Jay L. "Biffy" Lee (September 27, 1887 – April 10, 1970) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Penn College—now known as William Penn University—in Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1915 and again from 1917 to 1920 and at the University of Buffalo—now known as University at Buffalo—from 1929 to 1930, compiling a career college football record of 17–20–4.

Jay L. Lee
Biographical details
Born(1887-09-27)September 27, 1887
Tuscola County, Michigan, U.S.
DiedApril 10, 1970(1970-04-10) (aged 82)
Traverse City, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1910Albion
1911Notre Dame
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1915Penn (IA)
1916Notre Dame (assistant)
1917–1920Penn (IA)
1922Cornell (IA) (assistant)
1929–1930Buffalo
Basketball
1919–1921Penn (IA)
Baseball
1916Penn (IA)
1923Cornell (IA)
Head coaching record
Overall17–20–4 (football)
6–12 (basketball)

Playing career

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In 1910, Lee attended Albion College, where he played football and baseball. In 1911, he was the quarterback at the University of Notre Dame. He was the college roommate of Knute Rockne.[1]

Coaching career

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In 1916, Lee was an assistant football coach at Notre Dame. He served as the head football coach at the University of Buffalo from 1929 to 1930, compiling a record of 8–7. He was also on the faculty of the University of Buffalo, lecturing in the School of Marketing.

In 1931, he unexpectedly resigned as the head coach of the Buffalo football program to attend to business duties.[2]

Late life and death

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Lee work as an executive for the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company for 27 years until his retirement in 1952. He died on April 10, 1970, in Traverse City, Michigan.[3]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Penn (Iowa) Quakers (Independent) (1915)
1915 Penn 4–3
Penn (Iowa) Quakers (Independent) (1917–1920)
1917 Penn 4–1–1
1918 No team—World War I
1919 Penn 0–3–3
1920 Penn 1–6
Penn: 9–14–3
Buffalo Bisons (New York State Conference) (1929–1930)
1929 Buffalo 5–2
1930 Buffalo 3–5
Buffalo: 8–7
Total: 17–20–4

References

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  1. ^ Hollander, Scott (October 24, 2014). "1929 Buffalo Bulls Football". University at Buffalo Libraries. University at Buffalo. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  2. ^ "Pritchard New Coach at Buffalo". Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Rochester New York. February 16, 1931.
  3. ^ "Jay L. Lee Dies at 83". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Traverse City, Michigan. April 10, 1970. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2016 – via Newspapers.com  .