Allen Steckle

Allen Chubb Steckle (July 1872 – March 4, 1938) was an American football player and coach. He played tackle for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899 and was selected as an All-American in 1898. Steckle served as the head football coach at the Nevada State University—now known as the University of Nevada, Reno—from 1901 to 1903 and Oregon State University, known then as Oregon Agricultural College, from 1904 to 1905, compiling a career head coaching record of 16–14–2. In 1903, his Nevada State Sagebrushers team, drawn from a school with 80 students, defeated the California Golden Bears.

Early years Steckle was born in July 1872 at Freeman, Michigan. His father, Abraham B. Steckle, was born in Waterloo Township, Ontario, Canada, in 1842, and worked as a farmer. His mother, Sarah (Furtney) Steckle, was also a native of Waterloo Township. His parents were married in December 1867 in Waterloo County, Ontario. At the time of the 1880 United States census, Steckle was residing with his parents and six siblings in Campbell Township, Michigan.

University of Michigan Steckle played football for the University of Michigan from 1897 to 1899 and was captain of the 1899 team. In 1898, Steckle was among the first western players to be named to an All-American team after being selected by Walter Camp as his second-team tackle. He helped Michigan win its first Western Conference championship in 1898 and was selected as the best tackle in the West. One newspaper wrote that he was "as good a defensive player as one will find anywhere."

Coaching career Nevada State From 1901 to 1903, Steckle served as the head football coach at the Nevada State University. In 1903, he was also appointed to the position as the university's Physical Director. Steckle's picture appeared on the front page, and the paper praised his efforts in turning Nevada into a football power: Out of the eighty students of the N.S.U. have been selected eleven young men who were moulded into shape by Dr. Steckle, the best football coach who ever came to the Coast. He made of them the peers of the flower of the California universities. Ivan left Nevada after the 1903 season to follow his older brother to the University of Michigan Medical School. Ivan died from typhoid fever in 1909, and Steckle accompanied his brother's body to the family's old home in Freeport, Michigan. He served as Oregon State's head coach from 1904 to 1905 and compiled a 10–5 record in those two seasons.

Medical career After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1899, Steckle enrolled in the Illinois College of Physicians and Surgeons. Steckle's principal profession was as a medical doctor and surgeon. However, he took time out of his medical practice to coach college football for several years.

After the 1905 football season, Steckle decided to quit coaching and focus on his medical practice. He maintained his medical practice for many years in Battle Ground, Washington. At the time of the 1930 United States census, Steckle was living in South Battle Ground, Washington, with daughters Catherine J. and S. Elizabeth Steckle, and his sister-in-law, Nesbit Daline. His occupation was listed as a physician and surgeon.

Death On March 4, 1938, Steckle, 65, was found dead beside his automobile on a side road near his home with "a .38 caliber bullet through his head." Steckle left his home the previous night for a house call and never returned. Several threatening letters were found among Steckle's papers, including one demanding "$2,000 or else."

Head coaching record