Wally Lemm

Professional and College Football Coach. Born Walter H. Lemm, he played collegiate football (running back position) at Carroll College (Wisconsin) and following graduation in 1942, he served with the US Military during World War II. Upon his return home, he launched what was to become a lengthy coaching career, initially as an assistant at the University of Notre Dame, followed by a stint on the high school level in Wisconsin. By the late 1940s, he was serving as an assistant under his former Carroll College coach John Breen at Lake Forest College and in 1952, Lemm succeeded him as head coach. During his two years with that program, he compiled a winning record, before moving onto Montana State University where he had equal success. His first experience with the National Football League was as an assistant with the Chicago Cardinals in 1956, however after one year he returned to Lake Forest and received District Coach of the Year honors in 1957. He returned to the professional level, again with the staff of the Cardinals and in 1961, he moved to the American Football League as an assistant with the Houston Oilers whom were coming off their AFL championship season (1960). When Houston under head coach Lou Rymkus yielded a 1 win 3 loss and 1 tie record during the early part of the 1961 season, Lemm succeeded Rymkus as head coach and the Oilers proceeded to win the next nine games followed by the clinching of their second consecutive AFL Title (1961). For this achievement, he received AFL Coach of the Year honors. In 1962, he returned to the Cardinals this time as their head coach (1962 to 1965) and from 1966 to 1970, he served a second stint as the Oilers' head coach. While with the latter, he guided Houston to two playoff births (1967 and 1969).