Robert P. Wilson
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 16, 1875 Middletown, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | December 20, 1959 (aged 84) Middletown, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1895–1896 | Wesleyan |
| 1899 | Columbia |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1898–1902 | Wesleyan |
| 1903 | NYU |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 27–26–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 TFL (1899–1900) | |
Robert Paddock "Bert" Wilson (April 16, 1875 – December 20, 1959) was an American college football player and coach. He played football for Wesleyan University and was captain of the school's football team in 1896.[1] After graduating, he served as Wesleyan's first head football coach from 1898 to 1902. In five years as Wesleyan's coach, Wilson compiled a record of 25–21–2.[2] In his first two years as the coach, Wesleyan compiled records of 7–3 and 7–2. In the 17 years before Wilson took over as the coach, Wesleyan's football team had never won seven games in a single season. Wilson also attended Columbia University, where he played football as a quarterback and was captain of the 1899 Columbia Blue and White football team.[3] In 1903, Wilson became the head football coach at New York University (NYU).[4] He served the sixth head football coach at NYU and held that position for one season, in 1903, leading the NYU Violets to a record of 2–5.[5]
Wilson was born in Middletown, Connecticut. He later worked as an architect in New York City before retiring in 1931. Wilson died on December 20, 1959, at his home in Middletown.[6]
Head coaching record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wesleyan Methodists (Independent) (1898) | |||||||||
| 1898 | Wesleyan | 7–3 | |||||||
| Wesleyan Methodists (Triangular Football League) (1899–1901) | |||||||||
| 1899 | Wesleyan | 7–2 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1900 | Wesleyan | 5–4 | 2–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1901 | Wesleyan | 3–6–1 | 1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| Wesleyan Methodists (Independent) (1902) | |||||||||
| 1902 | Wesleyan | 3–6–1 | |||||||
| Wesleyan: | 25–21–2 | 5–1 | |||||||
| NYU Violets (Independent) (1903) | |||||||||
| 1903 | NYU | 2–5 | |||||||
| NYU: | 2–5 | ||||||||
| Total: | 27–26–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- ^ "Wesleyan's Football Season Starts" (PDF). The New York Times. September 16, 1900. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ "All-Time Football Coaching Records". Wesleyan University. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Seven Gridiron Leaders". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. October 29, 1899. p. 11. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com
.
- ^ "Football Season Well Started; Colgate Played West Point to a Standstill – Neither Team Scored – Columbia Scored 10 Against Wesleyan – Yale's Easy Victory – Indians' Large Score" (PDF). The New York Times. September 23, 1903. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
- ^ The Ultimate Guide to College Football, James Quirk, 2004
- ^ "Middletown; First Church To Show Nativity Pageant". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. December 21, 1959. p. 12. Retrieved July 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .