Evening star., 1948-01-13
Name NOT Revealed
AS Search for New
Coach Is Begun

"A COdCA WIN cCAsS OAAoCA S0Rt'
Tom Hamilton in the naval avia-
ton physical and military training
program during the war was. con-
ceded today the inside track on the
head football coaching berth at the
Naval Academy, but his name is not
known. Academy officials have not
settled on any one, q source close
to Navy said.
The shakeup in Navy's high foot
ball command was predicted yester-
day by The Star, following a survey
of the Annapolis sports setup last
week by a panel of former Navy
athletes. The Sailors elected to try
a new coaching tack after two dis
astrous seasons, during which they
won only two games, tied one and
lost Is.
Vote of Confidence.
In naming Hamilton to the key
position Of director OF athletics,
which he will take over In June
when the incumbent, Capt. Edmund
B. Taylor, is due for sea duty, Navy
gave its one-time grid great vote
Of confidence and strong hand In
selecting his successor. The only
man definitely not being consid-
cred for the post is E. E. Rip)
Miller, former Notre Dame line
man, who will serve as -Hamilton's
assistant. Miller, Navy's last civilian
head coach, requested that his
name be Withdrawn.
The list of possible appointees Is
a mile long. Jim Tatum of Mary
land, Jack Hagerty of Georgetown
Missouri's Don Faurot, Bear Wolf
of Florida and Frank Leahy OF
Notre Dame were mentioned prom
inently. All served in Hamilton's
program during the war.
Rear Admiral James L. Holloway
jr., Academy superintendent, said
nobody had been approached and
that Navy had nobody in mind
Navy hasn't even considered terms
Of contract, but at present is
merely looking for a coach for next
year."
Money No Barrier.
Money apparently will be no bar
rier in signing the man Navy wants
Navy has a well-financed, self-sup-
porting athletic association which
could afford to pay top salary fol
the right man and it is believed will
ing to go high for him.
In again trying a civilian coach.
ing system the Tars are following
an example set by Army seven years
ago when it lured Earl Blaik away
from Dartmouth. Blaik was a re-
tired Army officer who enjoyed 8
successful tenure at Dartmouth be.
fore returning to his alma mater
Blaik's last four West Point teams
defeated Navy in the annual service
classic. .."
The graduate system has been ir
effect at Annapolis the last IA years
This is Hamilton's second tour al
Annapolis in the head coaching
berth, but his first was far more
successful. Critics blamed Navy.
disastrous record on q tough sched.
ule and the system whereby officer!
were called in for a two or thras
year term as coach and then shipped
cut again. They agreed that undel
present day conditions no active
Navy officer could hope to turn out
consistent winners.
Rough Seas Ahead.
The new coach, who undoubtedly
will be signed in time to take charge
Of spring training, will have rough
seas to navigate next autumn, what
with Notre Dame, Michigan, Cali.
fornia, Cornell, Duke, Missouri
Penn, Columbia and Army on the
schedule.
Hamilton last night was at South
Bend, Ind, to attend sports din
ner. Few football experts believe
he even would try to lure Coacf
Leahy away from the Irish, al
though he undoubtedly would like
to have Leahy at Annapolis.
Maryland's Tatum, meanwhile
conferred last night with Capt. Tay'
lor at Baltimore, where they at
tended a meeting of the MARYLAND
Board of Football Officials, but re.
fused to comment on the possibility
of his going to Navy.
II am interested in my job a
the University Of Maryland" Tatun
told reporters.