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Mel Collard

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Mel Collard
Biographical details
Born(1894-07-17)July 17, 1894
Enfield, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 16, 1971(1971-03-16) (aged 76)
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Alma materMissouri Wesleyan College
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Basketball
1921–1922Fairfield Community HS (IL)
1923–1926Central Wesleyan
1927–1932Ozark Wesleyan
1932–1933Carthage HS (MO)
1934–1935Boston University (assistant)
1935–1945Boston University
Football
1921Fairfield Community HS (IL)
1923–1925Central Wesleyan
1927–1931Ozark Wesleyan
1932Carthage HS (MO)
Baseball
1935Boston University (freshmen)
1936–1942Boston University
1946–1950Boston University

Merrel A. "Mel" Collard (July 17, 1894 – March 16, 1971), often misspelled as Merrell or Merrill, was an American athlete and coach who coached various sports at Missouri Wesleyan College, Ozark Wesleyan College, and Boston University.

Biography

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During World War I, Collard was a first sergeant in the 124th Field Artillery Regiment of the 33rd Infantry Division, American Expeditionary Forces, serving under Col. Horatio B. Hackett.[1] He graduated from Missouri Wesleyan College in Cameron, Missouri in 1921.[2] He and his brother, Vernon, operated a confectionary shop, The Fair Sex, in Cameron.[3]

Collard was a science teacher and coach at Fairfield Community High School, in Fairfield, Illinois during the 1921–22 school year. In 1923, he became the coach and physical director for men at Central Wesleyan College, succeeding John Harmon, who went to the University of Evansville.[4][5] After spending a year out of coaching selling automobiles in Carmi, Illinois, Collard became the football, basketball, tennis, and track coach at Ozark Wesleyan College.[2] He was the coach and athletic director at Carthage High School in Carthage, Missouri during the 1932–33 academic year, but his contract was not renewed.[6]

In 1934, Collard attended Boston University's school of physical education on a fellowship. On October 29, 1934, athletic director John Harmon named Collard the head freshman and assistant varsity basketball coach.[7] In 1935, he was appointed freshman baseball coach.[8] Harmon gave up his coaching duties later that year and Collard was named varsity baseball and freshman football coach.[9] The previous freshman football coach, Edgar Manske, was named varsity basketball coach, however, he left the school soon thereafter to sign a National Football League contract.[9][10] Collard was then chosen to coach the varsity basketball team and Oliver Olsen was appointed freshman football coach.[11]

Collard was head coach of the Boston University Terriers men's basketball team from 1935 to 1945 and compiled a 64–63 record.[12] He continued to coach baseball until 1950, when he resigned to focus on his teaching duties.[13]

Collard died suddenly, on March 16, 1971, while playing golf in Fort Myers, Florida.[14] He was survived by his wife and two children. At the time of his death, Collard was a resident of Wellesley, Massachusetts.[15]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Central Wesleyan (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1923)
1923 Central Wesleyan 2–4–1 0–1–1 14th
Central Wesleyan (Independent) (1924)
1924 Central Wesleyan 6–2
Central Wesleyan (Missouri College Athletic Union) (1925–1926)
1925 Central Wesleyan 4–3 1–2 7th
1926 Central Wesleyan 2–5–1 0–5–1 9th
Central Wesleyan: 14–14–2 1–8–2
Total:

References

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  1. ^ Huidekoper, Frederic (1921). The history of the 33rd Division, A.E.F. p. 569. Retrieved April 11, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ a b The Ashlar. 1929. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  3. ^ "To Teach In Boston". The Cameron Citizen Observer. August 1, 1935. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  4. ^ Catalogue of Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Mo. 1925. p. 10. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  5. ^ "Local and Personal Mention". The Cameron Citizen Observer. May 10, 1923. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "Carthage "Hi" To Have A New Coach". Joplin Globe. April 23, 1933. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  7. ^ "Collard to Coach B. U. '38 Hoopsters, Assist Varsity". The Boston Globe. October 30, 1934.
  8. ^ "Collard B. U. Cub Coach". The Boston Globe. March 19, 1935.
  9. ^ a b "Successors Named For Harmon At B. U.". The Boston Globe. June 7, 1935.
  10. ^ "Boston U. Grid Aide Joins Redskin Squad". Rochester Evening Journal. June 26, 1935. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  11. ^ "Boston University Coaches Appointed". The Toledo News-Bee. July 13, 1935. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
  12. ^ "2022-23 Men's Basketball History & Record Book" (PDF). Boston University Athletics. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Boston U. Names Cleverly". The New York Times. July 10, 1950.
  14. ^ "Merrel Collard Dies In Florida". The Carmi Times. Carmi, Illinois. March 17, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved July 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  15. ^ "Deaths". The Boston Globe. March 20, 1971.