John W. Breen

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". John W. Breen (May 9, 1907 – February 9, 1984) was an American football and basketball player, coach, and executive.[1] He was active in the college ranks before becoming an administrator in the American Football League for the Houston Oilers.

Playing career

Breen grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and played high school football at Milwaukee East Division High School. He then went on to Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin where he was named "most valuable player" and team captain in both football and basketball.[2]

Coaching career

Carroll

After graduation from Carroll in 1935, Breen began coaching freshman teams and teaching classes Breen was the 19th head football coach, serving held that for 11 seasons, from 1938 until 1948.

Lake Forest

In 1949, Breen became the head coach at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois[3] and held the position for three seasons, through 1951.[4] During his tenure as head coach, he accumulated a record of 9–13–2.[5] While at Lake Forest he received nationwide publicity for defending the interests of small college athletics.[2] In 1974, Lake Forest inducted him into their athletic "Hall of Fame" for his contribution to the football and basketball programs at the school.[6]

Professional sports

After a successful college career as an educator and coach, Breen went into the professional ranks with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) as director of player personnel in 1957.[7] He was later the first person hired by the Houston Oilers in 1960 as director of player personnel and was named general manager in 1971 and he held that position until his retirement in 1973.[8][9]

Breen was instrumental in the building of the Oilers[10] and the American Football League (AFL) itself by being in charge of the league's first draft of players.[11] He is credited with recruiting veteran players George Blanda, John Carson, and Willard Dewveall along with first-year players Billy Cannon, Dan Lanphear, and Charley Hennigan.[12] He recognized that the competing NFL teams would cut good quality players, and he recruited them to play at Houston.[13]

After his retirement from professional football management, Breen worked as a sports broadcaster for radio station KTRH in Houston, Texas.[14]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Carroll Pioneers (Independent) (1938–1948)
1938 Carroll 6–1
1939 Carroll 4–2–1
1940 Carroll 3–3–1
1940 Carroll 3–3–1
1941 Carroll 2–5
1942 Carroll 5–1–1
1943 No team—World War II
1944 No team—World War II
1945 Carroll 1–3
1946 Carroll 4–2–1
1947 Carroll 5–1–2
1948 Carroll 4–4
Carroll: 37–25–7
Lake Forest Foresters (College Conference of Illinois) (1949–1951)
1949 Lake Forest 3–5 3–2 3rd
1950 Lake Forest 3–4–1 3–2 4th
1951 Lake Forest 3–4–1 3–2 T–3rd
Lake Forest: 9–13–2 9–6
Total: 46–38–9

References

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  1. ↑ The Victoria Advocate "Breen Succumbs to Cancer" February 9, 1984
  2. ↑ a b Lake Forest College Foresters Template:Webarchive John W. Breen
  3. ↑ College Conference of Willinois & Wisconsin 2008 Fall Football Guide
  4. ↑ Lake Forest College Foresters Template:Webarchive Coaching Records
  5. ↑ Lake Forest College Football Template:Webarchive Results by year
  6. ↑ Lake Forest College Foresters Template:Webarchive Athletic Hall of Fame
  7. ↑ Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Template:Webarchive "Years ago, Wisconsin was truly the 'Big Cheese'", Cliff Christl, July 29, 2000
  8. ↑ "Oilers Promote John Breen" Washington Post May 6, 1971
  9. ↑ Tennessee Titans Online Template:Webarchive History: 1970's
  10. ↑ Going Long: The first oral history of the AFL--from the men who made it happen by Jeff Miller, Published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003, Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN
  11. ↑ The Making of the Super Bowl by Don Weiss and Chuck Day, Published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003 Template:ISBN, Template:ISBN
  12. ↑ Pro Football Researchers Template:Webarchive "When Houston Struck Oil" Originally published in Pro Football Digest by Stanley Grosshandler
  13. ↑ Sports Illustrated "Innocence in Texas" by Tex Maule, November 21, 1960
  14. ↑ New York Times John Breen February 11, 1984

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