Willis Kienholz

Willis Kienholz

Kienholz pictured in The Chinook 1911, Washington State yearbook
Biographical details
Born	(1875-10-22)October 22, 1875Kasson, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	September 20, 1958(1958-09-20) (aged 82)Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
1898–1899	Minnesota
Positions	Halfback, quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1902	Minnesota (assistant)
1902–1903	Lombard
1904	North Carolina A&M
1905	Colorado
1906	North Carolina
1907	Auburn
1909	Washington State
Head coaching record
Overall	26–12–5
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Northwest Conference (1909)

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 (1903), 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

Kienholz pictured in Minnesota attire.

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.^[1] The next year he was again the head football coach at Lombard, leading his team to a championship of Illinois colleges.^[2]

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.^[3]

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Lombard Olive(Independent)(1903)
1903	Lombard	4–3
Lombard:		4–3
North Carolina A&M Aggies(Independent)(1904)
1904	North Carolina A&M	3–1–2
North Carolina A&M:		3–1–2
Colorado Silver and Gold(Colorado Football Association)(1905)
1905	Colorado	8–1
Colorado:		8–1
North Carolina Tar Heels(Independent)(1906)
1906	North Carolina	1–4–2
North Carolina:		1–4–2
Auburn Tigers(Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)(1907)
1907	Auburn	6–2–1	3–2–1	T–5th
Auburn:		6–2–1	3–2–1
Washington State(Northwest Conference)(1909)
1909	Washington State	4–1	2–0	T–1st
Washington State:		4–1	2–0
Total:		26–12–5
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

1. "Lombard Scores on the Maroons". Chicago Tribune. September 21, 1902. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
2. "Carolina Gets Star Football Coach". Greensboro Daily News. Greensboro, North Carolina. February 27, 1906. p. 3. Retrieved April 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Ex-WSC Coach Dies". The Daily Chronicle. Centralia, Washington. Associated Press. September 22, 1958. p. 8. Retrieved September 4, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Willis Kienholz at Find a Grave