James S. Lentz
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Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Brunswick, Maine, U.S.
Columbia University (1957)
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 5, 1927 Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2009 (aged 82) Brunswick, Maine, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Gettysburg College (1951) Columbia University (1957) |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1947–1950 | Gettysburg |
| Wrestling | |
| 1947–1950 | Gettysburg |
| Position | Tackle (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1951 | Gettysburg (assistant) |
| 1952–1955 | Gettysburg (freshman) |
| 1956 | Gettysburg (line) |
| 1957–1961 | Harvard (OG/C) |
| 1962–1967 | Harvard (DC/DL) |
| 1968–1983 | Bowdoin |
| Swimming | |
| 1952–1956? | Gettysburg |
| Lacrosse | |
| 1957–1967 | Harvard (freshman) |
| 1968 | Bowdoin |
| 1969–? | Bowdoin (JV) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 55–66 (football) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Football 5 MIAA (1968–1971, 1973) | |
James Spencer Lentz (April 5, 1927 – July 22, 2009) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach for Bowdoin College from 1968 to 1983.
Lentz played college football as a tackle at Gettysburg.[1][2] During a game in his freshman season, he suffered a broken hand.[3] He also competed in wrestling.[4]
Coaching career
Following Lentz's graduation, he served as an assistant coach in 1951 for his alma mater, Gettysburg.[2][5][6] In 1952, he was promoted to a full-time position and was the freshman coach.[2][7][8] In 1952, his freshman team finished the season undefeated.[9] In 1956, he served as the line coach. In 1957, he was hired on the inaugural staff for newly hired Harvard head coach John Yovicsin as the offensive guard and centers coach.[10][11][12] In 1962, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.[13][14] In 1968, Lentz was hired as the head football coach for Bowdoin.[4][15] He served as the head coach for sixteen years, amassed an overall record of 55–66, and won ten Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortiums.[16][17] He resigned following the 1983 season.[16][18]
From 1952 until the late 1950s, Lentz was the swimming coach for Gettysburg.[2][8] He was also the freshman lacrosse coach for Harvard from 1957 to 1967.[4][14] He served one year as the head lacrosse coach for Bowdoin before becoming the junior varsity coach for a number of years.[4][19]