Harlow, "Dick" (Richard C.)
Football
b. Oct. 19, 1889, Philadelphia
d. Feb. 19, 1962
As a tackle at Penn State, Harlow distinguished himself by blocking five punts in 1911. He remained as an assistant coach for three seasons and was named head coach in 1915. After compiling a 20-8-0 record in three seasons, Harlow entered the service in 1918.
He returned to Penn State as an assistant in 1919, then went to Colgate as head coach in 1922. His 1925 team was undefeated, winning 7 games and tying 2, and he had a record of 24-9-3 in four seasons before going to Western Maryland in 1926.
Harlow produced three more unbeaten teams, in 1929, 1930, and 1934. The 1929 team won all 11 of its games; the 1930 and 1934 teams each had one tie. His nine-year record of 61 wins, 13 losses, and 7 ties caught the attention of Harvard athletic director Bill Bingham. In 1935, Harlow became the first non-alumnus ever to coach at Harvard.
The lack of material haunted him. He had just three winning teams in his first eight seasons before entering the Navy in 1943. He became ill while in the service and was put on a diet of rice and fruit juice for the rest of his life. However, he returned to coaching at Harvard in 1945 and had his best team there in 1946, winning 7 of 9 games.
He retired after the 1947 season on his doctor's advice. In his 11 seasons, Harvard won 45 games, lost 39, and tied 7. His overall record was 150-68-17.
Although an amateur, Harlow was an expert in oology, the study of birds' eggs. In 1939, he was named curator of oology at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, and he remained in that position until 1954.
Harlow pioneered modern defensive schemes. Because his teams were often greatly outweighed, he taught his linemen and linebackers to use coordinated stunts and loops to get around or between blockers rather than trying to overpower them. His offense was similarly based on deception and timing rather than power, using a wide variety of shifts, reverses, and lateral passes.