Elmer Burnham

Elmer Burnham

Burnham pictured in Debris 1943, Purdue yearbook
Sport(s)	Football
Biographical details
Born	September 8, 1894 West Newbury, Massachusetts
Died	March 9, 1977 (aged 82) Rochester, New York
Playing career
1910s	Springfield (MA)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1919–1934	South Bend Central HS (IN)
1935–1941	Purdue (freshmen)
1942–1943	Purdue
1944–1960	Rochester (NY)
Head coaching record
Overall	92–56–6 (college) 118–30–8 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Big Ten (1943)

Elmer Harold Burnham (September 8, 1894 – March 9, 1977) was an American football player and coach. He was the head football coach at Purdue University in 1942 and 1943. Burnham's 1943 Purdue squad went 9–0 and shared the Big Ten Conference title with Michigan. From 1944 to 1960, Burnham served as the head coach at the University of Rochester, where he compiled a record of 82–48–6 in 17 seasons.^[1] Burnham served as Purdue's freshman football coach for seven years before assuming the role as varsity head coach in 1942.^[2] Before coming to Purdue, Burnham coached football at Central High School in South Bend, Indiana for 16 seasons, tallying a mark of 118–30–8.^[3]

Burnham was a veteran of World War I. He served with Trench Mortar Battery 309 and spent one year in the European theatre.^[4] Burnham died on March 9, 1977 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York.^[5]

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs	AP^#
Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Conference) (1942–1943)
1942	Purdue	1–8	1–4	8th
1943	Purdue	9–0	6–0	T–1st		5
Purdue:		10–8	7–4
Rochester Yellowjackets () (1944–1960)
1944	Rochester	5–3
1945	Rochester	3–4
1946	Rochester	3–4–1
1947	Rochester	6–1–1
1948	Rochester	4–4–1
1949	Rochester	3–6
1950	Rochester	1–4–3
1951	Rochester	7–1
1952	Rochester	8–0
1953	Rochester	4–3
1954	Rochester	5–3
1955	Rochester	3–5
1956	Rochester	4–4
1957	Rochester	5–3
1958	Rochester	8–0
1959	Rochester	7–1
1960	Rochester	6–2
Rochester:		82–48–6
Total:		92–56–6
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
^#Rankings from final AP Poll.

References

1. "University of Rochester Athletics and Recreation: Hall of Fame". University of Rochester. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
2. "Coach Burnham is Signed: Former Purdue Mentor Will Serve at Rochester". The New York Times. May 14, 1944. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
3. "Elmer Burnham, Purdue Mentor, Isn't Too Serious". The Milwaukee Journal. United Press. October 13, 1943. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
4. "Elmer Burnham Quits As Purdue Football Coach". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. May 15, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
5. "Obituaries" (PDF). Rochester review. Summer 1977: 40. Retrieved November 21, 2016.

External links

• Elmer Burnham at the College Football Data Warehouse