Bennie Johnson "Catfish" George (June 28, 1919 – August 4, 1986) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Delaware State University from 1956 to 1958, compiling a record of 16–8–1. As the first basketball head coach in Delaware State history, George led the Hornets for 14 seasons, from 1956 to 1971, and amassing a record of 155–152. He is still the longest tenured coach in program history and was passed in 2010 by Greg Jackson for most wins. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, George attended Morehouse College and Delaware State. He worked as an assistant football coach at Delaware State in 1955 under his predecessor as head coach, Edward Jackson.[1]

Bennie J. George
Biographical details
Born(1919-06-27)June 27, 1919
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
DiedAugust 4, 1986(1986-08-04) (aged 67)
Dover, Delaware, U.S.
Playing career
Football
c. 1942–1945Delaware State
Basketball
c. 1945Delaware State
Baseball
c. 1945Delaware State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1955Delaware State (assistant)
1956–1958Delaware State
Basketball
1956–1971Delaware State
Baseball
1957–1959Delaware State
Head coaching record
Overall16–8–1 (football)
155–152 (basketball)
23–15 (baseball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
CIAA (1956)

George graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta and then served in the United States Army during World War II. He came to Delaware state in 1943 as a student and played football, basketball, and baseball before graduating in 1947. George joined Delaware State's faculty in 1949 as physical education instructor. He was later promoted to associate professor and then to head of the health and education department, serving in the later post until his retirement in 1979. George died of pneumonia, on August 4, 1986, at Kent General Hospital in Dover, Delaware.[2][3]

He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.[4]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Delaware State Hornets (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1956–1959)
1956 Delaware State 7–1–1 5–0–1 T–1st
1957 Delaware State 6–2 4–2 3rd
1958 Delaware State 3–5 3–4 11th
Delaware State: 16–8–1 12–6–1
Total: 16–8–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Bennie George Named Coach At". Alabama Tribune. Montgomery, Alabama. August 18, 1956. p. 6. Retrieved June 23, 2019 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ Kemp, Al (August 4, 1986). "DelState's Bennie 'Catfish' George dies". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B1. Retrieved July 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ Kemp, Al (August 4, 1986). "Bennie George (continued)". The Morning News. Wilmington, Delaware. p. B7. Retrieved July 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  4. ^ "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1987". www.desports.org.
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