1905 Chicago 1906–1907 Alma Name Jesse Harper | 1903–1906 Chicago 1909–1912 Wabash | |
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Sport(s) Football, basketball, baseball Born December 10, 1883
Paw Paw, Illinois ( 1883-12-10 ) Died July 1, 1961(1961-07-01) (aged 77)
Sitka, Kansas | ||
Jesse Harper - Midnight Sun
Jesse Claire Harper (December 10, 1883 – July 1, 1961) was an American football and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He was born in East Paw Paw, Illinois. He served as the head football coach at Alma College (1906–1907), Wabash College (1909–1912), and the University of Notre Dame (1913–1917), compiling a career college football record of 57–17–7. Harper was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1971.
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Alma
Harper was the head college football coach for the Alma Scots located in Alma, Michigan. He held that position for the 1906 and 1907 seasons. His coaching record at Alma was 8 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties. As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #11 at Alma in total wins and #9 at the school in winning percentage (.667).
Wabash
Harper was the 18th head college football coach for the Wabash College Little Giants located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, and he held that position for four seasons, from 1909 until 1912. His career coaching record at Wabash was 15 wins, 9 losses, and 2 ties. This ranks him tenth at Wabash in total wins and ninth at Wabash in winning percentage (.615).
Notre Dame
Harper is most known for his coaching at the University of Notre Dame. His 1913 football squad posted a 35–13 win over Army, one that is regarded by most football historians as the game that put Notre Dame on the football map.
Later life
Harper stepped down as head football coach after the 1917 season and returned to ranching in his home state of Kansas. His ranch was not far from where Knute Rockne was killed in a 1931 plane crash. Harper accompanied Rockne's body on the train from Kansas back to South Bend, Indiana, for the funeral and burial. The University of Notre Dame immediately hired Harper to fill Rockne's role as athletic director, a position in which remained until 1934, when Elmer Layden became head football coach and athletic director.
Harper was married and had two sons and one daughter.