John Barnhill
Barnhill from The 1942 Volunteer
Biographical details
Born(1903-02-23)February 23, 1903
Savannah, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedOctober 21, 1973(1973-10-21) (aged 70)
Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
1925–1927Tennessee
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1931–1934Tennessee (freshmen)
1935–1940Tennessee (line)
1941–1945Tennessee
1946–1949Arkansas
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1941–1945Tennessee
1946–1971Arkansas
Head coaching record
Overall54–22–5
Bowls2–1–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 SWC (1946)
Awards
2× All-Southern (1926, 1927)
SEC Coach of the Year (1944)

John Henry "Barnie" Barnhill (February 23, 1903 – October 21, 1973) was an American football player and coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Tennessee (1941–1945) and the University of Arkansas (1946–1949), compiling a record of 54–22–5.

Tennessee

Barnhill was an All-Southern lineman under coach Robert Neyland at the University of Tennessee, including the SoCon champion 1927 team. As a player, he weighed 175 pounds.

Coaching and administrative career

Barnhill was the head coach for the University of Tennessee for four seasons from 1941 to 1945. He coached the team during World War II, managing the squad during the absence of General Robert Neyland, who left for the war. During that period he led Tennessee to a record of 32–5–2.

In 1946, after Neyland's return to Tennessee, Barnhill was hired by the University of Arkansas as both head football coach and athletic director. Barnhill gave up the head coaching position in 1949 after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He continued as athletic director at Arkansas until 1971 and was responsible for hiring head coach Frank Broyles, who ultimately replaced Barnhill as athletic director.

Death and honors

Barnhill died of heart failure on October 21, 1973, at a hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas.[1]

Barnhill Arena, the former men's basketball and current women's athletic facility at the University of Arkansas, was named for him. Barnhill is a member of both the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs AP#
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (1941–1945)
1941 Tennessee 8–23–12nd18
1942 Tennessee 9–1–14–1T–2ndW Sugar7
1943 No team—World War II
1944 Tennessee 7–1–15–0–12ndL Rose12
1945 Tennessee 8–13–12nd14
Tennessee: 32–5–215–3–1
Arkansas Razorbacks (Southwest Conference) (1946–1949)
1946 Arkansas 6–3–25–1T–1stT Cotton16
1947 Arkansas 6–4–11–4–1T–5thW Dixie
1948 Arkansas 5–52–45th
1949 Arkansas 5–52–46th
Arkansas: 22–17–310–13–1
Total:54–22–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ↑ "John Barnhill Dies at Fayetteville". The Courier News. Blytheville, Arkansas. Associated Press. October 22, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved March 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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