Arthur J. Willis
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Western University (KS) |
| 1925 | Langston |
| 1926 | Liberty semipro |
| 1928 | Fisk (assistant) |
| 1929 | Prairie View A&M |
| 1930 | Livingstone |
| 1931 | Claflin |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1931 | Claflin |
| Head coaching record | |
| Bowls | 0–1 |
Arthur J. Willis was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. In 1924, he was the head football coach at Western University in Kansas.[1] The following year, he coached the football team at Oklahoma Colored Agricultural and Normal University—now known as Langston University. In 1926, he coached a semi-professional football team in Liberty, Missouri.[2] Willis was the director of physical education and assistant coach at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee before moving on to Prairie View Normal and Industrial College—now known as Prairie View A&M University—in Prairie View, Texas, where he was head football coach in 1929.[3]
In 1930, Willis was hired as the head football coach at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.[4] The following year, he went to Claflin College—now known as Claflin University—in Orangeburg, South Carolina, as head football coach and athletic director.[5]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western University Bulldogs () (1924) | |||||||||
| 1924 | Western | ||||||||
| Western: | |||||||||
| Langston Lions (Independent) (1925) | |||||||||
| 1925 | Langston | 2–1–1 | |||||||
| Langston: | 2–1–1 | ||||||||
| Prairie View Panthers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1929) | |||||||||
| 1929 | Prairie View | 6–2–2 | 1–1–2 | 3rd | L Prairie View | ||||
| Prairie View: | 6–2–2 | 1–1–2 | |||||||
| Livingstone Blue Bears (Independent) (1930) | |||||||||
| 1930 | Livingstone | 0–7–2 | |||||||
| Livingstone: | 0–7–2 | ||||||||
| Claflin Panthers (South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1931) | |||||||||
| 1931 | Claflin | 6–4 | |||||||
| Claflin: | 6–4 | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||
References
- ↑ "Western University Trims Richmond In Football". Kansas City Advocate. Kansas City, Missouri. October 3, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com
. - ↑ "Arthur Willis' Team Is Defeated, 13 to 0". The Chicago Defender. Chicago, Illinois. December 11, 1926. p. 11. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ "Coach Willis Takes Up Duties at Prairie View. 33 Hopefuls Report". St. Louis Argus. St. Louis, Missouri. September 13, 1929. p. 14. Retrieved September 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ "Livingstone Has New Coach In A. J. Willis". Journal and Guide. Norfolk, Virginia. September 6, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ "Claflin Opens Next Wednesday". The Times and Democrat. Orangeburg, South Carolina. September 12, 1931. p. 5. Retrieved April 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Arthur J. Willis". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- Claflin Panthers athletic directors
- Claflin Panthers football coaches
- Fisk Bulldogs football coaches
- Fisk University faculty
- Langston Lions football coaches
- Livingstone Blue Bears football coaches
- Prairie View A&M Panthers football coaches
- African-American coaches of American football
- Western University Bulldogs football coaches
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century American sportsmen
- College football coaches first appointed in the 1920s stubs