Dick Offenhamer
Biographical details
Born(1913-06-30)June 30, 1913
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 1998(1998-08-07) (aged 85)
Amherst, New York, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1933–1935Colgate
Baseball
1934–1936Colgate
1939Harwich Mariners
Position(s)Halfback (football)
Catcher, outfielder (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1936–1945Kenmore HS (NY)
1946–1954Colgate (freshmen)
1955–1965Buffalo
Head coaching record
Overall58–37–5 (college)
50–7 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Lambert Cup (1958)
3 Niagara Frontier League (1943–1945)

Richard William Offenhamer (June 30, 1913 – August 7, 1998) was an American football and baseball player and football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Buffalo—now known as the University at Buffalo, from 1955 to 1965, compiling a record of 58–37–5. Offenhamer played college football and college baseball at Colgate University.

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, playing as 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 Buffalo, New York. In 1939, he played summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League, playing catcher for the league's Harwich Mariners.[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 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 as 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]

Honors and death

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 at age 85, on August 7, 1998, at Millard Suburban Hospital in Amherst, New York.[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". UB Reporter. Buffalo, New York. August 27, 1998. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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