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Willis Kienholz

1875 – 1958

American football player and coach

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About Willis Kienholz

Lived 1875 – 1958 (aged 82). Willis Kienholz was an American american football player.

William Simmian "Willis" Kienholz (October 10, 1875 – September 20, 1958) was an American college football player and coach. He served one-year stints as the head coach at six different colleges: Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois, North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—now North Carolina State University (1904), the University of Colorado at Boulder (1905), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1906), Auburn University (1907), and Washington State University (1909). Kienholz played football at the University of Minnesota in 1898 and 1899.

Coaching career

In 1902, Kienholz was an assistant football coach as his alma mater, Minnesota, working under head coach Henry L. Williams. During that season, he was also slated at the head coach at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois. The next year he was again the head football coach at Lombard, leading his team to a championship of Illinois colleges.

In 1904, Kienholz coached at North Carolina A&M, and compiled a 3–1–2 record. In 1905, he coached at Colorado, and compiled an 8–1 record. In 1907, he coached at Auburn, and compiled a 6–2–1 record. In 1909, he coached at Washington State, and compiled a 4–1 record.

Later life and death Kienholz later served as the director of vocational training for the public schools of Los Angeles, California. He died on September 20, 1958, in Seattle, Washington.

Head coaching record

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Minnesota

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Willis Kienholz's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Willis Kienholz?

American football player and coach (1875-1958)

When was Willis Kienholz born?

Willis Kienholz was born on 10 October 1875 in Kasson.

When did Willis Kienholz die?

Willis Kienholz died on 20 September 1958 in Seattle.

What was Willis Kienholz's occupation?

Willis Kienholz was an american football player.

What nationality was Willis Kienholz?

Willis Kienholz was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Willis Kienholz

· Wikidata: Q8022083

· DBpedia: Willis Kienholz

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willis Kienholz. https://biography.guide/willis-kienholz/

MLA: "Willis Kienholz." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willis-kienholz/.

Chicago: "Willis Kienholz." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willis-kienholz/.

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

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