Harry Heller | |
Birth Date: | October 14, 1874 |
Birth Place: | Ottawa, Kansas, U.S. |
Death Place: | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
Alma Mater: | Baker University University of Colorado |
Player Years1: | 1893–1894 |
Player Team1: | Baker |
Player Years2: | 1894 |
Player Team2: | Colorado |
Player Years3: | 1895 |
Player Team3: | Denver Athletic Club |
Player Positions: | Halfback |
Coach Years1: | 1894 |
Coach Team1: | Colorado |
Overall Record: | 8–1 |
Championships: | 1 Colorado Football Association (1894) |
Harry L. Heller (October 14, 1874 – April 2, 1917) was an American football player and coach. He served as the first head football coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder, coaching one season in 1894 and compiling a record of 8–1.[1]
Heller was born in Ottawa, Kansas on October 14, 1874. He moved to Chanute sometime during his childhood.[2] He attended Baker University and played as a halfback on the football team during the early 1890s. In 1894, Heller became the first head coach of the University of Colorado football team with the recommendation of team captain Harry P. Gamble.[3] During the season, he led Colorado to its first conference championship. Heller stepped down as head coach following the season.[4] The following year in 1895, Heller played on Denver Athletic Club's football team.[5]
Heller later moved to Kansas City where he graduated from medical college and practiced medicine. On December 4, 1900, he married Margaret Berenice Macdonald (1880 – 1948).[6] The two had a daughter, Margaret (1905 – 2005).[7] Heller died in Kansas City from pneumonia on April 2, 1917.