Robert Willard Pritchard

Category
2002
About This Inductee

Robert graduated from Kingston High School in 1931, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated from Wyoming Seminary, Forty Fort in 1932. He attended Perm State University 1933-1934, playing tackle. He also attended Susquehanna University, again playing tackle. Robert coached at Susquehanna University 1936-1941; the team went undefeated in 1940. The “flea-flicker” play was created while he was at Susquehanna He was assistant coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Mass. 1941-1942 and served as an officer in US Air Corps 1942-1945. He became head football coach at Kingston High School, winning the Wyoming Valley Championship in 1946. 1947-1966 he was head football coach, JV basketball coach (3 years) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, becoming athletic director in 1952. Robert retired from coaching with a 60-73-2 record and in 1969 received the Collegiate Football Centennial Award. In 1972 he was inducted into Susquehanna University’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He founded the NCAA Drug Committee with Dr. Cooper while VP of the NCAA Council, creating the catch phrase “Get High On Sports, Not Drugs.” Robert passed away February 8, 1979. Posthumously he received the James Lynah Award ECAC in 1982 and inducted into WPI’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983. Robert was nominated for Sports Illustrated’s Hall of Fame Silver Edition and honored by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. Robert was married to wife Jean; they have one daughter, Diane.