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Don Fambrough
Biographical details
Born(1922-10-19)October 19, 1922
Longview, Texas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 3, 2011(2011-09-03) (aged 88)
Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
Playing career
1941–1942Texas
1946–1947Kansas
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1948–1953Kansas (assistant)
1954–1956East Texas State (assistant)
1957Wichita State (assistant)
1958–1970Kansas (assistant)
1971–1974Kansas
1979–1982Kansas
Head coaching record
Overall36–49–5
Bowls0–2

Donald Preston Fambrough (October 19, 1922 – September 3, 2011) was an American college football player and coach. He served two stints as the head football coach at the University of Kansas, from 1971 to 1974 and 1979 to 1982, compiling a record of 36–49–5.

Early life

Fambrough was born on October 19, 1922, in Longview, Texas, to Ivey and Willie Whittington Fambrough. He attended Longview High School.

College football and military career

Fambrough played college football at Texas in 1941 and 1942 before serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.[1] After returning home from the war, he and his wife moved to Lawrence, Kansas. While in Lawrence, he chose to play football at the University of Kansas. Following his college career, he was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals (now known as the Arizona Cardinals) with the 276th overall selection in the 1945 NFL Draft.

Coaching career

Fambrough's first coaching job was at Kansas as assistant from 1948 to 1953. After that, he served as an assistant at East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce and the Municipal University of Wichita, now known as Wichita State University. Fambrough returned to Kansas as assistant coach under Jack Mitchell in 1958. He served as the head football coach at Kansas from 1971 to 1974 and again from 1979 to 1982 and compiled a 36–49–5 record as a head coach.

Later life

Fambrough remained involved in Kansas football leading up to his death, and would occasionally take part in team practices. The school dedicated a bench overlooking Memorial Stadium to him in 2007.[2] Fambrough is known for his hatred of rival Missouri[3] and gave an annual anti-Missouri speech to the football team before each Border War game.[4]

Personal life

Fambrough married his wife, Delfred Few, on October 4, 1941. Del, who taught English for many years at Lawrence High School, preceded him in death on November 17, 2001. The couple had two children, sons Robert and Preston.

Death

Fambrough died September 3, 2011, at his home in Lawrence, Kansas from head injuries sustained in a fall.[5] He was survived by two children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Kansas Jayhawks (Big Eight Conference) (1971–1974)
1971 Kansas 4–7 2–5 T–5th
1972 Kansas 4–7 2–5 T–6th
1973 Kansas 7–4–1 4–2–1 T–2nd L Liberty 15 18
1974 Kansas 4–7 1–6 T–7th
Kansas Jayhawks (Big Eight Conference) (1979–1982)
1979 Kansas 3–8 2–5 T–5th
1980 Kansas 4–5–2 3–3–1 4th
1981 Kansas 8–4 4–3 T–3rd L Hall of Fame Classic
1982 Kansas 2–7–2 1–5–1 T–6th
Kansas: 36–49–5 19–34–3
Total: 36–49–5

See also

References

  1. ^ "Don Preston Fambrough".
  2. ^ Fambrough Gets Benched
  3. ^ Where Should He Begin - KU legend Fambrough shares his hatred of Missouri
  4. ^ Motivational Speaker
  5. ^ "Don Fambrough dies at 88". Wichita Eagle Website. Archived from the original on 2012-08-25. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
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