The Early Years & College Football Playing Career

Born on November 4, 1917 in Kingston, Tennessee, Clarence Bowden Wyatt was an American college football player who played for the University of Tennessee before becoming a full time head football coach at several universities across America.

Wyatt was raised in Roane County, Tennessee, and attended Roane County High School, where he began to play football at a highly competitive level.

Upon graduating high school, he joined the University of Tennessee in 1935, where he took up the opportunity to play for the college football team, The Volunteers, and was the first to wear number 37 at the university. During his high school years he played as a fullback, before University of Tennessee coach Robert Neyland made him play as an end. In college had an illustrious playing career and started every single match for three straight years, eventually becoming captain in 1938 and becoming All American.

It was this same year that the Volunteers were 11-0, coached by Robert Neyland, with Wyatt serving as captain and guiding his team to win the Orange Bowl, playing against the University of Oklahoma and finishing the season as undefeated champions.

Coaching History & Timeline

Although it seemed a natural progression, Wyatt decided not to pursue a career playing professional football, and instead began his career as a professional college football coach in 1939. His first position was at Mississippi State University as the end coach, with Allyn McKeen serving as head coach.

Between 1939 and 1942 he remained at Mississippi State before briefly returning in 1946 after proudly serving his country for two years in the Navy during World War Two.

It’s after this that he had what some say were his best career results as a coach, becoming head coach at the University of Wyoming in 1947. For a variety of reasons, Wyoming’s football team had a poor track record and had struggled to make a mark in college football in previous years.

This changed completely with Wyatt coming on board and between 1947 and 1952, he became one of the most successful football coaches that Wyoming had ever seen. Thanks to his skill and persistence Wyoming’s standing as a force to be reckoned with became apparent, with his tact and expertise helping the Wyoming Cowboys win more games in the six years he was coach than the sixteen consecutive seasons before he joined.

It was here that Wyatt was responsible for coaching Wyoming’s first two All-Americans in Dewey McConnell and Eddie Talboom. In 1949 and 1950, under his guidance, the Cowboys were able to win consecutive Skyline Conference championships and, becoming the 12th best-ranked college football team in the country in 1950.

Following his successful stint at the University of Wyoming, Bowden Wyatt took on the position of head coach at the University of Arkansas for two years, coaching his team to victory with them winning the Southwest Conference championship.

University of Tennessee Coaching Position

Wyatt returned to his alma mater as head coach in 1955 when the position became available, with him being selected by the Athletic Director at the time, Robert Neyland. It was evident he relished the chance at being the head coach for the Volunteers, staying there until 1962 and leading the team to multiple victories during his tenure.

As head coach, in what was just his second year at the University of Tennessee, his team were undefeated right up until the Sugar Bowl where they were defeated by Baylor. Nonetheless, with such an impressive performance he gained the title of Coach of the Year in the Southeastern Conference.

His record as head coach at the University of Tennessee was exemplary, 49-24-4, leading the Volunteers to victory every season bar two of them.

Life after the University of Tennessee

Wyatt became the Director of Athletics at the college in 1962, and worked well behind the scenes creating an even more robust and successful sports arm of the university. The basketball team and hiring of Ray Mears as head coach is a prime example, with Mears staying on as coach for 15 years.

After leaving his position as the Director of Athletics, Wyatt served as assistant coach at Oklahoma State for a short while before deciding to retire to his hometown of Roane County.

Wyatt’s overall head coaching record of 99-56-5 was testament to not only his knowledge of football but his ability to coach and get results from multiple teams across the country.

It’s said that after his retirement he spent most of his time working on his ranch, but did miss being a coach to the next generation of star players. He continued to follow the college football season and attended games as a spectator after his retirement.

He passed away on 21st January 1969, but he was not forgotten by the football community, as he was subsequently inducted (posthumously) into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972 first as a player, and then again as a coach in 1997.

The President of the University of Tennessee, Dr. A.D. Holt described Wyatt as “an outstanding student leader, athlete, and coach at U-T, he contributed richly to the traditions of the Volunteers. He came to U-T as an unknown farm boy seeking a college education and, by his determination and dedication, gained national eminence in college football. The name of Bowden Wyatt will always be synonymous with moments of greatness in Tennessee Athletics.”

Notable Awards

AFCA Coach of the Year 1956

AP SEC Coach of the Year 1956

SEC Coach of the Year 1956

College Football Hall of Fame (Player) 1972

College Football Hall of Fame (Coach) 1997