Volney C. Ashford (November 15, 1907 – October 14, 1973) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at Missouri Valley College for 28 season, from 1937 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1967. He led the Missouri Valley Vikings to nine bowl games, including the Mineral Water Bowl in 1955 and the 1956 Tangerine Bowl.

Volney Ashford
Biographical details
Born(1907-11-15)November 15, 1907
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 14, 1973(1973-10-14) (aged 65)
Marshall, Missouri, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1927–1929Missouri Valley
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1931Missouri Valley (assistant)
1932–1936Harrisonville HS (MO)
1937–1942Missouri Valley
1946–1967Missouri Valley
Head coaching record
Overall197–55–12 (college football)
25–12–4 (high school football)
Bowls3–3–3
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
13 MCAU (1939, 1941–1942, 1946–1949, 1951–1952, 1954–1955, 1958, 1960–1961)
Awards
NAIA Coach of the Year (1958)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2009 (profile)

Ashford left Missouri Valley during World War II to serve in the United States Navy. He was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade and left for the North Carolina Pre-Flight School at Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the spring of 1943.[1] Ashford was later stationed at Iowa City, Iowa and returned to Missouri Valley in December 1945.[2]

Ashford died of a heart attack on October 14, 1973.[3] He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Missouri Valley Vikings (Missouri College Athletic Union) (1937–1942)
1937 Missouri Valley 3–4–1 1–3 T–4th
1938 Missouri Valley 5–3–1 1–2–1 T–3rd
1939 Missouri Valley 7–1 3–1 T–1st
1940 Missouri Valley 2–5–1 2–2 3rd
1941 Missouri Valley 7–2 3–0 1st
1942 Missouri Valley 9–0 4–0 1st
Missouri Valley Vikings (Missouri College Athletic Union) (1946–1967)
1946 Missouri Valley 10–0 4–0 1st
1947 Missouri Valley 12–0 4–0 1st W Boys' Ranch Bowl, W Cigar
1948 Missouri Valley 9–1–1 4–0 1st L Refrigerator, T Cigar
1949 Missouri Valley 8–3 3–0 1st L Oleander Bowl
1950 Missouri Valley 8–2 2–1 2nd
1951 Missouri Valley 10–1 4–0 1st
1952 Missouri Valley 6–4 4–0 1st
1953 Missouri Valley 7–1–1 3–1 2nd T Cigar
1954 Missouri Valley 7–1–2 2–0–1 T–1st
1955 Missouri Valley 9–1–1 1–0 1st W Mineral Water, T Tangerine
1956 Missouri Valley 8–2–1 0–0–1 T–3rd
1957 Missouri Valley 4–2 0–0 NA
1958 Missouri Valley 8–1 3–0 1st L Tangerine
1959 Missouri Valley 7–2 2–1 2nd
1960 Missouri Valley 7–1–1 3–0–1 T–1st
1961 Missouri Valley 9–0–1 4–0 1st
1962 Missouri Valley 6–3 3–1 2nd
1963 Missouri Valley 5–4 3–1 2nd
1964 Missouri Valley 7–2 3–1 2nd
1965 Missouri Valley 4–5 3–1 2nd
1966 Missouri Valley 6–3 1–1 4th
1967 Missouri Valley 6–4 1–1 T–3rd
Missouri Valley: 196–58–11 71–17–4
Total: 196–58–11
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Sporting Comment". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. April 13, 1943. p. 11. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Ashford Back On Job". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. December 6, 1945. p. 17. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Volney Ashford Dies at 65". Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. October 15, 1973. p. 28. Retrieved November 19, 2019 – via Newspapers.com  .
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