Garland Nevitt

Garland Nevitt
Nevitt pictured in Chippewa 1920, Central Michigan yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1887-02-28)February 28, 1887
Kansas, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1970 (aged 83)
Playing career
Baseball
1911–1913Battle Creek Crickets
1914–1915St. Thomas Saints
PositionCatcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1919Central Michigan
Basketball
1919–1921Central Michigan
Baseball
1918–1920Central Michigan
Head coaching record
Overall2–2–3 (football)
21–10 (basketball)
14–12–1 (baseball)

Garland "Chief" Nevitt (February 28, 1887 – August 10,1970)[1] was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach, as well as a Minor League Baseball player. He served as the head football coach at Central Michigan University for one season in 1919, compiling a record of 2–2–3. That same year, he coached the basketball team to a 10–5 record, and remained head coach until 1921. Before his coaching days, he was a baseball player, competing with the Battle Creek Crickets of the C/D Southern Michigan League from 1911 to 1913 and with the St. Thomas Saints of the Canadian League from 1914 to 1915.[2] He was also known to be vegetarian and a non-smoker.[2]

Early life

A member of the Delaware tribe who also had African-American heritage, Nevitt was born in on February 28th, 1887 in Olathe, Kansas.[3] Coming from Native American descent, with connection to the Lenape, Nevitt was given the nickname "Chief". Garland attended elementary school locally, but went on to attend Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. While there, he immersed himself into a rigorous athletic regimen. It was there that he started playing and developing a love for basketball, baseball, and American football. During his time at Carlisle, he played football with his notable classmate and future Olympian, Jim Thorpe. At this time he discovered his passion and talent in being a baseball catcher.

The nickname, Chief, tended to be put in front of most American Indian, or Native American sports players early on[4]. Despite many popular sports descending from American Indian culture and tradition, white Americans tend to get to take credit for the sales and popularity. Garland Nevitt certainly left his long-lasting mark on many different sports and the athletic growth of many players.

Athletic Career

After his time at Carlisle, Garland Nevitt moved to Michigan, where he was given the chance to play minor league baseball in the C/D Southern Michigan Independent League. He played minor league baseball from 1911 to 1915.

His first years, 1911 to 1913, was spent playing with the Battle Creek Crickets as their starting catcher. He played 338 games, had 1229 at bat appearances, and a .963 fielding percentage average[5].

Then in 1914, Garland Nevitt switched over to play with the St. Thomas Saints, also playing as their catcher. He played 95 games, 327 at bat appearances, and contributed to 28 runs that season[6].

College Coaching Career

From 1918 to 1920 he was the head baseball coach at Central Michigan University.[7]

He then become the head basketball coach in 1919, continuing to coach until 1921. In 1919 he led the team to a 10-5 season record. He moved to assistant coach for the next season contributing to a 11-5 record[8].

Also in 1919, Nevitt accepted the head coaching position for the football team. In one season he assisted in the Chippewas completed a 2-2-3 season[9]. Despite the wartime disruptions, the team was able to rally and redevelop a competitive playing environment.

College Football Record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Central Michigan Normalites (Independent) (1919)
1919 Central Michigan 2–2–3
Central Michigan: 2–2–3
Total:2–2–3

Other Coaching Positions

Following his time working at Central Michigan University, Garland Nevitt decided to pick up a head football coaching position at Bay City Central High School in 1922 and continuing until 1934. What made this position so special, was the fact that this was the schools first season with a football team[10]. Throughout his 13 seasons, Nevitt supported his players and compiled a record of 78-30-12, a state title win in 1924, and 4 Saginaw Valley Conference titles[11].

After his coaching success in football, Nevitt went on to coach the basketball team from 1923 to 1935. Over these 13 seasons, he built a 119-88[12] record with the help of his players and fellow coaching staff.

References

  1. ↑ "Garland Nevitt". Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Indian Catcher is Vegetarian". The Toronto World. April 14, 2016. p. 8. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Catcher, "Chief," coach: Garland Nevitt makes history at CMU". Central Michigan University. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ Powers-Beck, Jeffrey P. (2001). ""Chief": The American Indian Integration of Baseball, 1897-1945". The American Indian Quarterly. 25 (4): 508–538. doi:10.1353/aiq.2001.0038. ISSN 1534-1828.
  5. ↑ "1913 Battle Creek Crickets minor league baseball Statistics on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ↑ "1914 St. Thomas Saints Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Central Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2025. p. 17.
  8. ↑ "Central Michigan Men's Basketball Year-by-Year Records". Central Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Football Coaching Records". Central Michigan University Athletics. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  10. ↑ "One victory away, Bay City Central football is poised to celebrate 500-win tradition". mlive. August 24, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Garland "Chief" Nevitt – Bay County Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  12. ↑ lthomps2@mlive.com, Lee Thompson | (March 20, 2014). "Who will lead Bay City Central boys basketball into its era of change?". mlive. Retrieved April 27, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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