National Football League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais One of Pro's Early Football Stars|newspaper=The Binghamton Press|date=September 14, 1937|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16046473/dorais_one_of_pros_early_football_stars/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In 1915, Dorais and Rockne played for Massillon in a season highlighted by two games with [[Jim Thorpe]]'s [[Canton Bulldogs]]. In the first game, a 16–0 victory for Massillon, Dorais completed 7 of 19 passes for 119 yards and kicked three field goals. Canton won the rematch on November 28, 1915, billed as the championship of the Ohio League, when an apparent touchdown pass from Dorais to Briggs was disallowed after a lengthy post-game conference among officials.<ref>{{cite book|title=Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s|author=Jerry Roberts|publisher=McFarland|year=2016|isbn=978-1476622286|pages=39–40}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football|author=Robert W. Peterson|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1997|isbn=0190283696}}</ref> In 1916, Dorais was the star of the [[Fort Wayne Friars]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Fort Wayne, 24; Elyria, 13|newspaper=The Times (IN)|date=October 30, 1916|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16047703/fort_wayne_24_elyria_13/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fort Wayne Friars Beat Wabash, 13 to 7|newspaper=The Davenport Democrat and Leader|date=November 20, 1916|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16047640/fort_wayne_friars_beat_wabash_13_to_7/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Dubuque===
In June 1914, Dorais was hired by Dubuque College (later renamed [[Loras College]]), a Catholic college in [[Dubuque, Iowa]]. He served as the school's football, basketball, and track coach, athletic director, teacher, and chairman of commercial law.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dubuque College Gets a New Coach|newspaper=The Mansfield (OH) News|date=June 26, 1914|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16000149/dubuque_college_gets_a_new_coach/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Reaches Dubuque|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=September 14, 1914|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16000197/dorais_reaches_dubuque/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Says He Will Remain at Dubuque|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|date=December 2, 1914|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16000258/dorais_says_he_will_remain_at_dubuque/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}(basketball and track coach)</ref> He remained at Dubuque for approximately four years. He compiled a 17–9–2 record as Dubuque's head football coach from 1914 to 1917, including an undefeated 1916 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Charles "Gus" Dorais|publisher=Loras College|access-date=December 27, 2017|url=http://duhawks.com/hof.aspx?hof=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=No Defeats For Dubuque College|newspaper=The Daily Times|date=December 8, 1916|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16047939/no_defeats_for_dubuque_college/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His basketball teams won Hawkeye Conference championships all three seasons he was in charge.<ref name=DTL/>

In December 1917, Dorais was inducted into the Army during [[World War I]].<ref name=DTL>{{cite news|title=Dubuque To Lose Dorais: Head Coach Answers Call for Service in Great War|newspaper=Evening Times-Republican|date=December 15, 1917|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16046287/dubuque_to_lose_dorais/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was assigned to the officer training corps at [[Camp Dodge]] in central Iowa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dubs To Open Season Friday|newspaper=The Davenport Democrat and Leader|date=January 17, 1917|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16048135/dubs_to_open_season_friday/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Notre Dame===
In September 1919, Knute Rockne hired Dorais as his assistant at Notre Dame.<ref>{{cite news|title=Line Material Bothers Coach at Notre Dame: Dorais Is Engaged to Assist Rockne in Putting Team in Shape|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|author=Archie Ward|date=September 28, 1919|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16050147/line_material_bothers_coach_at_notre/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Together, they led the [[1919 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|1919 Notre Dame football team]] to a perfect 9–0 record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Army Is Next on Catholics' Grid Program: Coaches Rockne and Dorais Are Turning Out One of the Best Teams Notre Dame Has Ever Had|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|date=November 2, 1919|page=36|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16049770/army_is_next_on_catholics_grid/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Dorais also served as the head coach of Notre Dame's basketball and baseball teams during the 1918–19 and 1919–20 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Notre Dame Fighting Irish School History|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR CBB|access-date=December 27, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/notre-dame/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Notre Dame Team Bids for Baseball Honors; Coach Dorais on the Job|newspaper=The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel|date=March 24, 1919|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16050037/notre_dame_team_bids_for_baseball_honors/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Gonzaga===
In May 1920, Dorais was hired as the athletic director at [[Gonzaga University]], a Jesuit school located in [[Spokane, Washington]]. He also served as the head coach of the Gonzaga football, basketball, baseball, and track teams for the next five years.<ref name=gdfafwdp/><ref name=gdspo>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19240119&id=0-cUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6016,1321849|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Smith |first=Floyd L. |title=Gus Dorais spurns fat offers and signs contract to coach Gonzaga teams another year|date=January 20, 1924|page=1}}</ref>

Dorais earned [[United States dollar|$]]4,000 per year at Gonzaga and was kept for a fifth season in 1924 when boosters helped raise his salary to $7,000 to prevent him from leaving for Detroit.<ref name=gdfafwdp/> The Bulldogs were undefeated in 1924, led on the field by [[Hust Stockton|Houston Stockton]],<ref name=fshlexg>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y3YpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MuYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1263%2C961207|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Friends shocked; laud ex-Gonzagan |date=January 4, 1954 |page=9 }}</ref> grandfather of basketball hall of famer [[John Stockton]].

===University of Detroit===
[[File:Gus Dorais.jpg|thumb|right|Gus Dorais, circa 1940]]
In February 1925, Dorais reached an agreement with the [[University of Detroit]], giving him complete control of the school's athletic program as both athletic director and coach of various teams, including the football team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Takes Full Control of U. of D. Teams|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=L. H. Northard|date=February 8, 1925|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15998722/dorais_takes_full_control_of_u_of_d/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Dorais remained the University of Detroit's athletic director and head football coach for 18 seasons from 1925 to 1942. His record with the [[Detroit Titans football]] was {{winning percentage|113|48|7|record=y}}. Dorais was also the head coach of the [[Detroit Titans men's basketball|basketball]] team for his first four years at the school from 1925 to 1929.<ref name=dtmg14>{{cite news |url=http://www.detroittitans.com/documents/2013/7/31/AllTimeCoachingRecords.pdf?id=1920 |publisher=Detroit Titans basketball |agency=media guide |date=2013–14 |title=All-time coaching records}}</ref>

Dorais led the Titans to the top tier of college football programs, scheduling games against Army, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Oklahoma A&M, and Arkansas, as well as regular series with other major Catholic colleges and universities, including Fordham, Boston College, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Villanova, Duquesne, Manhattan College, and Catholic University. From October 1927 to November 1929, his teams did not lose a game, an unbeaten streak that lasted 22 games and included a perfect 9–0 record during the [[1928 Detroit Titans football team|1928 season]]. He recruited and coached elite athletes to the school, including [[Lloyd Brazil]] (All-American halfback in 1928 and 1929 and NCAA passing leader in 1928), fullback [[Andy Farkas]] (a two-time All-Pro fullback with the Redskins), halfback [[Doug Nott]] (NCAA passing leader in 1933), [[Al Ghesquiere]] (NCAA rushing leader in 1940), and [[Vince Banonis]] (All-American center in 1940, later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame).

Dorais was the college team coach for the fourth [[Chicago College All-Star Game|College All-Star Game]] in 1937 in [[Chicago]], in which college seniors from the previous season (pro rookies) played against the defending NFL champions in a pre-season game on September 1.<ref name=aappbfr>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1937/09/01/page/21/article/all-americans-play-packers-before-85-000 |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Smith |first=Wilfrid |title=All-Americans play Packers before 85,000 |date=September 1, 1937 |page=21}}</ref> With [[Sammy Baugh]] at quarterback and over 84,500 in attendance on a Wednesday night at [[Soldier Field]], the college stars won 6–0 over [[Curly Lambeau]]'s [[1937 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]].<ref name=allamwin>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1937/09/02/page/1/article/84-560-see-all-americans-win-6-0 |work=Chicago Daily Tribune |last=Smith |first=Wilfrid |title=84,560 see All-Americans win, 6-0 |date=September 2, 1937 |page=1}}</ref> This was the first All-Star team to beat the pros.

===Detroit Lions===
In January 1943, Dorais left the University of Detroit at age 51 to become the head coach, general manager, and part owner of the [[Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Ends 18-Year Stay at U-D to Take Position with Lions|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Dale Stafford|date=January 10, 1943|pages=Sports 1, 4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15997277/dorais_ends_18year_stay_at_ud_to_take/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Prior to Dorais' arrival, the Lions had compiled a 0–11 record in 1942. In their first year under Dorais, the [[1943 Detroit Lions season|1943 Lions]] improved modestly to 3–6–1.<ref name=DFLE>{{cite web|title=Detroit Lions Franchise Encyclopedia|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=December 25, 2017|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/}}</ref>

In 1944 and 1945, Dorais turned the Lions around, leading them to second-place finishes both years with records of 6–3–1 and 7–3.<ref name=DFLE/><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Beams as Lions Set Records in Big Year|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=John N. Sabo|date=December 4, 1945|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15997721/dorais_beams_as_lions_set_records_in/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> During his time with the Lions, Dorais was credited with having "the best pass patterns in the NFL."<ref name=DFP52/> After two strong seasons, the Lions slipped to 1–10 in [[1946 Detroit Lions season|1946]] and 3–9 in [[1947 Detroit Lions season|1947]].<ref name=DFLE/> One week after the end of the 1947 season, Lions owner [[Fred L. Mandel Jr.]] announced that, despite the five-year contract signed with Dorais prior to the 1947 season, Dorais had been removed as the club's head coach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais Out As Lion Coach|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Bob Latshaw|date=December 17, 1947|pages=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15997522/dorais_out_as_lion_coach/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The parties reached a settlement which included a payoff for the final four years of Dorais' contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lions and Dorais Agree on Payoff|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Bob Latshaw|date=January 9, 1948|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15997616/lions_and_dorais_agree_on_payoff/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Legacy and honors==
Although the [[forward pass]] was legalized four years before Dorais enrolled at Notre Dame, his overhand spiral throwing technique and successful passing game were considered "revolutionary" and led to Dorais being called the "father of the forward pass".<ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais To Coach Steeler Backfield: Pittsburgh To Emphasize Air Attack; Father of Forward Pass Coached at Detroit Until 1949|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|date=June 22, 1954|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995424/dorais_to_coach_steeler_backfield/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Father of Forward Pass, Dorais, Dies|newspaper=Asheville Citizen (AP story)|date=January 4, 1954|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995361/father_of_forward_pass_dorais_dies/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Complete Plans for Banquet|newspaper=The Ludington Daily News|date=March 16, 1942|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995598/complete_plans_for_banquet/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}(Dorais "who more than any other one person can be termed the 'father of the forward pass'")</ref> Dorais found the title flattering, but said he felt the honor was misplaced and should instead be applied to [[Eddie Cochems]] who used the forward pass extensively as head coach of the [[Saint Louis Billikens football|Saint Louis Billikens]] in [[1906 Saint Louis Billikens football team|1906]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Father of Forward Pass' Says Honor Misplaced; Dorais Credits Cochems|newspaper=The News-Herald (PA)|date=September 10, 1952|page=7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995513/father_of_forward_pass_says_honor/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Dorais received numerous posthumous honors for his contributions to the sport. His honors include the following:
* In 1954, seven months after his death, Dorais was named to the [[National Football Foundation]]'s [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name=CFHOF>{{College Football HoF|id=1494|name=Gus Dorais|access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Carideo, Dorais Rate Grid Hall of Fame|newspaper=The Times (IN)|date=August 11, 1954|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995014/carideo_dorais_rate_grid_hall_of_fame/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* In 1955, the Wisconsin native was inducted into the [[Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Name Dorais To Wisconsin Hall of Fame|newspaper=The Sheboygan (Wis.) Press|date=December 19, 1955|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15994853/name_dorais_to_wisconsin_hall_of_fame/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* In 1958, having spent 23 years as head coach of the Detroit Titans and Lions, he was inducted into the [[Michigan Sports Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Gus, Bennie, Eddie in 'Hall'|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 8, 1958|page=29|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15994914/gus_bennie_eddie_in_hall/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* In 1960, he was inducted as a coach into the [[Helms Athletic Foundation]] Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|title=Helms Hall of Fame Adds 20 Former Football Stars|newspaper=The Daily Sun (San Bernardino, CA)|date=December 23, 1960|page=B10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15995195/helms_hall_of_fame_adds_20_former/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
* In 1976, the football field at his alma mater, [[Chippewa Falls High School]], was renamed in his honor.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gus Dorais To Be Honored|newspaper=York Daily Record|date=September 17, 1976|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15994745/gus_dorais_to_be_honored/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
*In 1983, he was inducted into the Loras College Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class of inductees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame|publisher=Loras College|work=Duhawks.com|access-date=December 27, 2017|url=http://duhawks.com/hof.aspx}}</ref>
* In 1987, he was inducted into the Detroit Titans Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gus Dorais|publisher=University of Detroit-Mercy|work=DetroitTitans.com|access-date=December 27, 2017|url=http://www.detroittitans.com/hof.aspx?hof=73&path=&kiosk=}}</ref>
* In 1988, he was inducted into the Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class of inductees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame|publisher=Gonzaga University|access-date=December 27, 2017|url=http://www.gozags.com/trads/hall-of-fame.html}}</ref>

==Family, politics, and later years==
In April 1918, Dorais married Viola Fettgather at a ceremony in [[Des Moines, Iowa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Coach Dorais Is Married at Capital|newspaper=The Davenport Democrat and Leader|date=April 30, 1918|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990462/coach_dorais_is_married_at_capital/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> They had five children: Thomas (born c. 1921); William (born c. 1923); Dorothy Jean (Mulcrone, born c. 1925); Joan Mayree (Robinson, born c. 1928); and David (born c. 1934).<ref name=DFPobit/>

In 1939, Dorais became a candidate for the [[Detroit Common Council]] (as the city council was then known). He received the second highest vote count among all the candidates,<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeffries Beats Reading by 2 to 1: Smith, Gus Dorais and Dingeman Pacing the Field in Council Race|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 8, 1938|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990326/jeffries_beats_reading_by_2_to_1/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> served four terms, and was an advocate for the expansion of the city's recreation and play facilities. However, his job as head coach of the Detroit Lions resulted in frequent absences from meetings and criticism of his lack of attendance.<ref name=DFPobit/><ref>{{cite news|title=Dorais 'Graces' Council with His Rare Presence|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 18, 1946|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15694952/detroit_free_press/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He resigned from the Common Council in May 1947.<ref>{{cite news|title=Resignation of Dorais OK'd|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=May 27, 1947|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15989709/resignation_of_dorais_okd/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In July 1947, Dorais' youngest son, David, drowned while swimming in Tecon Lake while at the family's summer home in [[Otsego County, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Youngest Son of Dorais Drowns in Lake|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=July 11, 1947|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7903858/gesu_school_boy_drowning/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In 1949, Dorais moved to [[Wabash, Indiana]], where he purchased an automobile dealership with his son, William.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pioneer Quits Detroit and Gridiron: Dorais Seeks 'Firsts' in New Field|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Bob Latshaw|date=March 14, 1949|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990700/pioneer_quits_detroit_and_gridiron/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In September 1950, Dorais underwent exploratory surgery for cancer at the [[Mayo Clinic]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Operation Successful for Dorais|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=September 14, 1950|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990778/operation_successful_for_dorais/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In June 1952, Dorais agreed to return to coaching as the backfield coach for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref name=DFP52>{{cite news|title=Dorais Returns to Football as Steeler Aide|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Bob Latshaw|date=June 22, 1952|page=C1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990877/dorais_returns_to_football_as_steeler/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> After one season with the Steelers, Dorais announced in January 1953 that he would likely retire.<ref>{{cite news|title=NFL Teams Hunt for Coaching Aides|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=January 25, 1953|page=40|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15990956/nfl_teams_hunt_for_coaching_aides/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

He became ill with a circulatory disorder and moved to [[Southfield, Michigan]], a suburb of Detroit, in 1953. In January 1954, he died at age 62 at his home at 19050 Middlesex Avenue in Southfield.<ref name=DFPobit>{{cite news|title=Gus Dorais Dies at 62|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Frank Beckman|date=January 4, 1954|pages=1, 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15991316/gus_dorais_dies_at_62/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name=BE>{{cite news|title='Gus' Dorais Dies in Southfield Home|newspaper=The Birmingham Eccentric|date=January 1954|url=https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/29715692/person/420036654331/media/94313db5-6bf5-4a96-b4e4-003f4b5a12b6?_phsrc=SlL11&_phstart=successSource|via=[[Ancestry.com]]}}</ref> The cause of his death was [[arteriosclerosis]].<ref name=COD>{{cite web|title=Certificate of Death, Michigan Department of Health, for Charles E. (Gus) Dorais|date=January 7, 1954|url=https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/29715692/person/420036654331/media/3b276bee-f07b-48da-8289-93ac8409ef3a?_phsrc=SlL13&_phstart=successSource|via=[[Ancestry.com]]}}</ref> [[Anorexia]], with a duration of two years, was also listed on the death certificate as an antecedent cause;<ref name=COD/> Dorais weighed only 67 pounds at the time of his death.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grid World Mourns Death of Dorais|newspaper=Eau Claire (WI) Leader|date=January 5, 1954|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16010913/grid_world_mourns_death_of_dorais/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> His funeral, held at Gesu Church, in Detroit, and he was interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.<ref name=BE/><ref>{{cite news|title=The Dorais Saga Ends|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Lyall Smith|date=January 7, 1954|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6297859/gesu_funeral_for_gus_dorais/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
===College football===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Loras Duhawks football|Dubuque]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1914
 | endyear   = 1917
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1914 college football season|1914]]
 | name         = Dubuque
 | overall      = 
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1915 college football season|1915]]
 | name         = Dubuque
 | overall      = 
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1916 college football season|1916]]
 | name         = Dubuque
 | overall      = 
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1917 college football season|1917]]
 | name         = Dubuque
 | overall      = 
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Dubuque
 | overall    = 17–9–2
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs football|Gonzaga Blue and White / Bulldogs]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1920
 | endyear   = 1923
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1920 college football season|1920]]
 | name         = [[1920 Gonzaga Blue and White football team|Gonzaga]]
 | overall      = 4–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1921 college football season|1921]]
 | name         = [[1921 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team|Gonzaga]]
 | overall      = 3–4–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1922 college football season|1922]]
 | name         = [[1922 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team|Gonzaga]]
 | overall      = 5–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = [[1922 San Diego East-West Christmas Classic|San Diego East-West Christmas Classic]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1923 college football season|1923]]
 | name         = [[1923 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team|Gonzaga]]
 | overall      = 4–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Gonzaga Bulldogs football|Gonzaga Bulldogs]]
 | conf      = [[Northwest Conference (1908–1925)|Northwest Conference]]
 | startyear = 1924
 | endyear   = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1924 college football season|1924]]
 | name         = [[1924 Gonzaga Bulldogs football team|Gonzaga]]
 | overall      = 5–0–2
 | conference   = 3–0–2
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Gonzaga
 | overall    = 21–13–3
 | confrecord = 3–0–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Detroit Titans football|Detroit Titans]]
 | conf      = Independent
 | startyear = 1925
 | endyear   = 1942
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1925 college football season|1925]]
 | name         = [[1925 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 5–4
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1926 college football season|1926]]
 | name         = [[1926 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 3–6–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1927 college football season|1927]]
 | name         = [[1927 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1928 college football season|1928]]
 | name         = [[1928 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 9–0
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1929 college football season|1929]]
 | name         = [[1929 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–1–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1930 college football season|1930]]
 | name         = [[1930 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 5–3–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1931 college football season|1931]]
 | name         = [[1931 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–2–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1932 college football season|1932]]
 | name         = [[1932 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 8–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1933 college football season|1933]]
 | name         = [[1933 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1934 college football season|1934]]
 | name         = [[1934 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 5–3–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1935 college football season|1935]]
 | name         = [[1935 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 6–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1936 college football season|1936]]
 | name         = [[1936 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1937 college football season|1937]]
 | name         = [[1937 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–3
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1938 college football season|1938]]
 | name         = [[1938 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 6–4
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1939 college football season|1939]]
 | name         = [[1939 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 5–3–1
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1940 college football season|1940]]
 | name         = [[1940 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1941 college football season|1941]]
 | name         = [[1941 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 7–2
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1942 college football season|1942]]
 | name         = [[1942 Detroit Titans football team|Detroit]]
 | overall      = 5–4
 | conference   = 
 | confstanding = 
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Detroit
 | overall    = 113–48–7
 | confrecord = 
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 151–70–12
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
}}
<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=NCAA Statistics; Coach; Charles E. "Gus" Dorais; Football |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/people/12677?sport_code=MFB |publisher=[[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] |access-date=January 19, 2025 }}</ref>

===Professional football===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won !!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Result
|-
![[1943 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1943 NFL season|1943]]
|3||6||1||.350||3rd in NFL Western|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[1944 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1944 NFL season|1944]]
|6||3||1||.650||2nd in NFL Western|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[1945 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1945 NFL season|1945]]
|7||3||0||.700||2nd in NFL Western|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[1946 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1946 NFL season|1946]]
|1||10||0||.091||5th in NFL Western|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[1947 Detroit Lions season|DET]]||[[1947 NFL season|1947]]
|3||9||0||.250||5th in NFL Western|| – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|DET Total||20||31||2||.396|| || – || – || – || – 
|-
! colspan="2"|NFL Total<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DoraGu0.htm|title=Gus Dorais Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks – Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref>||20||31||2||.396|| || – || – || – || – 
|-
! colspan="2"|Total||20||31||2||.396|| || – || – || – || – 
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1494}}
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DoraGu0.htm Gus Dorais] NFL coaching record at Pro-Football-Reference.com
* {{Find a Grave}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorais, Gus}}
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[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers coaches]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:People from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Wisconsin]]