W. B. Goodwin

William Brownell Goodwin (October 7, 1866 – May 17, 1950) was an American college football player and coach, track and field athlete, rowing coach, insurance executive, and archeologist. He played college football at Yale University in 1884 and was a member of Yale's track and field team in 1886 and 1887. Goodwin served as the first head football coach at the University of Washington, coaching from 1892 to 1893 and compiling a record of 2–4–1.^[1] Goodwin officiated the first transcontinental football game, played on December 25, 1899, in San Francisco between California and Carlisle.^[2][3][4]

W. B. Goodwin

Biographical details
Born	(1866-10-07)October 7, 1866 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1950(1950-05-17) (aged 83) Hot Springs, Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1884	Yale
Track and field
1886–1887	Yale
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1892–1893	Washington
Rowing
1901–1903	California
Head coaching record
Overall	2–4–1 (football)

Goodwin worked as an agent for the Aetna Fire Insurance Company in Columbus, Ohio and San Francisco before retiring around 1930. He thereafter took up an interest in archeology, making field trips in New England. In North Salem, Massachusetts he discovered a number of colonies of beehive huts similar to those built by Culdees of Northern Ireland. His discovery led him to theorize that the Irish had discovered America. Goodwin died on May 17, 1950, in Hot Springs, Virginia.^[5]

Head coaching record

Football

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Washington (Independent) (1892–1893)
1892	Washington	1–1
1893	Washington	1–3–1
Washington:		2–4–1
Total:		2–4–1

References

1. "2021 Washington Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Washington. p. 169. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
2. "Story Of The Great Battle From Line To Line". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. December 26, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
3. "Story Of The Game (continued)". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco, California. December 26, 1899. p. 11. Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .
4. "William Brownell Goodwin". Greater Northwest Football Association. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
5. "Goodwin dies; Theorized Irish Discovered America". Record-Journal. Meriden, Connecticut. May 18, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com .