Henry E. Frnka (/ˈfræŋkə/ FRANK; March 16, 1903 – December 18, 1980) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at the University of Tulsa from 1941 to 1945 and at Tulane University from 1946 to 1951, compiling a career college football record of 71–32–5. Frnka was also the athletic director at Tulsa from 1941 to 1945.

Henry Frnka
Biographical details
Born(1903-03-16)March 16, 1903
Garwood, Texas, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 1980(1980-12-18) (aged 77)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Playing career
1922–1925Austin
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1926–1930Lubbock HS (TX)
1931–1935Greenville HS (TX)
1936–1939Vanderbilt (assistant)
1940Temple (assistant)
1941–1945Tulsa
1946–1951Tulane
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1941–1945Tulsa
Head coaching record
Overall71–32–5 (college)
103–8–7 (high school)
Bowls2–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 MVC (1941–1943)
1 SEC (1949)

Coaching career

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High school

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Frnka began his coaching career at the high school level. He served as the head football coach at Lubbock High School in Lubbock, Texas, from 1926 to 1930 before moving to Greenville High School in Greenville, Texas, in 1931.[1] He led the Greenville Lions to a Texas state championship in 1933. He used the fumblerooski for the very first time in the 1933 Texas High School Championship game.[citation needed]

Vanderbilt

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Frank left Greenville in 1936 to become freshman coach at Vanderbilt University. He was briefly succeeded at Greenville by his assistant, Dennis Vinzant.[2]

Tulsa

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From 1941 to 1945, Frnka coached at the University of Tulsa, and compiled a 40–9–1 record. The Tulsa Golden Hurricane had never been to a bowl game before, and he took them to five straight, becoming Tulsa's most prolific coach. The Golden Hurricane won three league titles, and outscored opponents 1,552 to 375. He led the team to their first bowl game and a school-best national ranking of No. 4 at the end of the 1942 season.

Tulane

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From 1946 to 1951, Frnka coached at Tulane University, and compiled a 31–23–4 record. Since the 1920s, the Tulane Green Wave had been a national power in college football, and Frnka-led teams produced records of 9–1 in 1948, 7–2–1 in 1949, and 6–2–1 in 1950. In a 1949 issue devoted to a preview of that year's college football season, SPORT magazine declared that Tulane was the best team in the country.

Death

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Frnka died on December 18, 1980, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 77.[3]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs AP#
Tulsa Golden Hurricane (Missouri Valley Conference) (1941–1945)
1941 Tulsa 8–2 4–0 1st W Sun
1942 Tulsa 10–1 5–0 1st L Sugar 4
1943 Tulsa 6–1–1 1–0 1st L Sugar 15
1944 Tulsa 8–2 0–1 2nd W Orange
1945 Tulsa 8–3 2–1 2nd L Oil 17
Tulsa: 40–9–1 12–2
Tulane Green Wave (Southeastern Conference) (1946–1951)
1946 Tulane 3–7 2–4 9th
1947 Tulane 2–5–2 2–3–2 7th
1948 Tulane 9–1 5–1 3rd 13
1949 Tulane 7–2–1 5–1 1st
1950 Tulane 6–2–1 3–1–1 4th 20
1951 Tulane 4–6 1–5 11th
Tulane: 31–23–4 18–15–3
Total: 71–32–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Henry Frnka Moves To Greenville Grid Post". Wichita Daily Times. Wichita Falls, Texas. Associated Press. April 11, 1931. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Dennis Vinzant Take Etex Coaching Post". The Austin Statesman. Austin, Texas. Associated Press. August 27, 1936. p. 11. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Former Tulane, Tulsa coach dies". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 20, 1980. p. 10. Retrieved October 2, 2010 – via Google News.