![]() Bach in 1934 | |
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Tower, Minnesota, U.S. | January 17, 1901
Died | October 24, 1966 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 65)
Playing career | |
1921 | Carleton |
1923–1924 | Notre Dame |
Position(s) | Tackle |
Coaching career ( HC unless noted) | |
1925–1928 | Syracuse (assistant) |
1929–1933 | Duquesne (assistant) |
1934 | Duquesne |
1935–1936 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
1937–1941 | Niagara |
1942 | Fort Knox |
1943–1947 | Detroit Lions (assistant) |
1948 | Boston Yanks (assistant) |
1949 | New York Bulldogs (line) |
1950–1951 | St. Bonaventure |
1952–1953 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 45–28–4 (college) 21–27 (NFL) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
As coach:
As player: | |
Joseph Anthony Bach (January 17, 1901 – October 24, 1966) was one of Notre Dame's famed "Seven Mules" and later the head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Pirates (1935–36) and later the renamed Pittsburgh Steelers (1952–53).
As a senior at Notre Dame, he was a lineman on the 1924 national title team — the first Irish team to win a championship, and had a pivotal role in Notre Dame's first Rose Bowl trip in January 1925. Famous for the Four Horsemen backfield, the line that blocked for them was known as " The Seven Mules."
Bach became the Pirates coach in 1935 directing the young franchise to their best record yet at 4 wins and 8 losses followed by the 1936 campaign in which he coached the Pirates to their first ever non-losing season at 6 wins and 6 losses. He left the team following 1936 to go back into college football.
Bach spent the 1950 and 1951 seasons as head coach of the St. Bonaventure Brown Indians football team, [1] where Silas Rooney, Steelers owner Art Rooney's brother, was serving as athletic director; St. Bonaventure University ceased sponsoring football after the 1951 season. [2] Bach returned as the head coach for the Steelers [3] [4] and installed the T-formation. Pittsburgh had been the last franchise to operate the single wing. The Steelers finished with 5 wins and 7 losses in 1952, and with 6 wins and 6 losses in 1953. Following three home defeats to begin the pre-season in 1954, Bach resigned during training camp in late August. [5] He was succeeded by line coach Walt Kiesling, a previous head coach with the team. [6]
Bach later worked as a state labor mediator and continued as a scout for the Steelers and was an active member of its alumni association. Minutes after the conclusion of a banquet luncheon in his honor in October 1966, Bach collapsed and died. [7] [8]
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duquesne Dukes (Independent) (1934) | |||||||||
1934 | Duquesne | 8–2 | |||||||
Duquesne: | 8–2 | ||||||||
Niagara Purple Eagles ( Western New York Little Three Conference) (1937–1941) | |||||||||
1937 | Niagara | 6–2 | 1–1 | T–1st | |||||
1938 | Niagara | 7–2 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1939 | Niagara | 2–4–2 | 0–1–1 | T–2nd | |||||
1940 | Niagara | 6–1–1 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1941 | Niagara | 2–5–1 | 1–1 | T–1st | |||||
Niagara: | 23–14–4 | 6–3–1 | |||||||
Fort Knox Armoraiders (Independent) (1942) | |||||||||
1942 | Fort Knox | 2–6 | |||||||
Fort Knox: | 2–6 | ||||||||
St. Bonaventure Brown Indians (Independent) (1950–1951) | |||||||||
1950 | St. Bonaventure | 7–2 | |||||||
1951 | St. Bonaventure | 5–4 | |||||||
St. Bonaventure: | 12–6 | ||||||||
Total: | 45–28–4 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |
![]() Bach in 1934 | |
Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | Tower, Minnesota, U.S. | January 17, 1901
Died | October 24, 1966 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 65)
Playing career | |
1921 | Carleton |
1923–1924 | Notre Dame |
Position(s) | Tackle |
Coaching career ( HC unless noted) | |
1925–1928 | Syracuse (assistant) |
1929–1933 | Duquesne (assistant) |
1934 | Duquesne |
1935–1936 | Pittsburgh Pirates |
1937–1941 | Niagara |
1942 | Fort Knox |
1943–1947 | Detroit Lions (assistant) |
1948 | Boston Yanks (assistant) |
1949 | New York Bulldogs (line) |
1950–1951 | St. Bonaventure |
1952–1953 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 45–28–4 (college) 21–27 (NFL) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
As coach:
As player: | |
Joseph Anthony Bach (January 17, 1901 – October 24, 1966) was one of Notre Dame's famed "Seven Mules" and later the head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Pirates (1935–36) and later the renamed Pittsburgh Steelers (1952–53).
As a senior at Notre Dame, he was a lineman on the 1924 national title team — the first Irish team to win a championship, and had a pivotal role in Notre Dame's first Rose Bowl trip in January 1925. Famous for the Four Horsemen backfield, the line that blocked for them was known as " The Seven Mules."
Bach became the Pirates coach in 1935 directing the young franchise to their best record yet at 4 wins and 8 losses followed by the 1936 campaign in which he coached the Pirates to their first ever non-losing season at 6 wins and 6 losses. He left the team following 1936 to go back into college football.
Bach spent the 1950 and 1951 seasons as head coach of the St. Bonaventure Brown Indians football team, [1] where Silas Rooney, Steelers owner Art Rooney's brother, was serving as athletic director; St. Bonaventure University ceased sponsoring football after the 1951 season. [2] Bach returned as the head coach for the Steelers [3] [4] and installed the T-formation. Pittsburgh had been the last franchise to operate the single wing. The Steelers finished with 5 wins and 7 losses in 1952, and with 6 wins and 6 losses in 1953. Following three home defeats to begin the pre-season in 1954, Bach resigned during training camp in late August. [5] He was succeeded by line coach Walt Kiesling, a previous head coach with the team. [6]
Bach later worked as a state labor mediator and continued as a scout for the Steelers and was an active member of its alumni association. Minutes after the conclusion of a banquet luncheon in his honor in October 1966, Bach collapsed and died. [7] [8]
Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duquesne Dukes (Independent) (1934) | |||||||||
1934 | Duquesne | 8–2 | |||||||
Duquesne: | 8–2 | ||||||||
Niagara Purple Eagles ( Western New York Little Three Conference) (1937–1941) | |||||||||
1937 | Niagara | 6–2 | 1–1 | T–1st | |||||
1938 | Niagara | 7–2 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1939 | Niagara | 2–4–2 | 0–1–1 | T–2nd | |||||
1940 | Niagara | 6–1–1 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
1941 | Niagara | 2–5–1 | 1–1 | T–1st | |||||
Niagara: | 23–14–4 | 6–3–1 | |||||||
Fort Knox Armoraiders (Independent) (1942) | |||||||||
1942 | Fort Knox | 2–6 | |||||||
Fort Knox: | 2–6 | ||||||||
St. Bonaventure Brown Indians (Independent) (1950–1951) | |||||||||
1950 | St. Bonaventure | 7–2 | |||||||
1951 | St. Bonaventure | 5–4 | |||||||
St. Bonaventure: | 12–6 | ||||||||
Total: | 45–28–4 | ||||||||
National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth |