Arthur Valpey Arthur L . Valpey ( August 5 , 1915 – March 12 , 2007 ) was an American football player and coach . A native of Dayton , Ohio , Valpey was an all - state halfback at Dayton ' s Steele High School . Valpey enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1934 , where freshman football coach Wally Weber moved him to the end position . Valpey played end for the 1935 , 1936 and 1937 Michigan Wolverines football teams coached by Harry Kipke . After graduating , Valpey became a high school football coach for five years , working for one year each in Ida , Michigan , and Manchester , Michigan , and eventually at Midland , Michigan . He was next hired in April 1940 to serve as the head football coach and athletic director at Midland High School , where he remained for three years . Valpey was hired as the freshman line coach at the University of Michigan at the end of the 1942 season and was on the school ' s coaching staff from 1943 through 1947 . In 1945 and 1946 , Valpey became the chief scout and line coach under Michigan ' s legendary coach Fritz Crisler . In 1947 , Valpey served as the ends coach for the undefeated Michigan team that is considered the greatest football team in the school ' s history . Under Valpey ' s tutelage , both of Michigan ' s starting ends Bob Mann and Len Ford were selected as second - and third - team All - Americans for the 1947 season . In February 1948 , Valpey was hired by Harvard University as its head football coach , succeeding retiring coach Dick Harlow . Valpey won his first game as the head coach at Harvard , becoming the last Harvard coach to accomplish that feat until 1994 . Valpey was Harvard ' s football coach in 1948 and 1949 . In his first season , Harvard ' s football team had a 4 – 4 record , but in his second season as coach , the team compiled a 1 – 9 record , reported at the time to be " the worst season in the history of Harvard football . " Despite the team ' s poor record in 1949 , Valpey became a popular member of the Harvard community . When Valpey announced in February 1950 that he had accepted the heach coaching job at the University of Connecticut , " The Harvard Crimson " wrote the following about Valpey : " There was every reason for him to go to Connectient : his contract was due to run out next fall , he was faced with a schedule which is sure to produce few victories ; and in that situation , the Provost could not be expected to guarantee a contract renewal at this early date . Valpey , being young , has to think of the future . All these considerations made the decision clear . But Harvard will not only be losing a coach who has a keen eye for his professional future . Art Valpey has managed to build up , through a fairly dismal two year period , a respect and affection in associates that has been remarkable . " When he left Harvard , Valpey still had a year remaining on his contract , and told the press that Harvard had given him permission to negotiate for a new job , though he had also been told he could remain at Harvard fort he 1950 season . Valpey was the head football coach at the University of Connecticut in the 1950 and 1951 seasons , compiling records of 3 – 5 in 1950 and 4 – 4 in 1951 . In July 1952 , Valpey was replaced as Connecticut ' s head coach by Bob Ingalls . Valpay told reporters at the time that he intended to go into private business . Valpey died in March 2007 at age 91 . His last residence was at Boothbay Harbor , Maine .