Red Threlfall

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Red Threlfall

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|6|2}}

| birth_place = Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, U.S.{{cite book |title=Mirror, 1928 |url=https://archive.org/stream/mirror192800unse/mirror192800unse_djvu.txt |access-date=February 21, 2022}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1971|2|14|1903|6|2}}

| death_place = Sun City, Arizona, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_sport1 = Football

| player_years2 = 1924–1926

| player_team2 = Purdue

| player_positions = Center

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years2 = 1927–1928

| coach_team2 = Bates (assistant)

| coach_years3 = 1934–1937

| coach_team3 = South Dakota State

| coach_years4 = 1938–1944

| coach_team4 = Winnipeg Blue Bombers

| coach_sport5 = Basketball

| coach_years6 = 1930–1933

| coach_team6 = South Dakota State

| coach_years7 = 1936–1937

| coach_team7 = South Dakota State

| admin_years1 = 1934–1937

| admin_team1 = South Dakota State

| overall_record = 17–19–2 (college football)
25–32 (college basketball)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Reginald H. "Red" Threlfall (June 2, 1903 – February 14, 1971) was an American football, basketball and Canadian football coach. He served as the head football coach at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, from 1934 to 1937, compiling a record of 17–19–2.{{cite web|url=https://www.yankton.net/sports/article_41debc27-38e8-5e95-8b50-b44f46b0acc3.html|title=Memory Of Friends Glows Through The Golden Years|publisher=Yankton.net|access-date=October 18, 2018}} Threlfall was the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) from 1938 to 1944.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-feb-18-1971-p-49/|title=Winnipeggers Love Him|work=Winnipeg Free Press|date=February 18, 1971|access-date=October 18, 2018}}

Athletic career

Threlfall played tackle for four years at Waltham High School in Waltham, Massachusetts. He enrolled at Purdue University in 1922, but financial difficulties forced him to leave. He returned to Purdue in 1923 and played on the freshman football team. He played tackle and center for the varsity team from 1924 to 1926. He was also a member of the school's wrestling team.

Coaching career

During his senior year with the Boilermakers, Threlfall assisted coaching the team's linemen during spring practice. In 1927 he was hired as an assistant football coach at Bates College.{{cite news |title=Asst. Football Coach is Engaged for Next Fall to Meet Long Felt Need |url=https://scarab.bates.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1347&context=bates_student |access-date=February 21, 2022 |work=The Bates Student |date=June 3, 1927}} He and head coach Carleton Wiggin left after the 1928 season.{{cite news |title=Football Coaches at Bates to Retire |work=The Boston Daily Globe |date=December 8, 1928}} In 1930 he joined the athletic department at South Dakota State.{{cite book |title=The Blue Book of College Athletics |date=1936}} From 1934 to 1937 he was the school's head football coach and athletic director.{{cite news |title=R. H. Threlfall Resigns Position as South Dakota State Mentor |url=https://indexuni.library.uni.edu/sites/default/files/ni/1937/00000070.jpg |access-date=February 21, 2022 |work=The College Eye |date=November 19, 1937}} From 1938 to 1942 he coached the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to 28-8 regular season and five Grey Cup appearances, winning in 1939 and 1941. His .778 winning percentage is the highest in team history.{{cite web |title=Reg Threlfall |url=https://www.bluebombers.com/2017/04/25/reg-threlfall/ |website=bluebombers.com |publisher=CFL Enterprises LP |access-date=February 21, 2022 }}

Insurance

In 1940, Threlfall joined the Winnipeg branch of Sun Life.{{cite journal |title=Agency Notes |journal=The National Underwriter |date=1940}} He then worked for the Great West Life Assurance Company. In 1953 he was appointed vice president and superintendent of agencies for Western States Life Insurance Company.{{cite journal |title=The Spectator |date=1953 |page=35}}

Later life and death

In 1968, Threlfall retired and moved to Sun City, Arizona. He suffered a heart attack on February 3, 1971, and had a stroke six days later. He died on February 14, 1971.{{cite news |title=Deaths |work=Commercial West |date=1971}}