Ralph Irvine Sasse (July 19, 1889 – October 16, 1954) was an American college football player and coach, athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy from 1930 to 1932 and at Mississippi State College, now Mississippi State University, from 1935 to 1937, compiling a career college football record of 45–15–4.

Ralph Sasse
Sasse pictured in Reveille 1936, Mississippi State yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1889-07-19)July 19, 1889
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
DiedOctober 16, 1954(1954-10-16) (aged 65)
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, U.S.
Playing career
c. 1910Army
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1926–1929Army (line)
1930–1932Army
1935–1937Mississippi State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1935–1936Mississippi State
Head coaching record
Overall45–15–4
Bowls0–1

Biography

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At West Point in 1916

Born near Wilmington, Delaware, in 1889, Sasse attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1916. After graduating from West Point, Sasse was assigned to the cavalry, and while serving the United States in World War I, he rose to the rank of Major and commanded the 301st Tank Battalion.

After World War I, he returned to his alma mater in 1924 as a mathematics instructor and was appointed head coach in 1929. Later, in 1935, Sasse joined the Mississippi State College staff as a science instructor and head football coach of the State College Maroons. After leading Mississippi State College to a 20–10–2 record in three years and an appearance in the 1937 Orange Bowl, Sasse stunned the students and players by resigning from his head coach's duties, following a doctor's orders after a sudden nervous breakdown.[1] Upon leaving the coaching ranks, Sasse become the athletic director at Pennsylvania Military College, Chester in 1941.

Sasse died October 16, 1954, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.[2] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.[3]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Army Cadets (Independent) (1930–1932)
1930 Army 9–1–1
1931 Army 8–2–1
1932 Army 8–2
Army: 25–5–2
Mississippi State Maroons (Southeastern Conference) (1935–1937)
1935 Mississippi State 8–3 2–3 T–9th
1936 Mississippi State 7–3–1 3–2 5th L Orange
1937 Mississippi State 5–4–1 3–2 5th
Mississippi State: 20–10–2 8–7
Total: 45–15–4

References

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  1. ^ "Sasse Confined to Home After Giving Up Post". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. November 11, 1937. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Google News Archive.
  2. ^ "Ralph Sasse Dies, Ex-Coach at West Point". The Miami News. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Associated Press. October 17, 1954. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in Wilmington, Delaware - 1981". www.desports.org.
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