| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1889-10-18)October 18, 1889 Grand Rapids, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Died | September 17, 1968(1968-09-17) (aged 78) Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Dakota Wesleyan,South Dakota |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1910–1914 | South Dakota |
| 1921–1922 | Akron Pros |
| Basketball | |
| 1910–1914 | South Dakota |
| Positions | End,quarterback (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1915–1916 | Wabash |
| Basketball | |
| 1916–1917 | Wabash |
| 1937–1941 | Akron Firestone Non-Skids |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 14–2–1 (college football) 19–2 (college basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| |
| Awards | |
| |
Paul Preston "Pepper"Sheeks (October 18, 1889 – September 17, 1968) was an Americanfootball andbasketball player and coach. He played professional football with theAkron Pros of theNational Football League (NFL) in 1922 and 1923. Before he joined the NFL, Sheeks playedcollege football andcollege basketball at theUniversity of South Dakota.
He then became the 20th head college football coach for theWabash College Little Giants located inCrawfordsville, Indiana and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916. In 1915 Sheeks guided the Little Giants to a 7–0–1 record.[1] Wabash would not have another undefeated season until 1951.[2] Sheek's football coaching record at Wabash was 14–2–1 ties, ranking him 11th at Wabash in total wins and second at the school in winning percentage (.853).[3] Sheeks was also coached the Wabash College basketball team, from 1916 to 1917. In just one year of coaching, Sheeks led Wabash basketball team to a 19–2 record.[1]
AfterWorld War I, Sheeks became the recreation director of theFirestone Tire and Rubber Company. Through this position, he coached the Akron Red Peppers bantamweight football team to national recognition in 1935.[4]
In 1935 Sheeks helped found theNational Basketball League, considered a predecessor of theNational Basketball Association.[5] He later became the coach of theAkron Firestone Non-Skids winning two league championships and was named NBL Coach of Year twice in 1939 and 1940.[6]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wabash Little Giants(Independent)(1915) | |||||||||
| 1915 | Wabash | 7–0–1 | |||||||
| Wabash Little Giants(Indiana College Athletic League)(1916) | |||||||||
| 1916 | Wabash | 7–2 | 1st | ||||||
| Wabash: | 14–2–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 14–2–1 | ||||||||
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