256:
26:
286:, he became known for taking a keen interest in helping his players and students, many of whom went on to become noted for their life achievements. Over the course of the ten seasons that Sprankle coached football at the school, he compiled an 80–38–9 record, including a 193–0 victory over Norton High School from
294:
at any level. His track team won 3 state championships in 11 years, and he amassed a 117–61 record in baseball. Most notably, Sprankle's basketball team was a pioneer in interstate competition. At a time when it was rare to play games out of state, his team traveled annually across the state of
338:
Sprankle became a second father to me and to hundreds of others like me.... Yes, I believe that LeRoy
Sprankle has had more influence on the lives of the young people of Kingsport than any other person. I am sure he did, and I will always be grateful for the help he gave me.
271:, to coach its basketball team. Despite having to commute by train and lodge overnight twice a week in order to keep his Canton job, Sprankle accepted the position out of his interest for helping boys. His success there warranted him an offer to coach in
865:
870:
236:
107:
880:
860:
855:
885:
875:
850:
900:
895:
183:, he had several notable accomplishments during his tenured career including: helping to standardize high school officiating in the state of
187:, pioneering interstate and international high school sports competition, and most notably, coaching several would-be prominent figures in
711:
117:
219:
and competed in baseball, basketball, and football while completing a degree in mathematics. In 1918 Sprankle was drafted into the
890:
745:
733:
480:
402:
392:
382:
PhD. Organic
Chemistry. Kicker for Detroit Lions. Assistant Coach at Michigan State University. Awarded several patents.
673:
322:, until 1953 when the school combined with Homestead High School. While retired from coaching, he worked with the new
267:, there was a great demand for qualified coaches. Likewise, LeRoy Sprankle was quickly contacted by a high school in
741:
406:
398:
330:, in 1972 at the age of 78, he was survived by his wife Jess, and his children, Rita and Dale. At his funeral,
677:
586:
279:). In late 1921, he accepted the offer and became the head baseball, basketball, football, and track coach.
582:
472:
171:(June 11, 1894 – September 25, 1972) was an American high school sports coach and athletics advocate in
348:
308:
300:
276:
243:
professional football team and became good friends with several early football "legends", most notably
127:
224:
318:
for health-related reasons. Nevertheless, he continued to coach, at
Redlands High School in south
737:
599:
563:
488:
461:
445:
419:
307:, one of the only high school sports teams ever to do so. Overall, Sprankle's basketball team at
510:
323:
303:. In 1940, as part of the annual Florida trip, his team played a series of exhibition games in
215:, where he graduated from high school and first became involved in athletics. He then attended
845:
840:
621:
344:
283:
228:
768:
Watson, Sam. "Instilling Pride: First D-B Coach
Believer in Field, Classroom Discipline".
8:
476:
426:
239:
professional basketball team. It was around this time that he became affiliated with the
216:
84:
379:
football and track, All-American
Football Honorable Mention, 1937 College All-Star Game
632:
434:
327:
69:
744:(1975), Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, all-time most winningest coach at
207:, who would also become famous as a college athletics coach and athletics director in
699:
688:
506:
484:
468:
319:
291:
172:
605:
head basketball and asst. football coach at
Southwestern University in Memphis (now
643:
387:
268:
204:
200:
50:
647:
456:
264:
240:
220:
606:
536:
525:
376:
255:
834:
724:
695:
665:
550:
430:
315:
188:
176:
654:
578:
574:
570:
514:
499:
212:
326:
as business manager until he completely retired in 1964. Sprankle died in
824:. Ed. Jitney Blankenbecler. Kingsport, TN: Quebecor World, 2001. 171–207.
811:. Ed. Jitney Blankenbecler. Kingsport, TN: Quebecor World, 2001. 140–141.
785:. Ed. Jitney Blankenbecler. Kingsport, TN: Quebecor World, 2001. 139–140.
658:
602:
football (All-Conference
Defensive End), baseball, basketball, and track
532:
717:
557:
331:
244:
96:
646:
baseball, basketball, football, and track, had the highest basketball
628:
610:
414:
272:
232:
184:
594:
287:
208:
437:
Silver
Anniversary winner, President of Charles H. Bacon Company
296:
25:
624:
basketball, football captain, and track, Football All-American
351:(now John Sevier Middle School) was also dedicated after him.
347:, has named a day in his honor. The gymnasium at the former
798:. Lib Dudney. Kingsport, TN: Quebecor World, 2001. xii-xiv.
698:, played with the Memphis Tigers (AFL), AFL All-Star Team,
535:
and
Tropical Paint Company, member of Board of Trustees at
304:
235:, he resumed civilian life as the general manager of the
807:
Sprankle, LeRoy. "Memorial
Service for LeRoy Sprankle".
781:
Sprankle, LeRoy. "Memorial Service for LeRoy Sprankle".
866:
Mount Union Purple Raiders men's basketball players
401:(1954–56, 1959–66), AD and head football coach at
314:In 1943, he and his family were forced to move to
290:in 1926, one of the largest margins of victory in
275:at Kingsport High School (which was later renamed
871:High school baseball coaches in the United States
832:
464:football team captain, College All-Star Game
881:High school basketball coaches in Tennessee
861:Mount Union Purple Raiders football players
856:Mount Union Purple Raiders baseball players
354:
24:
886:High school football coaches in Tennessee
405:(1957–59), AD and head football coach at
334:sent his remorse in a message that read:
311:went 401–142, winning 18 championships.
254:
211:. At the age of 16, his family moved to
502:, 2nd Team All-American, All-Star Game
223:, and served as a Second Lieutenant at
199:Sprankle was born on June 11, 1894, in
876:High school basketball coaches in Ohio
833:
716:author, dean of English Department at
694:played minor league baseball with the
589:inductee (both as a player and coach)
581:(1950–76), Georgia Tech Hall of Fame,
409:(1966–73), ETSU Hall of Fame inductee
901:Basketball players from Canton, Ohio
896:Sportspeople from Stark County, Ohio
794:Sprankle, LeRoy. "Sprankle Family".
393:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football
13:
674:Tennessee House of Representatives
573:(1931–46), head football coach at
250:
14:
912:
851:American men's basketball players
181:"Father of East Tennessee Sports"
820:Sprankle, LeRoy. "Appendix II".
691:basketball, football, and track
635:Silver Anniversary All-American
422:football and track team captain
263:Following the conclusion of the
407:East Tennessee State University
814:
801:
788:
775:
762:
509:, asst. football coach at the
451:played with the Detroit Lions
203:. He was the older brother of
1:
755:
736:(1957–73), head coach of the
678:U.S. House of Representatives
587:College Football Hall of Fame
343:Since his death, the city of
194:
891:People from Beach City, Ohio
7:
583:Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
473:New York Yankees (1940 AFL)
179:. Often referred to as the
10:
917:
650:in the country final year
475:, asst. football coach at
349:Dobyns-Bennett High School
309:Dobyns-Bennett High School
277:Dobyns-Bennett High School
259:Canton Independents Trophy
732:head basketball coach at
533:Parker Rust-Proof Company
162:
150:
145:
141:
133:
123:
113:
103:
94:
90:
80:
75:
56:
37:
32:
23:
569:asst. football coach at
429:(1941–42, 1946) and the
397:asst. football coach at
368:Notable accomplishments
738:San Diego Conquistadors
729:Delta State basketball
355:Notable players coached
702:Hall of Fame inductee
517:Hall of Fame inductee
511:University of Richmond
341:
324:South Dade High School
260:
336:
258:
566:, 1930 All-American
477:Washington & Lee
442:Robert "Bob" Cifers
345:Kingsport, Tennessee
299:and the rest of the
191:and sports history.
156:401–142 (basketball)
146:Head coaching record
33:Biographical details
427:Washington Redskins
237:Canton Independents
217:Mount Union College
108:Canton Independents
85:Mount Union College
20:
772:July 22, 2001: D1.
770:Johnson City Press
633:Sports Illustrated
549:two term mayor of
471:, played with the
435:Sports Illustrated
365:College accolades
328:Homestead, Florida
261:
154:80–38–9 (football)
118:Carrollton HS (OH)
70:Homestead, Florida
67:September 25, 1972
18:
751:
750:
577:(1947–67), AD at
507:Chicago Cardinals
495:Darrell Crawford
485:Mississippi State
469:Green Bay Packers
292:American football
173:Eastern Tennessee
166:
165:
158:117–61 (baseball)
128:Kingsport HS (TN)
95:Coaching career (
908:
825:
818:
812:
805:
799:
792:
786:
779:
773:
766:
613:(1939–41, 1946)
505:played with the
425:played with the
373:Albert H. Agett
359:
358:
269:Carrollton, Ohio
205:Dale R. Sprankle
201:Beach City, Ohio
137:Redlands HS (FL)
66:
64:
51:Beach City, Ohio
47:
45:
28:
21:
17:
916:
915:
911:
910:
909:
907:
906:
905:
831:
830:
829:
828:
819:
815:
806:
802:
793:
789:
780:
776:
767:
763:
758:
631:State Senator,
562:starting QB at
543:Milton DeVault
498:starting QB at
467:drafted by the
457:Denver Crawford
357:
265:First World War
253:
251:Coaching career
241:Canton Bulldogs
221:First World War
197:
157:
155:
68:
62:
60:
49:
43:
41:
12:
11:
5:
914:
904:
903:
898:
893:
888:
883:
878:
873:
868:
863:
858:
853:
848:
843:
827:
826:
813:
800:
787:
774:
760:
759:
757:
754:
749:
748:
730:
727:
721:
720:
714:
708:
707:Henry W. Sams
704:
703:
692:
686:
685:Nat H. Reasor
682:
681:
671:
670:not available
668:
662:
661:
651:
641:
637:
636:
625:
619:
615:
614:
607:Rhodes College
603:
597:
591:
590:
567:
560:
554:
553:
547:
546:not available
544:
540:
539:
537:Adrian College
529:
526:Adrian College
523:
522:Van M. Darsey
519:
518:
503:
496:
492:
491:
465:
459:
453:
452:
449:
443:
439:
438:
423:
417:
411:
410:
395:
390:
384:
383:
380:
377:Michigan State
374:
370:
369:
366:
363:
356:
353:
252:
249:
196:
193:
169:LeRoy Sprankle
164:
163:
160:
159:
152:
148:
147:
143:
142:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
115:
111:
110:
105:
101:
100:
92:
91:
88:
87:
82:
78:
77:
76:Playing career
73:
72:
58:
54:
53:
39:
35:
34:
30:
29:
19:LeRoy Sprankle
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
913:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
887:
884:
882:
879:
877:
874:
872:
869:
867:
864:
862:
859:
857:
854:
852:
849:
847:
844:
842:
839:
838:
836:
823:
817:
810:
804:
797:
791:
784:
778:
771:
765:
761:
753:
747:
743:
739:
735:
731:
728:
726:
725:Beryl Shipley
723:
722:
719:
715:
713:
709:
706:
705:
701:
697:
696:Macon Peaches
693:
690:
687:
684:
683:
679:
675:
672:
669:
667:
666:Jimmy Quillen
664:
663:
660:
656:
652:
649:
645:
642:
640:Tommy Peters
639:
638:
634:
630:
626:
623:
620:
618:Bobby Peters
617:
616:
612:
608:
604:
601:
598:
596:
593:
592:
588:
584:
580:
576:
572:
568:
565:
561:
559:
556:
555:
552:
551:Kingsport, TN
548:
545:
542:
541:
538:
534:
531:President of
530:
527:
524:
521:
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
501:
497:
494:
493:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
463:
460:
458:
455:
454:
450:
447:
444:
441:
440:
436:
432:
431:Chicago Bears
428:
424:
421:
418:
416:
413:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
394:
391:
389:
386:
385:
381:
378:
375:
372:
371:
367:
364:
361:
360:
352:
350:
346:
340:
335:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
316:South Florida
312:
310:
306:
302:
298:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
274:
270:
266:
257:
248:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
192:
190:
186:
182:
178:
177:South Florida
174:
170:
161:
153:
149:
144:
140:
136:
132:
129:
126:
122:
119:
116:
112:
109:
106:
102:
99:unless noted)
98:
93:
89:
86:
83:
79:
74:
71:
59:
55:
52:
48:June 11, 1894
40:
36:
31:
27:
22:
16:
821:
816:
808:
803:
795:
790:
782:
777:
769:
764:
752:
746:SW Louisiana
734:SW Louisiana
655:World War II
609:), coach at
579:Georgia Tech
575:Georgia Tech
571:Georgia Tech
515:Georgia Tech
500:Georgia Tech
403:SW Louisiana
399:Georgia Tech
388:John R. Bell
342:
337:
313:
281:
262:
213:Canton, Ohio
198:
180:
168:
167:
15:
846:1972 deaths
841:1894 births
676:(1954–62),
659:silver star
320:Dade County
225:Camp Gordon
835:Categories
756:References
718:Penn State
680:(1963–97)
653:killed in
558:Bobby Dodd
332:Bobby Dodd
245:Jim Thorpe
195:Early life
63:1972-09-25
44:1894-06-11
710:PhD from
629:Tennessee
622:Princeton
611:UT Martin
600:Tennessee
564:Tennessee
528:football
489:Minnesota
462:Tennessee
448:football
446:Tennessee
420:Tennessee
415:Ed Cifers
301:Southeast
284:Kingsport
282:While at
273:Tennessee
233:Armistice
185:Tennessee
134:1943–1953
124:1921–1943
81:1913–1917
644:Davidson
595:Paul Hug
481:Maryland
433:(1947),
288:Virginia
231:. After
209:Michigan
189:American
822:My Boys
809:My Boys
796:My Boys
783:My Boys
740:of the
627:3-term
297:Florida
229:Georgia
151:Overall
700:Mercer
689:Mercer
487:, and
362:Name
305:Cuba
175:and
104:1920
57:Died
38:Born
742:ABA
712:UNC
648:PPG
227:in
837::
657:,
585:,
513:,
483:,
479:,
247:.
97:HC
114:?
65:)
61:(
46:)
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
