 Brechler from 1960Hawkeye | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1911-07-17)July 17, 1911 Curlew, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | September 13, 1997(1997-09-13) (aged 86) Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Drake University (BA) University of Iowa (MA, PhD) |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| c. 1931–1933 | Drake |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1931–1934 | Drake |
| Positions | Guard,end (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1945 | Iowa (assistant) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1947–1960 | Iowa |
| 1960–1962 | Skyline Conference (commissioner) |
| 1962–1968 | WAC (commissioner) |
| 1968–1971 | California |
| 1976–1990 | Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (commissioner) |
Paul Walter Brechler (July 17, 1911 – September 13, 1997) was anathletic director for theUniversity of Iowa for 13 years and the first commissioner of theWestern Athletic Conference.
Brechler graduated fromEmmetsburg High School before attendingDrake University inDes Moines, Iowa. He played football and basketball at Drake. Brechler was aguard andend for the Bulldog football team and was the captain of Drake's 1933 team. He was also a two-time all-conference football selection. Brechler graduated from Drake with aBachelor of Arts degree insocial studies in 1934.[1][2]
He then became a high school coach at Harlan High School and at a high school in Iowa City. Brechler earned hismaster's degree inPhysical education in 1941 and hisdoctorate degree inEducation administration from in 1943 both from theUniversity of Iowa.[1][2] After two years of naval service, Brechler took the position of business manager at the University of Iowa in 1946. One year later,E. G. Schroeder resigned as Iowa's athletic director, and Paul Brechler succeeded him on July 1, 1947.[3] At the time, he was the youngest athletic director in the history of theBig Ten Conference.[4]
During his tenure at Iowa, Brechler hired several successful head coaches. He hiredForest Evashevski in football, who won twoRose Bowls and threeBig Ten championships. He hiredBucky O'Connor in basketball, who won two Big Ten championships and led Iowa to twoFinal Fours. Brechler also hiredFrancis Cretzmeyer in track and cross country, who led Iowa to multiple Big Ten titles. He hired Dave McCuskey in wrestling, who led Iowa to its first conference championship in the sport, and Don Klotz in tennis, who coached Iowa to its only conference title in the sport in 1958.[2]
Brechler was also responsible for the expansion of Iowa's athletics facilities. He directed construction of the Athletics Office Building next to the Fieldhouse and Finkbine Golf Course. Brechler also expanded seating capacity atIowa Stadium and constructed a new press box at the facility.[5]
Near the end of his tenure as Iowa athletic director, Paul Brechler had a bitter public feud with head football coachForest Evashevski. In 1959, Evy called working conditions at the university “intolerable”. As a result, some of Evy's supporters demanded Brechler's resignation.[2]
In 1960, Brechler left Iowa to become commissioner of theSkyline Conference.[4] When that league folded two years later, he was named the first commissioner of theWestern Athletic Conference in 1962. Brechler served as WAC commissioner for six years before taking the job as athletic director at theUniversity of California in 1968.[2] He later became the commissioner of theRocky Mountain Athletic Conference, serving from 1976 to 1990.[4]
Brechler was named to theIowa Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. He was also selected to theUniversity of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990. When the University of Iowa renovatedKinnick Stadium in 2006, they named the press box in Paul Brechler's honor.[6] In 2002, Brechler was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.[7]
Brechler married to Wanda Krabbenhoft in 1957 until his death in 1997.[8]
Brechler also served in theUnited States Navy as alieutenant duringWorld War II and in themilitary reserve force from 1960-1971 where he then attained up to the rank ofcolonel.[8]