Fred Clapp

Football

Clapp the fifth head football coach for the Southwestern College Moundbuilders in Winfield, Kansas and held that position 5 years, from 1909 to 1913. His overall coaching record at Southwestern was 24 wins, 11 losses, and 6 ties.

Racial integration

In 1913, Clapp fielded an African American player for his team. Kansas Normal School (now called Pittsburg State University officially launched a formal protest against the appearance of the player. In that same game, a player named Fred Hamilton was playing left halfback and was injured to the extent of having a broken neck and paralyzed arms. The game ended in a 6-6 tie.

The "Jinx"

The 1914 proved especially important to Southwestern College lore. On November 8, 1912, Southwestern defeated Fairmont College (now Wichita State University) by a score of 41 to 3. This was the first of a series of wins where Southwestern would beat or tie Fairmont ten of eleven games. This period of time earned the school the name "The Jinx" for many years to come.

Basketball

Clapp also coached men's basketball at Southwestern and was the second person on record to hold that post. He coached for five seasons, from 1909 until 1914. His record was 39 wins and 24 losses.