Albert Wittmer
American football and basketball player and coach, lawyer and stage legislator
About Albert Wittmer
Lived 1897 – 1950 (aged 53). Albert Wittmer was an American basketball coach and american football player.
Albert Wittmer Jr. (March 9, 1896 – March 10, 1950) was an American football and basketball player and coach, lawyer, and state legislator. He was a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who attended Allegheny High School and Mercersburg Academy. His father, Albert Wittmer, Sr., was a Pennsylvania native who worked as a butcher in a slaughterhouse. At the time of the 1910 United States census, Wittmer lived in Pittsburgh with his parents, two younger brothers and a younger sister. Wittmer attended Westminster College for one year before enrolling at Princeton University. Wittmer's education was interrupted by military service, as he served in the United States Navy during World War I. Wittmer played college football and basketball at Princeton. He played at the halfback and center positions in football and the guard position in basketball and was selected as the captain of the basketball team in 1921.
After graduating from Princeton, he served as the head coach of the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team for 10 years from 1922 to 1932. His record of 115–86 ranks him as the third winningest basketball coach in Princeton history. His 1924–25 team was retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation, and the team was also retroactively named as the top team of the season by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Wittmer also served as the line coach for the Princeton Tigers football team for nine years from 1922 to 1930. In 1931, he was asked to take over as the head football coach and compiled a record in that capacity of 1–7. After retiring from coaching, Wittmer received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the New Jersey State Legislature in the early 1930s and later practiced law in Princeton, New Jersey. At the time of the 1930 United States census, Wittmer was living in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife, Leah Wittmer, and their daughter Mary (age 1-10/12) and Margaret (age 3-11/12). His profession at that time was listed as a lawyer in general practice. He died suddenly after suffering a heart attack at his sister's home following a party celebrating his 53rd birthday. He had been living with his sister since poor health had caused him to retire.
Head coaching record Football
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Albert Wittmer's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Albert Wittmer?
American football and basketball player and coach, lawyer and stage legislator (1897-1950)
When was Albert Wittmer born?
Albert Wittmer was born on 9 March 1897 in Pittsburgh.
When did Albert Wittmer die?
Albert Wittmer died on 10 March 1950 in Pittsburgh.
What was Albert Wittmer's occupation?
Albert Wittmer was a basketball coach and american football player.
What nationality was Albert Wittmer?
Albert Wittmer was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Albert Wittmer. https://biography.guide/albert-wittmer/
MLA: "Albert Wittmer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/albert-wittmer/.
Chicago: "Albert Wittmer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/albert-wittmer/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:25 UTC