Arthur Valpey

Who was Arthur Valpey?

Arthur L. Valpey was an American football player and coach.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, Valpey was an all-state halfback at Dayton's Steele High School. Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1934, where freshman football coach Wally Weber moved him to the end position. Valpey played end for the 1935, 1936 and 1937 Michigan Wolverines football teams coached by Harry Kipke.

After graduating, Valpey became a high school football coach for five years, working for one year each in Ida, Michigan, and Manchester, Michigan, and eventually at Midland, Michigan. He was next hired in April 1940 to serve as the head football coach and athletic director at Midland High School, where he remained for three years. Valpey was hired as the freshman line coach at the University of Michigan at the end of the 1942 season and was on the school's coaching staff from 1943 through 1947. In 1945 and 1946, Valpey became the chief scout and line coach under Michigan's legendary coach Fritz Crisler. In 1947, Valpey served as the ends coach for the undefeated Michigan team that is considered the greatest football team in the school's history. Under Valpey's tutelage, both of Michigan's starting ends Bob Mann and Len Ford were selected as second- and third-team All-Americans for the 1947 season.