Tilden "Happy" Campbell
Biographical details
Born(1908-11-21)November 21, 1908
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 23, 1963(1963-02-23) (aged 54)
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S.
Alma materAlabama
Playing career
1932–1934Alabama (football)
1933–1935Alabama (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1935–1941Alabama (Backfield)
1945Alabama (Backfield)
1946Ole Miss (Backfield)
1947–1955Alabama (Backfield)
Baseball
1935–1942Alabama
Head coaching record
Overall344–158–4

Tilden "Happy" Campbell (November 21, 1908 – February 23, 1963) was both a former player and head coach for the Alabama baseball team and both a player and assistant coach for the Alabama football team

Coaching career

Football

After his discharge from the Navy, Campbell returned to Alabama as backfield coach in 1945. In 1946, former Alabama assistant coach Harold Drew, in his first year as head coach, hired Campbell to serve as backfield coach at Ole Miss.[1] When Drew returned to Alabama as head coach in 1947, Campbell followed where he resumed his position as backfield coach and retained it through the 1955 season.[2]

Baseball

In Spring 1935, Campbell served as manager for the Troy Trojans of the then Dixie Amateur League and lead the squad to the league championship.[3] He resigned his position with Troy in April 1936 after the team became a professional squad as part of the Class D Alabama–Florida League to place his full focus on the Alabama team.[3] During his tenure as head coach, Campbell led Alabama to nine SEC championships and an appearance in the 1950 College World Series en route to an overall record of 344 wins, 158 losses and 4 ties (344–158–4).

On February 23, 1963, Campbell died of a heart attack at his Tuscaloosa home.[4] The following week, athletic director Bear Bryant announced that both Sam Bailey and Hayden Riley would serve as head baseball coach for the 1963 season.[5]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (1935–1942)
1935 Alabama 12–2 10–2
1936 Alabama 10–3–1 7–3–1
1937 Alabama 12–4 8–2
1938 Alabama 13–2 9–2
1939 Alabama 10–10 4–8
1940 Alabama 14–2 12–1
1941 Alabama 19–2–1 13–2
1942 Alabama 10–2 9–1
Alabama Crimson Tide (Southeastern Conference) (1947–1962)
1947 Alabama 20–7 11–3 NCAA South District III Participant
1948 Alabama 18–11 11–5 NCAA South District III Participant
1949 Alabama 14–8 14–4
1950 Alabama 22–12 12–4 College World Series
1951 Alabama 17–5–1 14–4–1
1952 Alabama 13–11 11–8
1953 Alabama 10–9 8–9
1954 Alabama 10–7 8–7
1955 Alabama 23–6 16–2 NCAA District III Participant
1956 Alabama 18–7 15–5
1957 Alabama 18–8 13–5
1958 Alabama 14–7 11–5
1959 Alabama 8–7 8–5
1960 Alabama 11–7 9–6
1961 Alabama 12–9 6–9
1962 Alabama 16–10–1 8–7–1
Alabama: 344–158–4 247–109–3
Total: 344–158–4

      National Champions         College World Series Participants         Conference Champions

References

  1. ^ "Mississippi gets Alabama coaches". The Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. January 15, 1946. p. 6. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  2. ^ "Campbell returning to Tide coach staff". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. January 23, 1947. p. 10. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Campbell resigns as Troy manager". The Tuscaloosa News. April 15, 1936. p. 7. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  4. ^ "Happy Campbell, Tide coach, dies". The Tuscaloosa News. February 24, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "Riley, Bailey will handle Tide baseball". The Tuscaloosa News. February 26, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
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