John Longwell

Who is John Longwell?

John Burt Longwell was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and dentist. He served as the head football coach at Howard College—now Samford University—in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1909, 1911, 1916 and 1917 seasons and at New York University in 1919, compiling a career college football record of 18–18–3. Longwell was also the head basketball coach at Howard during the 1916–17 season, tallying a mark of 3–5.

Longwell took over the Howard football program from interim coach Winton M. Blount, Sr. in 1909. His first team went 5–2–1 and outscored opponents 82 to 30 over eight games. James C. Donnelly coached the next season. When Longwell returned the following season, the 1–6–1 1911 Bulldogs only managed six points to their opponents' 158 in an eight-game season. B. L. Noojin coached the next three seasons, succeeded by Eugene Caton in 1915. Longwell returned in 1916 and guided the Bulldogs to a 6–4 record. He coached the first five games of the next season before resigning. Bill Streit completed the 3–3–1 season. His overall record with the Bulldogs was 14–14–3 in 31 games. Longwell's Bulldogs averaged 8.74 points per game.