Charlie Bachman

Charles William Bachman Jr. (December 1, 1892 – December 14, 1985) was an American college football player and coach. Bachman was an Illinois native and an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he played football. He served as the head football coach of Northwestern University, Kansas State Agricultural College, the University of Florida, Michigan State College, and Hillsdale College Bachman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 1978.

Early life and education Bachman was born in Chicago, in 1892. He received his high school education at Englewood High School in Chicago, where he was standout athlete in football and track and field. Bachman attended the University of Notre Dame from 1914 to 1916, and played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team alongside Knute Rockne. He moved on to Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, Kansas following this season, and the losing record proved to be an aberration; from 1920 to 1927, Bachman posted a record of 33–23–9 at Kansas State. The 1928 Gators' sole loss came in their final game of the season, a 13–12 upset by Robert Neyland's 8–0–1 Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. While at Florida, Bachman coached the Gators' first first-team All-American, Hall of Fame end Dale Van Sickel, in 1928 and 1929. He also led the 1929 Gators in their first major intersectional match-up, a "neutral site" game in Miami against John McEwan's 7–2 Oregon Ducks football team, with the Gators coming away with the 20–6 victory. Bachman's first two seasons with the Gators were his most successful, but he continued to lead the Gators Eleven for five seasons, posting an overall record of 27–18–3.

Bachman left Florida to become the head football coach of Michigan State College in East Lansing, Michigan, coaching from 1933 to 1942 and from 1944 to 1946.

Honors and death Bachman was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as an "honorary letter winner" in 1971, and later, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978. Bachman was survived by his wife Grace and their three sons,