George Malley (American football)

George Leo Malley (February 10, 1903 – August 14, 1979) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the San Francisco Dons at the University of San Francisco from 1937 to 1940. Before that, he had success as a high school football coach at St. Ignatius High School from 1929 to 1935.

For his son, the Santa Clara head football coach, see Pat Malley. For the American long-distance runner, see George Malley (athlete).
George Malley
Biographical details
Born(1903-02-10)February 10, 1903
Arizona, US
DiedAugust 14, 1979(1979-08-14) (aged 76)
Anaheim, California, US
Playing career
Football
1922–1925Santa Clara
Basketball
1923–1926Santa Clara
Position(s)End (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1929–1935St. Ignatius College Prep (CA)
1936San Francisco (backfield)
1937–1940San Francisco
Head coaching record
Overall14–16–6 (college)

Biography

Malley, whose grandfather was an Irish immigrant, was born in Arizona and attended Santa Clara University, where he played college football. He served as the team captain in the early 1920s.[1] Malley earned a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Bachelor of Laws.[2][3]

He then coached football at St. Ignatius High School beginning in 1929.[4] He also served on the faculty at the school and taught civics and sociology.[2] St. Ignatius went undefeated from September 1937 until December 1939, when they were finally beaten by Loyola High School of Los Angeles, 12–7, in the California state Catholic prep school championship.[4][5] The success of Malley's teams prompted the school to promote the program back to the AAA level.[4] In 1934, the San Francisco Chronicle compared his 1935 team to Notre Dame under Knute Rockne:

"Today in San Francisco is an unsung, unnoted football team that embodies about everything that Notre Dame teams of years ago stood for—rambling, fight and Irish—and undefeated records. That team belongs to St. Ignatius High School. The Ignatians ramble over California a bit, next year they may even trek to Reno; Irish names dominate the lineup and the record is clean—not even one point is tabbed for opponents."[4]

Malley moved on to the University of San Francisco in 1936 to serve as an assistant football coach under Spud Lewis. He succeeded Lewis as head football coach following the 1936 season.[6] Malley could not extend his interscholastic success to the college level, however. At the University of San Francisco, he amassed an 14–16–6 record during his tenure from 1937 to 1940.[7] In 1939, a San Francisco newspaper article before the game against Loyola had a headline quote that referred to Malley's worries over the hot weather conditions his team would face in Los Angeles. A San Jose Evening News writer sardonically noted that, with Malley's extensive bad luck on the football field, "the heat may be on from several sources!"[8] Malley resigned as San Francisco head coach in February 1941.[9]

Malley died on August 14, 1979.[10]

Malley was named among the "Legends of USF Athletics" in 2005.[11] His son, Pat Malley, coached football at Santa Clara University from 1959 to 1984.[1][12] His grandson, Terry Malley, succeeded Pat Malley as Santa Clara head coach.[1]

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
San Francisco Dons (Independent) (1937–1940)
1937 San Francisco 4–5–1
1938 San Francisco 5–2–1
1939 San Francisco 4–3–3
1940 San Francisco 1–6–1
San Francisco: 14–16–6
Total:14–16–6

References
  1. SANTA CLARA'S FIRST FAMILY Three Generations of Malleys Have Handled the Broncos With Iron Reins, The Los Angeles Times, November 9, 1985.
  2. ST. IGNATIUS HIGH SCHOOL; FACULTY & CLASS OF 1932, San Francisco Genealogy, retrieved August 17, 2010.
  3. http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/California/George-Malley_2g2f4k
  4. Spiritus 'Magis'; 150 Years of St. Ignatius College Preparatory Archived August 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (PDF), Genesis IV, History Supplement, Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, retrieved August 17, 2010.
  5. Loyola Wins Catholic Title, San Jose News, November 25, 1935.
  6. Borba, Harry (December 1, 1936). "Post Vacated By Resignation Of Lewis Given George Malley". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 21. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  7. All-Time Coaching Record: George L. Malley, College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved August 17, 2010.
  8. Heat is on Coach George Malley?, San Jose Evening News, November 2, 1939.
  9. Rudy Mucha Signs With Yankee Grids, The Los Angeles Times, February 10, 1941.
  10. Cullenward, Nelson (August 16, 1979). "Ex-USF coach Malley dead". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. p. 69. Retrieved October 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  11. Who Are the Greatest Legends of USF Athletics? Archived November 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, University of San Francisco, November 19, 2004.
  12. MURRAY, Anne, The San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 2010.
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