Earl Craven

Earl Leonard Craven (November 24, 1922 – July 27, 2000) was an American football and basketball coach and college athletics administrator in the United States. He was president of the NAIA Coaches Association from 1957 through 1959.[1] He also initiated a nationwide appeal to cease marketing efforts of alcoholic beverages at college sports events and campuses.[2]

Earl Craven

Biographical details
Born	November 24, 1922 Beaver, Kansas
Died	July 27, 2000 (aged 77) Newberg, Oregon
Playing career
Football
late 1940s	Pacific College
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1949–1954	Friends
1955–1956	Taylor
1958–1962	William Penn
1963–1966	George Fox
Basketball
1947–1948	George Fox
1958–1959	William Penn
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1958–1963	William Penn
1963–1967	George Fox
Head coaching record
Overall	8–37 (basketball)

Playing career

Craven entered Pacific College (now called George Fox University) in Newberg, Oregon during the fall of 1941. His time in college was interrupted by military service in World War II from 1943 to 1946, but he returned to Pacific and was awarded letters in basketball, baseball and football. Craven earned a degree in psychology and education in 1949.

Coaching career

Taylor

Craven was named the head coach at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana beginning with the 1955 season.[3]

William Penn

In 1958, Craven was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at William Penn College—now known as William Penn University—in Oskaloosa, Iowa. William Penn athletics had been in a slump for 20 years. Craven worked to boost attendance and improve the program. Craven's first football team at William Penn recorded the most wins in a single season to date and ended with a record of 7–2, including the program's first win over the Central Dutch in 20 years.[4] His record at the school was 26–18–2.[5]

George Fox

In February, 1963, Craven was appointed athletic director and director of admissions at George Fox University.[6] He resigned as athletic and head football coach at George Fox in 1967 to become director of physical education at Clatsop Community College.[7]

Head coaching record

Football

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Friends Falcons (NAIA independent) (1949–1954)
1949	Friends	4–0
1950	Friends	3–2
1951	Friends	2–5
1952	Friends	2–5
1953	Friends	4–5
1954	Friends	1–8
Friends:		16–25
Taylor Trojans (Hoosier Conference) (1955–1956)
1955	Taylor	2–6	1–5	7th
1956	Taylor	3–6	1–5	6th
Taylor:		5–12	2–10
William Penn Statesmen (NAIA independent) (1958–1962)
1958	William Penn	7–2
1959	William Penn	7–3
1960	William Penn	4–5
1961	William Penn	3–5–1
1962	William Penn	5–3–1
William Penn:		26–18–2
George Fox Quakers (NAIA independent) (1963–1964)
1963	George Fox
1964	George Fox
George Fox Quakers (Oregon Collegiate Conference) (1965–1966)
1965	George Fox	0–8	0–4	5th
1966	George Fox	1–6	0–4	5th
George Fox:			0–8
Total:

References

1. "Former Football Coach And A.D. Earl Craven Passes Away". George Fox University. July 31, 2000. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
2. The Lima Recorder "Off the Hook" by Thomas H. Alvord, January 23, 1958
3. New York Times "Craven to Coach at Taylor" December 10, 1954
4. William Penn Athletics Archived November 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine History of the Penn Booster Club
5. "Football Records: Year-By-Year" (PDF). William Penn University. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
6. "George Fox Names AD". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. February 25, 1963. p. 10. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
7. "Craven Resigns Post With George Fox Unit". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. March 9, 1967. p. 12. Retrieved October 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .

External links

• Earl Craven at Find a Grave