Peter Willis Cawthon (March 24, 1898 – December 31, 1962) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Austin College from 1923 to 1927 and at Texas Technological College—now Texas Tech University—from 1930 to 1940, compiling a career college football coaching record of 99–52–10. Cawthon was the head coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers/Tigers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1942 to 1943. He served as the athletic director at Texas Tech from 1930 to 1941 and the University of Alabama from 1952 to 1953.

Pete Cawthon
Cawthon, c. 1930s
Biographical details
Born(1898-03-24)March 24, 1898
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 31, 1962(1962-12-31) (aged 64)
Sherman, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1917–1919Southwestern (TX)
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1919Beaumont HS (TX)
1921–1922Terrill Prep (TX)
1923–1927Austin
1930–1940Texas Tech
1942Alabama (line)
1943–1944Brooklyn Dodgers/Tigers
1945–1946Detroit Lions (assistant)
Basketball
1920–1921Rice
1923–1927Austin
Baseball
1920–1921Rice
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1930–1940Texas Tech
1952–1953Alabama
Head coaching record
Overall98–50–10 (college football)
2–18 (NFL)
Bowls0–2
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 TIAA (1923)
1 Border (1937)

Playing career

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Cawthon graduated from Houston Central High School in 1917 and went on to attend Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He lettered in baseball, football, and basketball during his freshman year. When the baseball coach left to fight in World War I, Cawthon took over the position. Cawthon earned four letters his sophomore year and was selected as an All-State halfback.[1]

Coaching career

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In 1919, Cawthon took his first regular coaching job at Beaumont High School before becoming the baseball and basketball coach at Rice Institute—now Rice University—in 1920. In 1921, he moved to Dallas and was the head football coach at Terrill Prep for two years. In 1923, he moved on to coach at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he established the Cawthon Trophy, given annually to an outstanding individual at the school on the basis of athletic participation, leadership, and sportsmanship. His record at Austin College was 23–18–4 from 1923 to 1927. Austin won the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association title in 1923.

In 1930, Cawthon was hired by Texas Technological College—now Texas Tech University. By 1932, the Matadors—now the Red Raiders—became the highest-scoring team in the nation. He coached at the school through the 1940 season. During his tenure, he compiled a record of 76–32–6.

Cawthon served as line coach in football with the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 1942 season. From 1943 to 1944, Cawthon coached in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers/Tigers. He posted a 2–18 record during his time in the NFL. From 1952 to 1953, Cawthon served as athletic director at the University of Alabama.

Death

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Cawthon died after a heart attack on December 31, 1962, in Sherman, Texas.[2]

Head coaching record

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Football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
Austin Kangaroos (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1923–1925)
1923 Austin 7–2–1 4–0–1 1st
1924 Austin 7–2–1 2–2–1 T–6th
1925 Austin 4–4–1 2–3 7th
Austin Kangaroos (Texas Conference) (1926–1927)
1926 Austin 4–5 1–2 4th
1927 Austin 1–5–1 0–2–1 6th
Austin: 23–18–4 9–9–3
Texas Tech Matadors (Independent) (1930–1931)
1930 Texas Tech 3–6
1931 Texas Tech 6–3
Texas Tech Matadors / Red Raiders (Border Conference) (1932–1940)
1932 Texas Tech 10–2 2–0
1933 Texas Tech 8–1 1–0
1934 Texas Tech 7–2–1 1–0
1935 Texas Tech 5–3–2 0–1 6th
1936 Texas Tech 5–4–1 0–0–1 T–4th
1937 Texas Tech 8–4 3–0 1st L Sun
1938 Texas Tech 10–1 2–0 L Cotton 11
1939 Texas Tech 5–5–1 2–1 T–2nd
1940 Texas Tech 9–1–1 0–1 T–6th
Texas Tech: 76–32–6 11–3–1
Total: 99–50–10
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Basketball

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Rice Owls (Southwest Conference) (1921–1922)
1921–22 Rice 5–10
Total:

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ H. Allen Anderson (June 12, 2010). "Cawthon, Peter Willis". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  2. ^ "Pete Cawthon Dead At 64". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Associated Press. January 1, 1963. Retrieved June 11, 2015 – via Google News.
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