Norris Armstrong
American football player and coach (1898–1981)
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Phillip Norris "Army" Armstrong (September 15, 1898 – October 11, 1981) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, from 1918 to 1919 and professionally for one season, in 1922, with the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League (NFL). Armstong served as the head football coach at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—Waukesha, Wisconsin from 1923 to 1930, compiling a record of 44–11–6.
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Danville, Kentucky, U.S.
| |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1898 Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 1981 (aged 83) Danville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1918–1921 | Centre |
| 1922 | Milwaukee Badgers |
| Positions | Tackle, halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1922 | Centenary (assistant) |
| 1923–1930 | Carroll (WI) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 44–11–6 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| All-Southern (1919) All-time Centre team | |
Playing career
Centre
Norris played tackle and halfback for Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and was a key offensive player[1] during the 1921 Centre vs. Harvard football game, and was captain of the team that year.[2] He was also a player on the school's basketball team.[3] Centre College honored his contribution to the school's athletic program by inducting him into the college's Athletic Hall of Fame.[4] He was a halfback on Centre's all-time football team chosen in 1935.[5]
Milwaukee Badgers
After graduation from Centre, Norris played professionally for the 1922 season as a tackle for the Milwaukee Badgers of the National Football League (NFL) alongside his college teammate Bo McMillin.[6][7][8]
Coaching career
Centenary
Armstrong's first coaching position was in 1922 at Centenary College of Louisiana.[9] Here he was assistant to his college teammate (and future professional teammate) Bo McMillin[10] where they produced an impressive record of eight wins and one loss[11] while outscoring opponents 295 to 41.[12]
Carroll
After completing one year as an assistant coach, Armstrong was named the 15th head football at Carroll College—now known as Carroll University—in Waukesha, Wisconsin[13] and he held that position for eight seasons, from 1923 until 1930. His career coaching record at Carroll College was 44–11–6.[14]
Armstrong oversaw one of the most successful periods of the football team at the college.[15] The university honored his contributions by inducting him into the school's "Hall of Fame" in 1973.[16]
Key games for Carroll under Armstrong included the 1925 victory over Great Lakes Naval by a score of 73–0, and an undefeated 1925 season. The program never had anything but winning seasons under Armstrong, with the worst record being 4–3 in 1929; the worst loss that year was a 46–0 defeat by the Iowa Hawkeyes.[17]
After retiring from coaching, Armstrong remained with Carroll College to become athletic director and later a trustee of the college.[18]
