:Charles Lappenbusch

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Charles Lappenbusch

| image = File:Charles Lappenbusch.png

| alt =

| caption = Lappenbusch in 1953

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1908|5|18}}

| birth_place = Lake Tapps, Washington, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|9|30|1908|5|18}}

| death_place = Enumclaw, Washington, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_sport1 = Football

| player_years2 = 1928–1929

| player_team2 = Puget Sound

| player_years3 = 1930

| player_team3 = Washington

| player_sport4 = Basketball

| player_years5 = 1928–1930

| player_team5 = Puget Sound

| player_years6 = 1930–1931

| player_team6 = Washington

| player_sport7 = Baseball

| player_years8 = 1928–1929

| player_team8 = Puget Sound

| player_years9 = 1930

| player_team9 = Washington

| player_sport10 = Track and field

| player_years11 = 1928–1929

| player_team11 = Puget Sound

| player_years12 = 1930

| player_team12 = Washington

| player_positions = Guard, tackle (football)

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years1 = 1931

| coach_team1 = Washington ({{abbr|AL|assistant line coach}}/{{abbr|AF|assistant freshman coach}})

| coach_years2 = 1932

| coach_team2 = Albany College (OR)

| coach_years3 = 1933–1955

| coach_team3 = Western Washington

| coach_sport4 = Basketball

| coach_years4 = Unknown{{efn|Lappenbusch coached basketball for 13 seasons, but the dates are unknown.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118659065/lappenbusch/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 10, 1999|page=14|title=Lappenbusch's students walked a Straight Line|author=Keeker, Korey|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215024736/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118659065/lappenbusch/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}}}

| coach_team4 = Western Washington

| coach_sport5 = Baseball

| coach_years5 = Unknown{{efn|Lappenbusch coached baseball for six seasons, but the dates are unknown.}}

| coach_team5 = Western Washington

| coach_sport6 = Tennis

| coach_years6 = Unknown{{efn|Lappenbusch coached tennis for 22 seasons, but the dates are unknown.}}

| coach_team6 = Western Washington

| coach_sport7 = Golf

| coach_years7 = Unknown{{efn|Lappenbusch coached golf for two seasons, but the dates are unknown.}}

| coach_team7 = Western Washington

| admin_years1 = 1932

| admin_team1 = Albany College (OR)

| admin_years2 = 1933–1965

| admin_team2 = Western Washington

| overall_record = 81–70–15 (football)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships = Football
1 WINCO (1938)
Evergreen (1951)

| awards = NAIA Hall of Fame (1961)
West. Washington Athletic Hall of Fame (1976)

| coaching_records =

}}

Charles Frank Lappenbusch Sr. (May 18, 1908 – September 30, 1996) was an American athlete and sports coach. He was best known for his time at Western Washington University, in which he served from 1933 to 1975 and coached football, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf.

A native of Washington, Lappenbusch attended the University of Puget Sound before transferring to the University of Washington. He played as a lineman for both schools' football teams, and was named All-Pacific Northwest as a senior in 1930. Afterwards, he served for one year as an assistant football coach for Washington. In 1932, Lappenbusch became athletic director and head coach at Albany College (now known as Lewis & Clark College), a position in which he served for one season.

Lappenbusch was hired at Bellingham Normal School (now Western Washington University) in 1933, and went on to serve in various positions through 1975. He coached football for 20 seasons and was their all-time wins leader at the time of his retirement in 1955. He also coached basketball for 13 seasons, baseball for six years, tennis for 22 years, and golf two seasons, and was a member of the physical education department for 42 years. Lappenbusch was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1961 and received national recognition for his development of the "Straight Line Philosophy," in addition to other innovations.

Early life and education

Lappenbusch was born on May 18, 1908, at Lake Tapps in Washington, United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119639442/kitsap-sun/|newspaper=Kitsap Sun|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 2, 1996|page=12|title=College Football: Western legend 'Lappy' passes|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021833/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119639442/kitsap-sun/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He attended the University of Puget Sound for two years before transferring to the University of Washington to major in pre-medical. He played right tackle for Puget Sound under coach Cac Hubbard{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641677/statesman-journal/|newspaper=Statesman Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 25, 1932|page=8|title=Untitled|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021833/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641677/statesman-journal/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} and was awarded a varsity jacket as well as the Mahncke Award for highest scholastic average.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641824/the-tacoma-daily-ledger/|newspaper=The Tacoma Daily Ledger|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 12, 1929|page=9|title=Logger Gridders Awarded Honors|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021837/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641824/the-tacoma-daily-ledger/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} Lappenbusch played for Washington as a guard in 1930{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641995/the-san-francisco-examiner/|newspaper=The San Francisco Examiner|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 6, 1930|page=21|title=38 Washington Huskies Leave For Palo Alto To Meet Cards|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021835/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119641995/the-san-francisco-examiner/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} and was selected first-team All-Pacific Northwest by Associated Press (AP) despite missing several games due to injury.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119642111/the-bellingham-herald/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 1, 1930|page=9|agency=Associated Press|title=All-Pacific Northwest Grid Teams Are Announced By The Associated Press|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225021832/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119642111/the-bellingham-herald/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} Some sources also stated that he was named an All-American. During his time at Puget Sound and Washington, he also participated in basketball, baseball, and track and field.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119644293/corvallis-gazette-times/|newspaper=Corvallis Gazette-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 24, 1932|page=4|title=C. F. Lappenbusch New Albany Athletic Coach|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225032521/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119644293/corvallis-gazette-times/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}

Coaching career

After graduating from the University of Washington, from which he received a bachelor's degree and master's degree, Lappenbusch was hired by the school as assistant football line coach in 1931.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16339658/the-missoulian-missoula-mtjune-30/|newspaper=The Missoulian|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 30, 1931|page=5|title=Untitled|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225032513/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16339658/the-missoulian-missoula-mtjune-30/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He also assisted in coaching the freshman team that year. The following year, Lappenbusch began serving as athletic director, physical education director,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119644718/albany-democrat-herald/|newspaper=Albany Democrat-Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 27, 1932|page=3|title=Lappenbusch to Direct Physical Education|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225032512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119644718/albany-democrat-herald/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} and head football coach at Albany College (now known as Lewis & Clark College).

After one season in the position, Lappenbusch left for Bellingham Normal School (now known as Western Washington University).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118659232/lappenbusch/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 4, 1975|page=11|title=Lappy's legacy|author=Lindsley, Wallie|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215024735/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118659232/lappenbusch/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} "I had been canned by the depression," he later recalled. "I was teaching and coaching at Albany College in Oregon for $2,400 when they ran out of money. There was an opening [at Bellingham Normal] and I felt fortunate to get the job for the same money I was receiving, especially since the fellow who replaced me at Albany was cut to $500. That $2400 then was a pretty good salary." He began as athletic director and football coach.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119645701/the-bellingham-herald/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 24, 1933|page=1|title=Former University Player To Coach At Normal|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225032512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119645701/the-bellingham-herald/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}

Lappenbusch went on to serve with the school for 42 years. He coached the football team for 20 seasons, from 1933 to 1955 (as they did not play from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II), the tennis team for 22 years, the basketball team for 13 seasons, the baseball team for six seasons, and the golf team for two years. He also was a member of the physical education department until retiring in 1975.

A 1961 inductee into the NAIA Hall of Fame,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119646548/the-bellingham-herald/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 7, 1961|page=18|title=Lappenbusch Tapped For Hall of Fame|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225032515/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119646548/the-bellingham-herald/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} Lappenbusch compiled an 81–62–15 record as Western Washington's football coach.{{Cite web|url=https://wwuvikings.com/honors/hall-of-fame/charles-lappenbusch/14|publisher=Western Washington Vikings|title=Charles Lappenbusch (1976)|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215024734/https://wwuvikings.com/honors/hall-of-fame/charles-lappenbusch/14|url-status=live}} His record was at the time the best in school history and in 1938 his team posted their only-ever undefeated, untied season. Lappenbusch also made several innovations to the game, including: being among the first coaches to provide his players with long underwear and gloves for cold weather; had his players take vitamins, 50 years before it became common; and redesigned protective equipment which, although was rejected, was introduced by others almost exactly the same several years later and accepted. Lappenbusch also designed a type of mass-produced varsity jacket and was the author of the "Straight Line Philosophy" in football and basketball which received national recognition.

Lappenbusch's Straight Line theories were based on an observation from a coach that he served with at Washington in 1931: "Don't give a man a job he can't do." He was twice invited to speak at the NCAA convention about his Straight Line plans and it was immensely popular, influencing many coaches of the day, including Frank Leahy of Notre Dame.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119672842/obituary-for-charles-f-lappenbusch/|newspaper=The Bellingham Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 30, 1996|page=13, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119672922/the-bellingham-herald/ 14]|title=Ex-Vikings coach Lappenbusch known as innovator|author=Sleeper, John|access-date=February 25, 2023|archive-date=February 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225172911/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/119672842/obituary-for-charles-f-lappenbusch/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He wrote several books on the topic and was called a "genius" by many players that he coached, although "his theories and lectures were so complicated that those in attendance often didn't know whether to take notes or laugh," according to The Bellingham Herald.

Personal life and death

Lappenbusch was described as "frugal, allergic to a host of different foods and often absent-minded." He was inducted into the Western Washington Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976 and died in September 1996 in Enumclaw, Washington.

Works

{{cite book|title=Football-straight Line Philosophy: Kill the "T."|date=1952|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gCsQHQAACAAJ }}
{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IIvKy6fj7boC|title=Basketball Straight Line Defense|date=1953 }}
{{cite book|title=Football-straight Line Philosophy: Offense|date=1954|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d_4CQAAACAAJ }}

Head football coaching record

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Albany College

| conf = Independent

| startyear = 1932

| endyear = single

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1932

| name = Albany College

| overall = 0–8

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Albany College

| overall = 0–8

| confrecord =

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Western Washington Vikings

| conf = Tri-Normal Conference

| startyear = 1933

| endyear = 1937

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1933

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 1–5

| conference = 0–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1934

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 2–2–3

| conference = 0–1–1

| confstanding = T–2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1935

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 4–1–3

| conference = 1–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1936

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 4–4

| conference = 0–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1937

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 4–2–1

| conference = 1–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Western Washington Vikings

| conf = Washington Intercollegiate Conference

| startyear = 1938

| endyear = 1947

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1938

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 7–0

| conference = 3–0

| confstanding = 1st

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| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1939

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 5–2

| conference = 1–2

| confstanding = T–3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1940

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 3–4

| conference = 1–3

| confstanding = 4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1941

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 5–2–1

| conference = 2–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1942

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 1–4–2

| conference = 0–3–2

| confstanding = 5th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1943

| name = No team—World War II

| overall =

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

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{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1944

| name = No team—World War II

| overall =

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

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| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1945

| name = No team—World War II

| overall =

| conference =

| confstanding =

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1946

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 4–4

| conference = 2–3

| confstanding = 4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1947

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 5–3

| conference = 3–2

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Western Washington Vikings

| conf = Evergreen Conference

| startyear = 1948

| endyear = 1955

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1948

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 5–4

| conference = 2–4

| confstanding = 6th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1949

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 4–4–1

| conference = 3–2–1

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1950

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 7–2–1

| conference = 4–1–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| year = 1951

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 8–1

| conference = 4–1

| confstanding = T–1st

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1952

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 5–2–1

| conference = 4–1–1

| confstanding = 2nd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1953

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 3–4–2

| conference = 2–4

| confstanding = T–5th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1954

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 3–5

| conference = 3–3

| confstanding = 4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1955

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 1–7

| conference = 0–6

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Western Washington

| overall = 81–62–15

| confrecord = 36–44–6

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 81–70–15

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| polltype =

}}

{{cite web |author= |title=Western Washington University – Athletic History Football |url=https://wwuvikings.com/documents/2018/7/18/_football_.pdf |publisher=Western Washington University Athletics |pages=3–7 |access-date=February 26, 2023 |archive-date=February 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226221201/https://wwuvikings.com/documents/2018/7/18/_football_.pdf |url-status=live }}