Eddie Finnigan | |
Birth Date: | May 10, 1911[1] |
Birth Place: | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.[2] |
Death Place: | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Player Sport1: | Football |
Player Years2: | 1930–1932 |
Player Team2: | Western Reserve |
Coach Sport1: | Football |
Coach Years2: | 1949–1950 |
Coach Team2: | Baldwin–Wallace |
Coach Years3: | 1951–1965 |
Coach Team3: | Western Reserve |
Coach Sport5: | Basketball |
Coach Years6: | 1935–1940 |
Coach Team6: | Baldwin–Wallace |
Coach Sport7: | Track |
Coach Years8: | 1940–1948 |
Coach Team8: | Baldwin–Wallace |
Coach Years9: | 1963–1966 |
Coach Team9: | Western Reserve |
Admin Years1: | 1951–1968 |
Admin Team1: | Western Reserve |
Coach Sport10: | Golf |
Coach Years11: | 1954–1958 |
Coach Team11: | Western Reserve |
Overall Record: | 66–54–9 (football) 25–56 (basketball) |
Championships: | Football 3 PAC (1955, 1958, 1960) |
Edward Leo Finnigan (May 10, 1911 – July 10, 1968) was an American football and basketball coach and player. He served as the head football coach at Baldwin–Wallace College—now known as Baldwin Wallace University—from 1949 to 1950 and at Western Reserve University—now known as Case Western Reserve University—from 1951 to 1965, compiling a career college football coaching record of 68–52–9. Finnigan was also the head basketball coach at Baldwin–Wallace from 1935 to 1940, tallying a mark of 25–56.
In high school, Finnigan was a star athlete at John Adams High School in Cleveland.
Finnigan was the first Western Reserve University athlete to earn nine varsity letters—three each in football, basketball, and track—at a time when freshmen were unable to play varsity sports.[3] He was football team captain and quarterback his senior year in 1932[4] leading the Red Cats to a 7–1 record.[5]
His best sport was basketball, where he was an All-American during the 1932–33 season.[6]
In recognition of his many contributions to the athletic community, both the cities of Berea and Cleveland proclaimed November 4, 1967 as "Eddie Finnigan Day".[7]
Finnegan died of cancer July 10, 1968, at the Cleveland Clinic.[8]
Present day, the roadway in between DiSanto Field and Nobby's Ballpark is named "Finnegan's Way."