Frank Wickhorst

Frank Wickhorst
Wickhorst in Chicago ahead of the 1926 Army–Navy Game at Soldier Field
Biographical details
Born(1906-03-18)March 18, 1906
Aurora, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 18, 1965(1965-03-18) (aged 59)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Playing career
1924–1926Navy
PositionTackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1931–1942California (line)
1946California
Head coaching record
Overall2–7
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Unanimous All-American (1926)
First-team All-Eastern (1926)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1970 (profile)

Frank Henry "Wick" Wickhorst (March 18, 1906 – April 1, 1965) was an American college football player and coach. He played football as a tackle at the United States Naval Academy and was selected as an All-American in 1926. Wickhorst served as the head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley in 1946, compiling a record of 2–7. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1970.

Early life

Wickhorst was born in Aurora, Illinois on March 18, 1906. He attended high school at East Aurora High School and Oak Park High School.[1]

United States Naval Academy

Wickhorst, circa 1926
Wickhorst, circa 1926

For his freshman year of college, Wickhorst had initially been set to attend the University of Illinois and play for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. However, these plan changed after he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. As a midshipman, he played on the Navy Midshipmen football team as a tackle. He was selected as an All-American in 1926. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1970.[1]

As a player, Wickhorst is recorded to have measured 6 feet (1.8 m) in height and weighed 218 pounds (99 kg).[1]

In November 1926, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne opined on Saunders' playing style that he was, "the waiting type of tackle, but very effective in [his] own way."[2] At the same time, The New York Times hailed him as one of the greatest tackles then-playing college football.[3] In Bill Libby's 1973 book Champions of College Football, Wickhorst and Tom Hamilton are identified as having been the two most outstanding players of the 1926 Navy Midshipmen football team, which Libby considered to have been the season's champion team.[4]

Military career

Wickhorst had a distinguished career in the United States Navy. During World War II, he and his former teammate Hamilton again worked together to establish the Naval Pre- Flight Training Program. They also served together on the aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.[1]

Head coach at California

Wickhorst served as the head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley in 1946, compiling a record of 2–7.[5][6]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
California Golden Bears (Pacific Coast Conference) (1946)
1946 California 2–71–69th
California: 2–71–6
Total:2–7

Business career

Wickhorst worked as an executive of the Henry J. Kaiser Company.[1]

Death

Wickhorst died on April 1, 1965, while in Oakland, California.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Frank Wickhorst (1970) - Hall of Fame". National Football Foundation. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ Rockne, Knute (November 27, 1926). "Army, Navy Well Matched; Cadets Have Slight Edge Over Middies, Belief, Rockne Analyzes Elevens". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Army-Navy Elevens Ready For Battle; Cadets Rule a 6 to 5 Favorite on Eve of Football Game in Chicago. Rush Continues For Seats Prices Soar as the Demand Increases With Record Receipts of $1,000,000 in View. Clear Day For Spectacle Weather Man Says Snow Will Cease Falling Before Morning -- Interest Extends Round the World". The New York Times. November 27, 1926. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
  4. ↑ Libby, Bill (1975). Champions of College Football. Hawthorne Books, Inc. p. 12. ISBN 0-8015-1196-8.
  5. ↑ "Wickhorst, California Bears Reach End of Football Road". Milwaukee Journal. December 16, 1946. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Football Bowl Subdivision". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2010.


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