George Washington "Doc" Hoskins (October 1864 – January 22, 1958) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Pennsylvania State University (1892–1895), the University of Pittsburgh (1896), and Bucknell University (1899–1906, 1909), compiling a career college football record of 59–48–9. Hoskins was also the head basketball coach at Bucknell from 1908 to 1911, tallying a mark of 21–14.

George W. Hoskins
Hoskins pictured in L'Agenda 1905, Bucknell yearbook
Biographical details
BornOctober 1864
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 22, 1958(1958-01-22) (aged 93)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1892–1894Penn State
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1892–1895Penn State
1896Pittsburgh
1896–1897Pittsburgh Athletic Club
1899–1906Bucknell
1909Bucknell
Basketball
1908–1911Bucknell
Head coaching record
Overall59–48–9 (college football)
21–14 (college basketball)

Early life

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Hoskins was born in 1864 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Coaching career

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Hoskins was the first head coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team. While the school played football from 1887 to 1891, before his arrival, Hoskins is credited for being their first coach. During his tenure from 1892 to 1895, he compiled a 17–4–4 record. His .760 winning percentage ranks highest in school history, surpassing notable coaches such as Joe Paterno, Hugo Bezdek, and Rip Engle. He lost his first college football game at the University of Pennsylvania, and tied his final game against Western Reserve University.

He followed up his career at Penn State by becoming the third-ever head coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 1896. By mid-November 1896, Hoskins was called upon to become the head coach of the early professional football team, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. He tried to salvage the team's dismal season, but instead helped guide them to a 2–5–3 record. He returned as the Pittsburgh Athletic Club's coach in 1897.[2][3]

Hoskins later served as a trainer during spring training for the Cincinnati Reds. He died in 1958 in Cincinnati, Ohio.[4]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Penn State (Independent) (1892–1895)
1892 Penn State 5–1
1893 Penn State 4–1
1894 Penn State 6–0–1
1895 Penn State 2–2–3
Penn State: 17–4–4
Western University of Pennsylvania (Independent) (1896)
1896 Western University of Pennsylvania 3–6
Western University of Pennsylvania: 3–6
Bucknell (Independent) (1899–1906)
1899 Bucknell 6–4–1
1900 Bucknell 3–5–1
1901 Bucknell 6–4
1902 Bucknell 6–4
1903 Bucknell 4–5
1904 Bucknell 3–3
1905 Bucknell 5–5
1906 Bucknell 3–4–1
Bucknell (Independent) (1909)
1909 Bucknell 3–4–2
Bucknell: 39–38–5
Total: 59–48–9

See also

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References

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  1. ^ La Vie 1896. 1896. p. 112. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  2. ^ "Must Obey the Rules". The Pittsburg Press. October 12, 1897. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "P. A. C.'s Record No Longer Clean". The Pittsburg Post. October 31, 1897. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "First Penn State Grid Coach Is Dead at 93". Daily American. Somerset, Pennsylvania. February 5, 1958. p. 17. Retrieved June 7, 2019 – via Newspapers.com  .

Additional sources

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