 Hennemier during his playing career at Duke | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1913 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | November 6, 1993 (aged 80) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1933–1935 | Duke |
| Position(s) | Center,guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1948–1954 | Maryland (DL) |
| 1955–1956 | Calgary Stampeders |
| 1957–1958 | Maryland (DL/RC) |
John M. Hennemier (c. 1913 – November 6, 1993) was an Americangridiron football coach andscout. He served as the head coach for theCalgary Stampeders of theCanadian Football League (CFL) for one and a half seasons, and also held assistant coaching positions at several colleges, most notably, theUniversity of Maryland, College Park where he helpedJim Tatum coach theTerrapins to the 1953 national championship. After his brief stint in the CFL, Hennemier worked as a professional football scout. He attendedDuke University, where he playedcollege football as acenter and was named the team'smost valuable player.
He was born circa 1913[1] inSavannah, Georgia, and attendedSavannah High School.[2][3] In 1931, Hennemier enrolled atDuke University where he studiedbusiness administration and was a member of theSigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[2][3] He playedcollege football for theBlue Devils under head coachWallace Wade. Hennemier played as acenter andguard, and he was a member of the varsity team from 1933 to 1935.[4] As a senior in 1935, he was named the team'smost valuable player.[5] In 1935, he was named to the All-Southern Conference third team.[3] At his heaviest, Hennemier weighed between 150 and 155 pounds,[2] but because of his aggressiveness despite his small size, he was nicknamed "Scrappy Jack".[6] He graduated with the Class of 1936.[3]
In1948, he joined the coaching staff ofJim Tatum atMaryland, and Hennemier remained there as the "chief defensive coach" through the1954 season.[6] He served as an assistant coach responsible for thedefensive line, and during this time, Maryland won the1953 national championship.[7] During Hennemier's first tenure at Maryland, the Terrapins compiled a record of 56–12–2, and outscored their opponents by a margin of 1,924 points to 599. Maryland also recorded 21 defensiveshutouts.[8][9]
In 1955, Hennemier left Maryland to take the head coaching job with theCalgary Stampeders of theCanadian Football League (CFL).[10][11] That season, the team posted a 4–12 record to finish last in theWestern Division. Hennemier nearly signedForrest Gregg, atackle in theNational Football League (NFL) whoVince Lombardi called "the finest player [he] ever coached."[11] Hennemier flew toDallas to meet with Gregg, and over dinner offered him a $7,500 contract with a $500 signing bonus ($88,034 and $5,869, respectively, ininflation-adjusted terms). When theGreen Bay Packers, who had also shown him interest, matched the contract and offered to match half of the signing bonus, Gregg agreed to sign with the Packers.[11] In February 1955, theWashington Redskins of the NFL sued Hennemier for $50,000 in damages ($586,894 adjusted for inflation) for an alleged attempt to lure away two of its tackles.[12][13] The clubs agreed to a truce and eschewed "raiding" each other's rosters.[14] Hennemier was fired during the 1956 season,[15] and the Stampeders again finished last in their division.[11]
In 1957, he returned to Maryland to coach the line and handle recruiting duties.[16][17] He held that position through the 1958 season during the tenure of head coachTommy Mont.[18] His second stint at Maryland was less successful than his earlier one, and the Terrapins compiled a record of 9–11 during those two seasons.[19] Hennemier also held coaching positions at Duke,North Carolina,Washington & Lee, and Savannah High School.[2] and later worked as a professional football scout.[1] He was inducted into the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970.[20] Hennemier died on November 6, 1993, inCharlotte, North Carolina.[1]