Hall of Fame College Football Coach, Professional Football Coach. Raised on a farm in Iowa, Shaw's long association with football began as a player for the legendary Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame. While with the Fighting Irish, he was an offensive lineman (tackle) who blocked for George Gipp. His coaching career began during the mid-1920s with stints at North Carolina State University and the University of Nevada before becoming the head coach at Santa Clara University in 1936. During his tenure from 1936 to 1944, he guided the Broncos to two consecutive Sugar Bowl titles (1937, 1938) and transformed their program into one of the most successful in the nation at that time. Their stadium on campus now bears his name. After a brief stint at California, Shaw joined the professional ranks as coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the newly-established All-America Football Conference in 1946. He remained at that capacity beyond the team's joining in the NFL until his dismissal in 1954. In 1955, he was selected to head the newly-formed United States Air Force Academy's football squad, a position he held for three seasons (1955 to 1957). In 1958, Shaw returned to the professional level as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and guided a team that consisted of future Hall of Fame players Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik and Tommy McDonald to the 1960 NFL Championship Title. He retired following that season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
Hall of Fame College Football Coach, Professional Football Coach. Raised on a farm in Iowa, Shaw's long association with football began as a player for the legendary Knute Rockne at the University of Notre Dame. While with the Fighting Irish, he was an offensive lineman (tackle) who blocked for George Gipp. His coaching career began during the mid-1920s with stints at North Carolina State University and the University of Nevada before becoming the head coach at Santa Clara University in 1936. During his tenure from 1936 to 1944, he guided the Broncos to two consecutive Sugar Bowl titles (1937, 1938) and transformed their program into one of the most successful in the nation at that time. Their stadium on campus now bears his name. After a brief stint at California, Shaw joined the professional ranks as coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the newly-established All-America Football Conference in 1946. He remained at that capacity beyond the team's joining in the NFL until his dismissal in 1954. In 1955, he was selected to head the newly-formed United States Air Force Academy's football squad, a position he held for three seasons (1955 to 1957). In 1958, Shaw returned to the professional level as coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and guided a team that consisted of future Hall of Fame players Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik and Tommy McDonald to the 1960 NFL Championship Title. He retired following that season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
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