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Clarence Spears

Guard

Inducted 1955

Date of Birth

7/24/1894

Birthplace

Dewitt, AR

Schools

Dartmouth College (1914-1915)

Knox College (1912-1912)

Bio

Doc Spears was torn between two loves - football and medicine. As an All-America guard at Dartmouth and, later, as one of the game's most-respected coaches, Spears left an indelible mark. As a 230-pound guard with unusual strength, Spears won consensus All-America honors in 1914 and 1915. During those two seasons, Spears helped Dartmouth to a 15-2-1 mark, losing only to Princeton each year. He began his college career at Knox College (IL). After his playing days, Spears returned to Dartmouth in 1917, serving as the Green's head coach for the next four campaigns and compiling a record of 21-9-1. Along the way, he completed his medical studies at the University of Chicago and Rush Medical School. From Dartmouth, he went on to coach at West Virginia, Minnesota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Toledo and Maryland. His 1927 Minnesota team went unbeaten. Over the years, Spears developed Hall of Fame fullbacks Bronko Nagurski and Herb Joesting. Finally, thirty years after he first played at Dartmouth, Spears surrendered his active participation in football and settled down to practice medicine.