View source for John McEwan

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1893–1970)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{for-multi|the U.S. soccer player|John McEwan (soccer)|the Scottish footballer|Jock McEwan}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = John McEwan
| image = John McEwan.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1893|2|18}}
| birth_place = [[Alexandria, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1970|8|9|1893|2|18}}
| death_place = [[Manhattan|New York, New York]], U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1913–1916
| player_team1 = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]]
| player_positions = [[Center (gridiron football)|Center]]
| coach_years1 = 1919–1922
| coach_team1 = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]] (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1923–1925
| coach_team2 = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]]
| coach_years3 = 1926–1929
| coach_team3 = [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon]]
| coach_years4 = 1930–1932
| coach_team4 = [[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross]]
| coach_years5 = 1933–1934
| coach_team5 = [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]]
| overall_record = 59–23–6 (college)<br>9–11–1 (NFL)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National]] ([[1914 Army Cadets football team|1914]])
| awards =
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1914 College Football All-America Team|1914]])
* Second-team All-American ([[1916 College Football All-America Team|1916]])
* Third-team All-American ([[1915 College Football All-America Team|1915]])
| coaching_records =
| CFBHOF_year = 1962
| CFBHOF_id = 1288
}}
'''John James "Cap" McEwan''' (February 18, 1893 – August 9, 1970) was an [[American football]] player and coach. He played and coached at the [[United States Military Academy]] and was the head coach at the [[University of Oregon]] and [[College of the Holy Cross]] after his military career ended. He then spent two seasons in the professional ranks, coaching the [[Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)|Brooklyn Dodgers]] of the [[National Football League]] from 1933 to 1934.
==Early life==
McEwan played from 1913 to 1916 as a [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] at the United States Military Academy, where he was a three-time [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] and captain of the [[1916 Army Cadets football team]].<ref>{{cite news |title=McEwan Made Army Captain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsBcAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA56 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Evening Tribune |date=November 18, 1915}}</ref> After graduating, McEwan served with the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]. He was president of the General Courts Martial and at [[Fort Sam Houston]].<ref name="Obituary" /> In 1917, he married Letty Peterson. They had two children, John Jr. and Janet.<ref name="Obituary" />
==Coaching career==
In 1919, McEwan returned to West Point as the head line coach. In December 1922, head coach [[Charles Dudley Daly]] resigned and was succeeded by McEwan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Major Daly Resigns As West Point Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SlJbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA13 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Providence News |date=December 22, 1922}}</ref> In his three seasons as head coach, McEwan led Army to an 18–5–3 record. Following the 1925 season, McEwan accepted the head coaching position at Oregon and resigned from the Army.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oregon Selects M'Ewan As New Coach For 1926 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O7lOAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA11 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=December 15, 1925}}</ref>
From 1926 to 1929 he was the head football coach at Oregon.<ref name=McCann>McCann, Michael C. (1995). Oregon Ducks Football: 100 Years of Glory. Eugene, OR: McCann Communications Corp. {{ISBN|0-9648244-7-7}}.</ref> His record there stands at 20–13–2, with his 1928 team completing a 9–2 campaign. McEwan announced his resignation as head football coach on November 22, 1929.<ref>{{cite news |title=McEwan Quits Job As Oregon Grid Mentor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zKxaAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA3 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Prescott Evening Courier |date=November 22, 1929}}</ref> He later back tracked and on December 19, announced that his "plans for the ensuing year are to continue by duties at the University of Oregon".<ref>{{cite news |title=McEwan Denies Furnishing Grid Films for Army |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DWoxAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=December 20, 1929}}</ref> However, following reports that McEwan had provided Army with film of the Stanford–Oregon game, the University of Oregon student executive council voted to ask for McEwan's resignation, a move which was supported by university president, Dr. Arnold Bennett Hall.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kirksey |first1=George |title=Penn Names Lud Wray As Head Coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qyAbAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=December 21, 1929}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Oregon Looking Around |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNosAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Bulletin |date=December 21, 1929}}</ref>
In 1930, McEwan became head coach at Holy Cross.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Captain at Holy Cross |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pg1WAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=March 26, 1930}}</ref> In 1932, he was suspended by the school following an in-game dispute with athletic trainer [[Bart F. Sullivan]]. McEwan accused Sullivan of insubordination for not substituting an injured player, while Sullivan claimed that the player was healthy and because the team had used all of its time outs, substituting a non-injured player would have resulted in a costly penalty.<ref>{{cite news |title=M'Ewan Sues to Keep His Coach Place |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aY5hAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Schenectady Gazette |date=November 24, 1932}}</ref> McEwan filed a lawsuit to overturn his suspension, but withdrew it and resigned after reaching a settlement with the university on January 21, 1933.<ref>{{cite news |title=Holy Cross Settles McEwan's Claim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DmVAAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12 |access-date=10 February 2024 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |date=January 22, 1933}}</ref>
Later that year, he was hired to coach the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League by the team's new owners, [[Chris Cagle (American football)|Red Cagle]] and [[Shipwreck Kelly (American football)|Shipwreck Kelly]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Cagle And Shipwreck Kelly Buy Brooklyn Gridiron Franchise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UThBAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Portsmouth Times |date=August 23, 1933}}</ref> McEwan complied a 9–11–1 record over two seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cap McEwan |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McEwCa0.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |publisher=Sports Reference LLC. |access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref>
==Later life==
Following a financially unsuccessful 1934 season, Dodgers owner [[Dan Topping]] released McEwan and a number of the team's high-profile players.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brooklyn Eleven Seeks Pitt's Izzy Weinstock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hdgoAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA19 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=December 12, 1934}}</ref> McEwan was unable to secure another coaching position and became an investigator for the [[Works Progress Administration]].<ref name="Obituary" /> In 1942, he returned to active military duty and was assigned to the office of the [[Chief of Engineers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ordered to Duty |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uIFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |date=June 30, 1942}}</ref> Receiving the rank of [[Lieutenant colonel]], McEwan served as the labor relations officer for the [[North Atlantic Division]] of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Resume Strike Parley, Workers Remain Idle |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLxFAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25 |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=The Newburgh News |date=July 7, 1944}}</ref> From 1947 to 1963, he was the chief of labor relations for the [[New York City Transit Authority]].<ref name="Obituary" />
McEwan died on August 9, 1970, at the Veteran's Hospital in [[Manhattan]].<ref name="Obituary">{{cite news |title=John M'Ewan, 77, '14 All-American |work=The New York Times |date=August 10, 1970}}</ref>
==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name      = [[Army Black Knights football|Army Cadets]]
| conf      = Independent
| startyear = 1923
| endyear   = 1925
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1923 college football season|1923]]
| name         = [[1923 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
| overall      = 6–2–1
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1924 college football season|1924]]
| name         = [[1924 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
| overall      = 5–1–2
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1925 college football season|1925]]
| name         = [[1925 Army Cadets football team|Army]]
| overall      = 7–2
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name       = Army
| overall    = 18–5–3
| confrecord =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name      = [[Oregon Ducks football|Oregon Webfoots]]
| conf      = [[Pacific Coast Conference]]
| startyear = 1926
| endyear   = 1929
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1926 college football season|1926]]
| name         = [[1926 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| overall      = 2–4–1
| conference   = 1–4
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1927 college football season|1927]]
| name         = [[1927 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| overall      = 2–4–1
| conference   = 0–4–1
| confstanding = 8th
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1928 college football season|1928]]
| name         = [[1928 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| overall      = 9–2
| conference   = 4–2
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1929 college football season|1929]]
| name         = [[1929 Oregon Webfoots football team|Oregon]]
| overall      = 7–3
| conference   = 4–1
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name       = Oregon
| overall    = 20–13–2
| confrecord = 9–11–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name      = [[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross Crusaders]]
| conf      = Independent
| startyear = 1930
| endyear   = 1932
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1930 college football season|1930]]
| name         = [[1930 Holy Cross Crusaders football team|Holy Cross]]
| overall      = 8–2
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1931 college football season|1931]]
| name         = [[1931 Holy Cross Crusaders football team|Holy Cross]]
| overall      = 7–2–1
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year         = [[1932 college football season|1932]]
| name         = [[1932 Holy Cross Crusaders football team|Holy Cross]]
| overall      = 6–1{{#tag:ref|McEwan was suspended after the first seven games of the 1932 season. [[Art Corcoran]] was appointed interim head coach for the final three games. Holy Cross finished the year with an overall record of 6–2–2.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Holy Cross Grid Coach Suspended |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97642013/the-cincinnati-post/ |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Post]] |location=[[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]] |agency=[[United Press International|United Press]] |date=November 10, 1932 |page=18 |access-date=March 16, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}</ref>|group=n|name=1932season}}
| conference   =
| confstanding =
| bowlname     =
| bowloutcome  =
| bcsbowl      =
| ranking      = no
| ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name       = Holy Cross
| overall    = 21–5–1
| confrecord =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall  = 59–23–6
| bowls    = no
| poll     = no
| polltype =
| legend   = no
}}
===NFL===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
! Won !! Lost !! Ties !! Win % !! Finish !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[1933 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|BKN]]||[[1933 NFL season|1933]]
|| 5 || 4 || 1 || {{winpct|5|4|1}} || 2nd in East || – || – || – || –
|-
![[1934 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season|BKN]]||[[1934 NFL season|1934]]
|| 4 || 7 || 0 || {{winpct|4|7|0}} || 3rd in East || – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McEwCa0.htm] || 9 || 11 || 1 || {{winpct|9|11|1}} || || – || – || – || –
|}
==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|1288}}
* {{Find a Grave}}
{{Army Black Knights football coach navbox}}
{{Oregon Ducks football coach navbox}}
{{Holy Cross Crusaders football coach navbox}}
{{Brooklyn Dodgers coach navbox (NFL)}}
{{Navboxes
| title = John McEwan—championships, awards, and honors
| list1 =
{{1914 Army Cadets football navbox}}
{{1916 Army Cadets football navbox}}
{{1914 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McEwan, John}}
[[Category:1893 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:American football centers]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights football coaches]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights football players]]
[[Category:Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) coaches]]
[[Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football coaches]]
[[Category:Oregon Ducks football coaches]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:People from Alexandria, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Minnesota]]
[[Category:New York City Transit Authority people]]
[[Category:Works Progress Administration administrators]]