Sam Winningham

Sam Winningham

Biographical details
Born	(1926-10-11)October 11, 1926[1] Colby, Kansas, U.S.[1]
Died	April 19, 2024(2024-04-19) (aged 97)
Playing career
1948–1949	Colorado
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1950–1952	Bent County HS (CO)
1953–1959	Phoenix Union HS (AZ)
1962–1968	Valley State
Head coaching record
Overall	21–42–1 (college) 58–35–3 (high school)
Bowls	0–1

Sam Neal Winningham (October 11, 1926 – April 19, 2024) was an American football coach and player.

Early life and education

Winningham was born in Colby, Kansas on October 11, 1926, the son of Alida (Bogan) and Neal Winningham.^[1] He played college football at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was a quarterback.^[2] Winningham earned a master's degree at Arizona State University,^[3] and a Ph.D. in physical education from the University of Southern California.

Career

Winningham was the head football coach at Bent County High School in Las Animas, Colorado from 1950 to 1952 and Phoenix Union High School in Phoenix Arizona from 1953 to 1959, amassing a career high school football coaching record of 58–35–3. He served as the head football coach at San Fernando Valley State College — now known as California State University, Northridge — from 1962 to 1968, compiling a record of 21–42–1.^[4] He went on to become the chair of the physical education department at CSUN.^[5] In November 2017, aged 91, he attended a ceremony at CSUN dedicating a plaza in his honor.^[6]

Personal life and death

His daughter is the actress Mare Winningham.^[7] Sam died on April 19, 2024, at the age of 97.^[8]

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Valley State Matadors (California Collegiate Athletic Association) (1962–1968)
1962	Valley State	3–6	2–3	5th
1963	Valley State	2–6	0–3	6th
1964	Valley State	4–6	1–3	T–4th
1965	Valley State	1–9	0–4	6th
1966	Valley State	2–7–1	0–5	6th
1967	Valley State	6–4	3–2	T–2nd	L Pasadena
1968	Valley State	5–4	1–3	T–4th
Plymouth State:		21–42–1	7–23
Total:		21–42–1

References

1. "Who's who in the West". 1969.
2. "Sam Winningham". University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
3. "Arizonan Names VSC Grid Mentor". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. June 9, 1960. p. 128. Retrieved March 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
4. "Football Coach Sam Winningham Spirit Plaza". Cal State Northridge Matadors. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
5. Springer, Steve (November 22, 1987). "Class of '67 Is Still CSUN's Dream Team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
6. CSUN Athletics Unveils Winningham Spirit Plaza
7. Smith, Cecil (May 5, 1980). "Mare Does a Lot of Cheering: Actress Mare Winningham". Los Angeles Times.
8. "CSUN Athletics Mourns the Passing of Sam Winningham". CSUN Athletics. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.