Jeff Cravath (2005) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Jeff Cravath

Induction:
2005
Class:
1926

Newell Jeff Cravath was USC’s first alumnus to serve as its head football coach. A 3-year (1924-26) letterman center, he captained the 1926 Trojan football team. He then became a coach, first as an assistant at USC for 2 years (1927-28) and then as the head coach at Denver (1929-31). He spent 1932 as an assistant at nearby Chaffey Junior College before rejoining the Trojan staff as an assistant for 8 years (1933-40). He was on the staffs of USC’s 1928 and 1939 national championship teams. He was USF’s head coach in 1941 and 1942, then became USC’s head coach for 9 seasons (1942-50), posting a 54-28-8 record and guiding Troy to 4 Rose Bowls. His overall head coaching record was 74-43-9 in 10 years at 3 schools. After USC, he went into the cattle ranching and produce business. He died on Dec. 10, 1953, at the age of 50 due to injuries from an automobile accident.