James DeHart

Who was James DeHart?

James "Jimmy" DeHart was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Duke University from 1926 to 1930 and Washington & Lee University from 1922 to 1925 and again from 1931 to 1932, compiling a career college football record of 51–50–6. DeHart also served as an assistant on the coaching staff at the University of Georgia. In 1935, he signed a contract to become the head coach at Southwestern University in Memphis, Tennessee, but fell ill and died while relocating. He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played football for the Panthers from 1914 to 1916 and in 1918, where he was hailed as a "star". DeHart played quarterback under head coach Glenn "Pop" Warner and led the 1916 team to an undefeated season. He also earned letters in basketball, baseball, and track at Pittsburgh. DeHart put his college education on hiatus to serve in the United States Army during World War I. As a lieutenant in the Aviation Section, he coached a service team at Mather Field. He returned to Pittsburgh after his time in the Army. After graduation, he coached the backfield at the University of Georgia from 1920 to 1921.