Ank Scanlan
Biographical details
Bornc. 1903
Died(1965-02-13)February 13, 1965 (aged 63)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
1921–1923Saint Joseph's
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1928–1941St. Joseph's Prep (PA)
1942–1944Holy Cross
Head coaching record
Overall16–8–3 (college)
93–14–10 (high school)

Anthony J. "Ank" Scanlan (c. 1903 – February 13, 1965) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts from 1942 to 1944, compiling a record of 16–8–3.

Early life

A native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Scanlan moved to Philadelphia at the age of ten. He played halfback at Saint Joseph's College and was captain of the 1923 team.[1]

Coaching

From 1928 to 1941, Scanlan was the head football coach at St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He tallying a mark of 93–14–10 and won six Catholic League championships.[2] Players he developed included Franny Murray and Jim Leonard.[1]

On December 8, 1941, Holy Cross officials announced Scanlan as their new head coach. His hiring was a surprise, as he was fairly unknown outside of Philadelphia.[2] In 1942, Scanlan led Holy Cross to one of the biggest upsets in college football history when the Crusaders defeated #1 ranked Boston College 55–12.[3] While coaching Holy Cross, Scanlan continued to work as secretary and part owner of the Philadelphia Asbestos Company. During the 1943 and 1944 seasons, the factory's war contracts made it so that Scanlan could only coach on gameday, leaving assistants Lud Wray and Ox DaGrosa in charge of during the week.[4][5] Scanlan resigned on December 18, 1944 so he could devote his full attention to his factory work.[6]

Death

Scanlan spent his later years as chairman of the American Asbestos Textile Corporation of Norristown, Pennsylvania.[7] He died at the age of 63, on February 13, 1965, at his home in Philadelphia.[8][9]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
Holy Cross Crusaders (Independent) (1942–1944)
1942 Holy Cross 5–4–1 T–19
1943 Holy Cross 6–2
1944 Holy Cross 5–2–2
Holy Cross: 16–8–3
Total: 16–8–3

References

  1. ^ a b "Scanlan to Coach Holy Cross Eleven". The New York Times. December 9, 1941.
  2. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Tom (December 9, 1941). "Unknown Named Crusader Coach". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 24. Retrieved December 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ Daley, Arthur (March 1, 1965). "Providential grid upheaval". The Press-Courier. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  4. ^ King, Bill (October 6, 1943). "Holy Cross Line Coach's Guess on Koslowski Right". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ "DaGrosa Resigns Holy Cross Post". The New York Times. November 25, 1947.
  6. ^ "Coach Scanlan Resigns". The New York Times. December 19, 1944.
  7. ^ "Ex-Coach Scanlan Dies". The Pittsburgh Press. February 14, 1965. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Ank Scanlan Dies, Coached '42 H.C. Team". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. Associated Press. February 14, 1965. p. 54. Retrieved December 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  9. ^ "Anthony Scanlan". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. February 17, 1965. p. 24. Retrieved December 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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