Howard C. Gentry

Howard C. Gentry
Biographical details
Born(1921-04-15)April 15, 1921
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 1995(1995-02-14) (aged 73)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Playing career
c. 1939–1942Florida A&M
PositionTackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
c. 1947North Carolina A&T (assistant)
1948Wilberforce State (assistant)
1949–1954Tennessee A&I (assistant)
1955–1960Tennessee A&I
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1961–1976Tennessee A&I/State
Head coaching record
Overall42–10–1
Bowls1–0
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Black college national (1956)
4 MWAA (1956–1957, 1959–1960)

Howard Cornelius Gentry Sr. (April 15, 1921 – February 14, 1995) was an American college football coach. He was the 12th head football coach at Tennessee A&I State College—now known as Tennessee State University—in Nashville, Tennessee, serving for six seasons, from 1955 until 1960, and compiling a record of 42–10–1.[1] Gentry was also the athletic director at Tennessee State from 1961 to 1976.

Gentry played college football as a tackle at Florida A&M University under head coaches William M. Bell and Jake Gaither. In 1943, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education.[1] Gentry then served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during World War II.[2] After the war, he completed a master's degree at the Ohio State University.[1]

His coaching career began at North Carolina A&T University under Bell and was then an assistant coach at Wilberforce State College—now known as Central State University—in Wilberforce, Ohio under head coach Gaston F. Lewis.[3][4][5] Gentry moved to Tennessee A&I in 1949 to become an assistant football coach under Henry Kean.[6]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Tennessee A&I Tigers (Midwest Athletic Association) (1955–1960)
1955 Tennessee A&I 7–23–1T–2nd
1956 Tennessee A&I 10–04–01st
1957 Tennessee A&I 5–0–13–0T–1st
1958 Tennessee A&I 4–42–13rd
1959 Tennessee A&I 9–13–01st
1960 Tennessee A&I 7–33–01st
Tennessee A&I: 42–10–118–2
Total:42–10–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Gentry died in 1995 at the age of 73 and was buried at Nashville National Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Howard Cornelius Gentry, Sr. former Coach and Athletic Director at Tennessee State University" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 18, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Howard C Gentry Sr". Veterans Legacy Memorial. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Mickey Carter is Wilberforce Coach". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. July 18, 1949. p. 10. Retrieved December 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ↑ Wood, Tim (February 15, 1995). "More than a coach; Howard Gentry: Leader, teacher, and a gentleman". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. 24. Retrieved December 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ↑ "Mr. Howard Gentry Sr". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. February 17, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved December 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ↑ "TSU's Gentry To Retire". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. May 26, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved December 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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