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John Christenbury

1907 – 1944

American sports coach

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About John Christenbury

Lived 1907 – 1944 (aged 37). John Christenbury was an American military officer and basketball coach.

John Boyd Christenbury (February 13, 1907 – July 17, 1944) was an American college football, basketball and baseball coach. His collegiate career began in 1938 when he became athletic director at Brevard College, serving there until 1940. While at Brevard, Christenbury also served as head football coach in 1938 and 1939. In 1940, he moved to East Carolina Teachers College, now East Carolina University, where he assumed the role of head coach for men's football and basketball in 1940 and baseball in 1941. Christenbury's 1941 football team went 7–0 and recorded the only undefeated season in East Carolina history. He did not coach football in 1942 due to the outbreak of World War II, although he continued coaching baseball through the 1942 season and basketball until early 1943.

Christenbury enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943. On July 17, 1944 he was killed along with 319 others when munitions exploded during the loading of a ship in Port Chicago, California. On January 6, 1953 the Christenbury Memorial Gymnasium was named in his honor. He was inducted into the East Carolina Hall of Fame in 1993.

Head coaching record Football The following is a table of Christenbury's yearly records as a head football coach.

Basketball The following is a table of Christenbury's yearly records as a head basketball coach.

Baseball The following is a table of Christenbury's yearly records as a head baseball coach.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
John Boyd Christenbury

People in John Christenbury's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Christenbury's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Christenbury?

American sports coach (1907-1944)

When was John Christenbury born?

John Christenbury was born on 13 February 1907 in North Carolina.

When did John Christenbury die?

John Christenbury died on 1 July 1944 in Port Chicago.

What was John Christenbury's occupation?

John Christenbury was a military officer and basketball coach.

What nationality was John Christenbury?

John Christenbury was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Christenbury

· Wikidata: Q14589413

· DBpedia: John Christenbury

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Christenbury. https://biography.guide/john-christenbury/

MLA: "John Christenbury." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-christenbury/.

Chicago: "John Christenbury." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-christenbury/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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