Haps Benfer

Harold Arthur "Haps" Benfer (October 24, 1893 – January 2, 1966) was an American college football and college basketball player and coach. He was selected as a first-team All-American fullback while playing for Albright College in 1914. He later spent 40 years as an athletic coach and administrator at Muhlenberg College.

Early life and education Benfer was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, on October 24, 1893, to Anna Leah Hengst and Henry Abraham Benfer, a prominent Evangelical minister. Benfer became a five-sport star athlete at William Penn High School.

After graduating from York High School, Benfer enrolled at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. At Albright, he played football, basketball, and baseball. He played fullback for the football team and was selected as a first-team All-American fullback in 1914 by the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. He was also named Albright College's "Athlete of the Century" in 1956.

After graduating from Albright College, Benfer received a post-graduate education at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Illinois and was ordained as a minister of the United Evangelical Church.

Career Benfer served as the head football coach at Western Union College—later known as Westmar University—in LeMars, Iowa from 1916 to 1917.

Benfer later worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator for 50 years. He also played baseball for St. Louis Cardinals' farm teams for two summers.

Benfer died at his home in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in January 1966 at age 73.

Head coaching record Football