Charley Caldwell

Bio

In the eyes of coach Charley Caldwell, a football player was first a college undergraduate, and then a college football player. "If a college coach doesn't understand just how the curriculum operates, what challenges his boys face in other phases of university life, and the balance effected between the primary purposes of higher education and athletics, he is in for trouble." Caldwell's players were comfortable under his rein, and the coach found no problems instilling a winning attitude. Caldwell made his coaching debut at Williams College, directing football, baseball and basketball, and compiling a three-sport overall record of 254-177-6. Then, in 1945, he took over the head football coach's position at his alma mater, Princeton. He rebuilt a sagging Tiger program, and had the Orange and Black back toward the top of the national polls in 1950 and 1951. In those two years, the Tigers were undefeated, and they won the Lambert Trophy for both seasons. In fact, from October, 1949 until November, 1952, Caldwell's teams won 30 of 31 games, as Princeton became known as the master of the upset. Caldwell's 1951 squad outscored the competition 310-82 - after opening the year with just one returning starter.