J. Paul Kemerer
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 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | Duquesne, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | September 7, 1959 Adelphi, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | West Virginia Wesleyan College Penn State University? |
| Playing career | |
| 1922 | Penn State |
| 1924–1927 | West Virginia Wesleyan |
| 1928 | Ironton Tanks |
| Position | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1930 | Penn State (assistant freshmen) |
| 1931–1933 | Ouachita Junior College |
| 1937–1938 | Glouster HS (OH) |
| c. 1942 | Ironton HS (OH) (assistant) |
| Basketball | |
| 1931–1934 | Ouachita Junior College |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1929–1930 | South Point HS (OH) |
| 1931–1934 | Ouachita Junior College |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 6–14–2 (junior college football) |
James Paul Kemerer (? – September 7, 1959) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Ouachita Parish Junior College—now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe—from 1931 to 1933. He also served as the school's basketball coach from 1931 to 1934.
Kemerer grew up in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, and attended Pennsylvania State Forest Academy—now known as Pennsylvania State University. As a member of the football team he played guard. During the 1922 season, he was injured and ended up withdrawing from the school. After taking a year off, he enrolled at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Sometime during his sophomore season, he suffered a broken hand.[1] He was voted team captain ahead of his junior season.[2] He is noted as the first Bobcat to receive the honor of captaincy as a junior.[3] The Press & Sun-Bulletin described Kemerer as "cool headed, aggressive, a fighter from the land of zip."[3]
After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan, Kemerer signed to play semi-professionally for the Ironton Tanks.
Coaching career
Kemerer spent the 1929 school year as the athletic director for South Point High School in South Point, Ohio. After one year, he returned to Penn State, this time as an assistant freshmen coach to Larry Conover.[4] In addition to his on-field coaching role, he also served as a scout for the varsity team.[5]
In 1931, Kemerer was hired as the inaugural head football coach for Ouachita Parish Junior College—now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe.[6][7] He also served the school's head basketball coach.[8] He resigned before July 1934 as James L. Malone was named his successor.[9]
From 1937 to 1938, Kemerer served as the head football coach for Glouster High School.[10] In his first season, the team won the conference championship.[10] In 1942, he served as an assistant coach for Ironton High School.[11]