Sport(s) Football Name Tom DeSylvia Overall 4–4 | 1950 Philadelphia Eagles 1946–1949 Oregon State Positions Guard | |
1953–1961
1962 Jefferson H.S.
Portland State
David Douglas H.S.
Grant H.S. Died December 6, 2002, Portland, Oregon, United States | ||
Thomas E. DeSylvia (September 29, 1924 – December 6, 2002) was a high school and college football head coach at various high schools in Portland, Oregon and for one season at Portland State. DeSylvia played at the guard position at Oregon State between 1946–1949.
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Playing career
DeSylvia played at the guard position at Oregon State between 1946–1949. During his tenure at Oregon State, DeSylvia competed in the 1948 East–West Shrine Game, served as team captain in 1949 and was selected to the Oregon State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 for his accomplishments. DeSylvia was drafted in the 24th round of the 1950 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, but was released the following August before ever competing in a regular-season game.
High school
After leaving professional football, DeSylvia began his coaching career. He was noted for his time as head coach of Jefferson High School in Portland between 1953–1961. During that span, Jefferson won OSAA Championships in 1957 and 1958 and OSAA runner-up in 1959. In addition to the championships, DeSylvia led Jefferson to an Oregon large-school record of 34 consecutive victories between 1957–59, in addition to coaching future Heisman Trophy winner Terry Baker and NFL Hall of Fame member Mel Renfro.
Following a one-year stint as head coach at Portland State, DeSylvia returned to the high school ranks to lead both David Douglas High School and Grant High School prior to his retirement. For his impact on sport in Oregon, he was elected to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.