Washington Huskies: It’s Jimmy Lake’s team now, history of first time head coaches at UW
The Early Years
Jim Owens (1957-74)
Jim Owens was the predecessor to Don James. Like James, Owens was the Huskies coach for 18 years. However, he didn’t have the same success. His coaching philosophy was influenced by two of the all-time greatest coaches in college football. He played for Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma then served as an assistant for six years under Bear Bryant at Kentucky and Texas A&M.
In 1957, UW hired Owens to replace Darrell Royal. Rumor has it that after the 1956 season, Bryant, knowing Washington was looking for a new head coach, told reporters the Owens “will make a great coach for somebody someday.”
Owens’ first season leading the Huskies was 1957; he had a record of 3–6–1. The following season Owens did worse, finishing 3–7. 1959 and 1960 were Owens’ two best seasons at Washington. Both seasons UW had a record of 10–1, capped off with Rose Bowl wins. The second time Washington beat Minnesota 17-7, earning the Huskies a National Championship.
During his 18 years at Washington, Owens made it back to another Rose Bowl in January 1964, losing to Illinois 17–7. Owens’ final two seasons at Washington, the team didn’t do so well going 2–9 in 1973, and 5–6 in 1974. He will go down in school history as the coach that brought the Huskies into prominence.
John Cherberg (1953-1955)
A future Lieutenant Governor and a former Huskies’ halfback, John Cherberg, became an assistant at Washington in 1946. After seven years, he was promoted to head coach in 1953. Cherberg lasted only three seasons at Washington. His final season was the only one with a winning record at 5–4–1. Cherberg lost his job because of a payoff scandal which led to NCAA sanctions.
Ralph Welch (1942-1947)
Ralph Welch came to Washington as an assistant to James Phelan in 1930. He replaced Phelan as head coach after the 1941 season and lasted for six seasons. His debut season of 1942, the Huskies finished with a record of 4-3-3, placing sixth in the Pacific Coast Conference. The following season the Huskies were 4-1 losing to USC in the Rose Bowl 29-0. Due to World War 2, it was the only year two teams from the same conference played in the Rose Bowl. Welch’s last season, 1947, was the only time he had a losing record at Washington 3-6. Overall, Welch produced a 27-20-3 record at UW.
Enoch Bradshaw (1921-1929)
Another former Washington Huskies football player, Enoch Bradshaw, was Washington’s head coach for nine seasons during the roaring ’20s. During his inaugural season at Washington, 1921, he had a record of 3-4-1.
Bradshaw’s coaching career record at Washington was largely successful 63-22-6. His third year at Washington, the Huskies made their first-ever bowl appearance in the Rose Bowl tying Navy 14-14 on January 1, 1924. The Huskies returned to the Rose Bowl again under Bradshaw’s leadership on January 1, 1926, losing to Alabama, 20-19. It was the only loss for Washington that season. 1929 was his final season in football; he died the following year. Due to his success, in 1980 Bradshaw became a member of the Husky Hall of Fame in 1980.