Mike Casteel
American football player and coach (1895–1977)
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Miles Webster "Mike" Casteel (December 30, 1895 – March 27, 1977) was an American football player and coach. He played college football as the quarterback at Kalamazoo College and also played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Rock Island Independents. He later served as the head football coach at the University of Arizona in from 1939 to 1948, compiling a record of 46–26–3.
Elmira, New York, U.S.
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 30, 1895 Elmira, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 1977 (aged 81) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| c. 1920 | Kalamazoo |
| 1922 | Rock Island Independents |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1924–1938 | Michigan State (assistant) |
| 1939–1948 | Arizona |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 46–26–3 |
| Bowls | 0–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Border (1941) | |
Early years
Casteel was born in Elmira, New York. He attended Kalamazoo College where he played football, basketball and track. He also served in the United States Army during World War I, receiving the Silver Star for his performance in the artillery service at Verdun's north front. He returned to Kalamazoo after completing his military service, graduating in 1922.[1][2]
He played in the National Football League as a back for the Rock Island Independents during the 1922 season, appearing in six games.[2][3][4]
Coaching
He began coaching at East Lansing High School in 1923 before joining Michigan Agricultural College as an assistant football coach in 1924.[1][5] He also served as an assistant track coach at Michigan State and as a scout for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions between 1934 and 1938.[1][6]
In February 1939, he became the head football coach at the University of Arizona.[6] He held that position until 1948, compiling a 46–26–3 record. In January 1949, the school's board of regents voted to terminate Casteel as head football coach.[7]
Later years
Casteel later served as director of Arizona State University's Sun Angel Foundation from 1950 to 1973.[8][9] He died in 1977 at age 81.[1]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Wildcats (Border Conference) (1939–1948) | |||||||||
| 1939 | Arizona | 6–4 | 1–2 | 5th | |||||
| 1940 | Arizona | 7–2 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1941 | Arizona | 7–3 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1942 | Arizona | 6–4 | 4–2 | 4th | |||||
| 1943 | No team—World War II | ||||||||
| 1944 | No team—World War II | ||||||||
| 1945 | Arizona | 5–0 | |||||||
| 1946 | Arizona | 4–4–2 | 2–2–1 | 4th | |||||
| 1947 | Arizona | 5–4–1 | 3–2 | 4th | |||||
| 1948 | Arizona | 6–5 | 3–2 | T–3rd | L Salad | ||||
| Arizona: | 46–26–3 | 21–11–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 46–26–3 | ||||||||