Bernie Masterson
American football player and coach (1911–1963)
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Bernard Edward Masterson (August 10, 1911 – May 16, 1963) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1946 to 1947, compiling a record of 5–13.[1] Masterson played college football at Nebraska from 1931 to 1933.[2] He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Chicago Bears from 1934 to 1940.[3]
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Shenandoah, Iowa, U.S.
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Masterson from 1947 Cornhusker | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1911 Shenandoah, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | May 16, 1963 (aged 51) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1931–1933 | Nebraska |
| 1934–1940 | Chicago Bears |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1940 | Stanford (assistant) |
| 1941 | UCLA (assistant) |
| 1945 | St. Mary's Pre-Flight |
| 1946–1947 | Nebraska |
| 1948 | NY Yankees (assistant) |
| 1950 | Iowa (backfield) |
| 1951 | Lewis |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 14–18–1 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Awards | |
Playing career
Masterson was a three-sport athlete at Lincoln High. He was an all-state back in football, a starter on the 1930 state championship basketball team, and a track star.[4]
Moving on to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he starred from 1931 to 1933 as a back on three straight unbeaten Big Six championship teams. He was selected All-Big Six in 1933.[5]
Masterson played quarterback for the Chicago Bears from 1934 to 1940 when the Bears were known as the "Monsters of the Midway". During his pro career, the Bears were 59–19–3 and were in three NFL championship playoffs. Bernie has an NFL career total of 3,372 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.[6]
Coaching career
In 1940, Clark Shaughnessy hired Masterson to coach Stanford quarterback Frankie Albert.[7]
He joined the United States Navy in 1942, and coached Navy teams for Iowa and St. Mary's Pre-Flight until 1945.[8]
He came back to Nebraska as head football coach for 1946 and 1947. He went 5–13 in the two seasons as head coach.
Death and honors
_at_All_Saints_Cemetery,_Des_Plaines.jpg)
Masterson died of a heart attack in Chicago on May 16, 1963, and was buried at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines.[8][9] He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1977.[5]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's Pre-Flight (Independent) (1945) | |||||||||
| 1945 | Saint Mary's Pre-Flight | 2–4–1 | |||||||
| Saint Mary's Pre-Flight: | 2–4–1 | ||||||||
| Nebraska Cornhuskers (Big Six Conference) (1946–1947) | |||||||||
| 1946 | Nebraska | 3–6 | 3–2 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1947 | Nebraska | 2–7 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| Nebraska: | 5–13 | 5–5 | |||||||
| Lewis Flyers (Midlands Conference) (1951) | |||||||||
| 1951 | Lewis | 7–1 | 3–0 | 1st | W Corn Bowl | ||||
| Lewis: | 7–1 | 3–0 | |||||||
| Total: | 14–18–1 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||