Dennis Gildea
American football player and coach (1898–1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dennis Anthony Gildea (October 9, 1898 – February 22, 1976) was an American football player and coach.
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Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, Massachusetts
Gildea in 1942. | |
| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 9, 1898 Boston, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 22, 1976 (aged 77) Peabody, Massachusetts |
| Listed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Boston College High School |
| College | Holy Cross |
| Career history | |
Early life and military service
Gildea was born on October 9, 1898, in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.[1] He was one of ten children born to Thomas and Catherine Gildea. His brother, Thomas, was captain of the Boston College Eagles baseball team in 1918 and 1919.[2] He attended Boston College High School.[3] He enlisted and served in the United States Army during World War I.[4]
College football
Gildea played Center for the Holy Cross Crusaders from 1920 to 1922. The Crusaders went 17–9 during Gildea's three years on the team.[5] He was elected captain during the 1921 season.[6] “The Iron Major” Frank Cavanaugh rated him as one of the best blockers he ever saw.[5]
Early coaching career
In 1922 and 1923, Gildea served as assistant coach at Fitchburg High School.[7] He then served as head coach at Leominster High School in 1924 and 1925.[3]
NFL
In 1926, played seven games for the Hartford Blues of the National Football League.[1]
Everett High School
From 1926 to 1954, Gildea was head football coach at Everett High School.[8] He compiled an overall record of 163–72–29.[5] His teams were champions in 1927, 1936, and 1945. Gildea was known as an innovator in high school football. His 1940s teams used the T formation and he was one of the first coaches to frequently use substitutions and special assignments for certain players.[3]
In addition to serving as EHS's football coach, Gildea was also an English teacher, baseball and track and field coach, and from 1945 to 1963 served as athletic director.[3]
Personal life and death
In 1926 Gildea married Ethel K. Barry, a schoolteacher from Cambridge, Massachusetts.[9] They had two children, Barry and Dennis Jr.[3] Barry played football for Everett High and coached football at Holbrook High School, Lynn English High School, and Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School.[10] Dennis Jr. worked as a night manager at a Roy Rogers outside of Alexandria, Virginia. He was one of four men killed in a high-profile robbery there on March 6, 1976.[11]
In 1935, Gildea graduated from Boston College Law School.[12]
Gildea died of a stroke on February 22, 1976, in Peabody, Massachusetts.[3]