William H. Wood (American football)

For the Gettysburg College and Wesleyan University coach, see Bill Wood (American football). For other people, see William H. Wood.

William Holmes Wood (September 6, 1900 – June 7, 1988) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach of football, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy from 1938 to 1940, compiling a record of 12–13–3.

William H. Wood

Biographical details
Born	(1900-09-06)September 6, 1900 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 7, 1988(1988-06-07) (aged 87) Easton, Maryland, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1921–1924	Army
Basketball
1921–1925	Army
Baseball
1922–1925	Army
Position(s)	Fullback (football)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1925–1928	Army (assistant)
1932–1938	Army (assistant)
1938–1940	Army
Head coaching record
Overall	12–13–3

Biography

At West Point in 1925

Wood was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on September 6, 1900, and raised in Baltimore, Maryland.^[1][2] After graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, he attended Johns Hopkins University, before transferring to the United States Military Academy at West Point.^[3] There he lettered in three sports, and graduated in 1925.^[2]

He married Elizabeth Tuttle in Chicago on April 30, 1927.^[3]

Serving in China and Europe during World War II, Wood was chief of staff of the 13th Armored Division. His decorations included the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.^[3] He retired from the Army in 1956 after rising to the rank of brigadier general.^[3]

Wood died at the age of 87 on June 7, 1988, at the William Hill Health Care Center in Easton, Maryland. He had been stricken with Alzheimer's disease.^[1] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[3]

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Army Cadets (Independent) (1938–1940)
1938	Army	8–2
1939	Army	3–4–2
1940	Army	1–7–1
Army:		12–13–3
Total:		12–13–3

References

1. "Former Army football coach Wood dies". The Evening News. Easton, Maryland. Associated Press. June 10, 1988. p. 2B. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Google News Archive.
2. Cullum, George Washington (1930). Donaldson, William H. (ed.). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. From Its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890. Vol. VII: 1920–1930. Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. p. 1955. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
3. Assembly. Vol. 48. United States Military Academy Association of Graduates. 1990. pp. 133–134. Retrieved December 30, 2022 – via Google Books.