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Bob Titchenal

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Bob Titchenal
Biographical details
Born(1917-10-17)October 17, 1917
Ventura, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 5, 2009(2009-07-05) (aged 91)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Playing career
1937–1939San Jose State
1940–1942Washington Redskins
1943Lakehurst NAS
1945Saint Mary's Pre-Flight
1946San Francisco 49ers
1947Los Angeles Dons
Position(s)Center, end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1943Lakehurst NAS (assistant)
1948–1949West Virginia (line)
1950–1951New Mexico (assistant)
1952Denver (assistant)
1953–1955New Mexico
1956USC (freshman)
1957–1964San Jose State
Head coaching record
Overall45–61–2

Robert Alden "Titch" Titchenal (October 17, 1917 – July 5, 2009) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at San Jose State University from 1937 to 1939 and was captain of the school's undefeated 1939 team. He played professional football for five seasons as a center and end for the Washington Redskins (1940–1942), San Francisco 49ers (1946), and Los Angeles Dons (1947).

He coached football from 1948 to 1964, including stints as head coach at the University of New Mexico (1953–1955) and San Jose State (1957–1964).

Early years

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Titchenal was born in 1917 in Ventura, California, and attended Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale, California. He began his college career at Glendale Junior College and then enrolled at San Jose State University where he played center for the football team. He played on coach Dudley DeGroot's San Jose State teams compiled a 33-3-2 record from 1937 to 1939. The 1939 San Jose team compiled a 13-0 record and outscored opponents 324 to 29.

Professional football and military service

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Titchenal played professional football for the Washington Redskins as a center in 1940 and at end in 1941 and 1942. He helped the Redskins to a 9–2 in 1940 and a loss to the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. In 1942, he helped the Redskins to a 10–1 record and a victory over the Bears in the 1942 NFL Championship Game.

Titchenal joined the United States Navy after the 1942 season and was the captain and starting left end for the Lakehurst Naval Air Station football team in 1943. He also served as a swimming instructor for Navy recruits.

After the war, Titchenal returned to professional football as an end for the 1946 San Francisco 49ers team that compiled a 9–5 record in the inaugural season of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

In July 1947, Titchenal signed with the 1947 Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference.[1] In Los Angeles, Titchenal was reunited with his college coach Dudley DeGroot who was by then head coach of the Dons. He appeared in 14 games, two as a starter, for the Dons.

In five seasons of professional football, Titchenal appeared in 60 games, 27 as a starter, and caught 15 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns.[2]

Coaching career

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After the 1947 season, Los Angeles coach DeGroot was hired as head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers football team. Degroot hired Titchenall as an assistant coach at West Virginia.[3] Titchenal served as an assistant coach at West Virginia for the 1948 and 1949 seasons.

In 1950, DeGroot left West Virginia to become head coach at the University of New Mexico. Titchenall followed as the team's backfield coach. He served in that position during the 1950 and 1951 seasons.

In March 1953, DeGroot left New Mexico for a position as assistant football coach and head swimming coach at the University of Denver.[4]

In March 1953, Titchenal was hired as the head football coach at the University of New Mexico.[5] From 1953 to 1955, he served as New Mexicos' head coach, compiling a 12–15–1 record. He was selected as the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year in 1953. He was fired in December 1955.[6]

In July 1956, he returned to Los Angeles as the freshman football coach at the University of Southern California.[7]

In November 1956, Titchenal was hired as the head football coach at San Jose State University.[8] He held that position for eight seasons from 1957 to 1964, compiling a 33–46–1 record. During his time as head coach, his quarterbacks included Dick Vermeil in 1957 and Chon Gallegos in 1961. Bill Walsh was an assistant coach in 1957.[9] Titchenal resigned as San Jose's football coach in January 1965 amid criticism from alumni and students over the team's record.[10]

Later years and family

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After resigning as head football coach at San Jose State, Titchenal remained at the school as a physical education professor, teaching classes in diving, surfing, sailing and other subjects. He retired from the school in 1987 at age 69.[11][9]

Titchenal and his wife, Barbara, had three sons: Gary, Alan, and Robert.[11] He died in 2009 at age 91.[12]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
New Mexico Lobos (Skyline Conference) (1953–1955)
1953 New Mexico 5–3–1 3–2–1 4th
1954 New Mexico 5–5 3–3 T–4th
1955 New Mexico 2–8 1–5 7th
New Mexico: 12–15–1 7–10–1
San Jose State Spartans (NCAA University Division independent) (1957–1964)
1957 San Jose State 3–7
1958 San Jose State 4–5
1959 San Jose State 4–6
1960 San Jose State 5–4
1961 San Jose State 6–4
1962 San Jose State 2–8–1
1963 San Jose State 5–5
1964 San Jose State 4–6
San Jose State: 33–46–1
Total: 45–61–2

References

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  1. ^ "Bob Titchenal Signs With Dons". Los Angeles Times. July 15, 1947. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Bob Titchenal Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  3. ^ "Mountaineers Name Former Redskin to Aid DeGroot". The Pittsburgh Press. February 27, 1948. p. 36 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bob Titchenal Accepts Post As Denver Grid Assistant". Albuquerque Journal. June 7, 1952. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Titchenal Appointed Football Coach At New Mexico U." Albuquerque Journal. April 1, 1953. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bob Titchenal Fired As Lobo Grid Coach; Successor Is Studied". Albuquerque Journal. December 8, 1955. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bob Titchenal Named Troy Frosh Coach". Los Angeles Times. July 7, 1956. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "San Jose State Picks Titchenal As Grid Coach". Independent Journal. November 29, 1956. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Bob Titchenal (1917-2009)". San Jose State University. July 6, 2009. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "San Jose's Bob Titchenal Resigns As Grid Coach". The Press-Tribune. January 20, 1965. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b George Hower (March 13, 1988). "Bob's still having a ball". The Press Democrat. pp. D1, D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Mark Emmons (July 22, 2009). "Bob Titchenal, a former San Jose State Spartan and 49er, lived an eventful life". The San Jose Mercury News.
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