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T. Nelson Metcalf

1890 – 1982

American football player and coach, college athletics administrator

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About T. Nelson Metcalf

Lived 1890 – 1982 (aged 91). T. Nelson Metcalf was an American athletics competitor and american football player.

Thomas Nelson "Nellie" Metcalf (September 21, 1890 – January 17, 1982) was an American football and basketball player, track athlete, coach of football and track, professor of physical education, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Columbia University (1915–1917) as well as his alma mater, Oberlin College (1913, 1919–1921), compiling a career college football record of 33–13–4. From 1924 to 1933, Metcalf taught at Iowa State University in the physical education department and served as the school's athletic director. He then moved on to the University of Chicago, where he was the athletic director from 1933 to 1956. At Chicago, he replaced Amos Alonzo Stagg, who was forced into retirement at the age of 70 after 40 years of service as the school's athletic director and head football coach.

While at Oberlin College, Metcalf played tackle on the football team and was also a successful two miles runner on the track and field team, once holding a conference record in that event.

Head coaching record

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Employers
Iowa State University, Oberlin College
Also known as
Thomas Nelson Metcalf, Nellie Metcalf

People in T. Nelson Metcalf's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped T. Nelson Metcalf's

Frequently asked questions

Who was T. Nelson Metcalf?

American football player and coach, college athletics administrator (1890–1982)

When was T. Nelson Metcalf born?

T. Nelson Metcalf was born on 21 September 1890 in Elyria.

When did T. Nelson Metcalf die?

T. Nelson Metcalf died on 17 January 1982 in Santa Barbara.

What was T. Nelson Metcalf's occupation?

T. Nelson Metcalf was an athletics competitor and american football player.

What nationality was T. Nelson Metcalf?

T. Nelson Metcalf was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: T. Nelson Metcalf

· Wikidata: Q7668557

· DBpedia: T. Nelson Metcalf

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). T. Nelson Metcalf. https://biography.guide/t-nelson-metcalf/

MLA: "T. Nelson Metcalf." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/t-nelson-metcalf/.

Chicago: "T. Nelson Metcalf." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/t-nelson-metcalf/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-25 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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