About Shack Shealy
Lived 1874 – 1929 (aged 55). Shack Shealy was an American head coach and american football player.
Alonzo Sheck "Shack" Shealy (June 1, 1873 – October 24, 1929) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in 1904 and is the only Clemson graduate to be head football coach of his alma mater. A member of Clemson's first football team in 1896, Shealy served as team captain in 1898.
Biography Shealy was born on June 1, 1873, in Etheridge, South Carolina, an area now known as Saluda County (formerly part of Edgefield County). His father, J. Edward Shealy, was a well-to-do planter of Edgefield, his mother was Miss Frances Linder, of Lexington. Shealy attended public schools of this County until February 1894, when he enrolled at Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina, in June 1894; graduated 1899 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
"He decided to take the agricultural course and has pursued it to a successful completion. He has been honored with the highest office in the corps, being appointed Senior Captain in February 1898. He has been president of the Columbian Society, was captain of the '98 foot ball [sic] team, holding the position of left end in a manner that left nothing to be desired.
"After graduation Mr. Shealy expects to make a specialty of Veterinary Science.
"Characteristic: A fondness for, but extreme diffidence toward the fair sex."
Entered Iowa State College at Ames, March 1900- taking degree Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, June 1903; at Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina as Assistant Veterinarian in 1904. Played four years as a Tiger, and two more years for Iowa State. He was hired in the fall of 1904 to replace Coach John Heisman who had accepted Georgia Tech's offer to become head of athletics at the institute in November 1903. He holds the distinction of being the only Clemson player to have been head coach at his alma mater. Shealy coached Clemson one year and guided the Tigers to a 3–3–1 record overall, which included wins over Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, giving him a .500 winning percentage.
He died on October 24, 1929.
Head coaching record
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Important facts
People in Shack Shealy's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Shack Shealy?
American football coach (1874-1929)
When was Shack Shealy born?
Shack Shealy was born on 1 June 1874 in Saluda County.
When did Shack Shealy die?
Shack Shealy died on 24 October 1929 in Augusta.
What was Shack Shealy's occupation?
Shack Shealy was a head coach and american football player.
What nationality was Shack Shealy?
Shack Shealy was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Shack Shealy. https://biography.guide/shack-shealy/
MLA: "Shack Shealy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/shack-shealy/.
Chicago: "Shack Shealy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/shack-shealy/.
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