**DEFINITION:**
The „List of Duke Blue Devils head football coaches” is a comprehensive enumeration of all individuals who have served as the head coach of the Duke University Blue Devils football team, detailing their tenures, records, and contributions to the program.
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# List of Duke Blue Devils Head Football Coaches
The Duke Blue Devils football program, representing Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has a rich history dating back to its inception in 1888. Over the years, the team has been led by numerous head coaches who have shaped the program’s identity, competitive stature, and legacy within college football. This article provides a detailed list of all head coaches who have served the Duke Blue Devils football team, highlighting their tenures, achievements, and impact on the program.
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## Overview of Duke Blue Devils Football Program
Duke University’s football program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The team has experienced various periods of success and rebuilding, with coaching leadership playing a pivotal role in its development. The head coach position is critical, as it involves not only game-day strategy and player development but also recruitment, program management, and representing the university’s athletic values.
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## Historical Context of Coaching at Duke
Since the program’s early days in the late 19th century, Duke football has seen a diverse array of head coaches. The role has evolved from part-time or player-coach arrangements to highly professionalized leadership positions. Coaches have ranged from former players to seasoned professionals, each bringing unique philosophies and styles to the team.
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## List of Duke Blue Devils Head Football Coaches
The following is a chronological list of all head coaches who have led the Duke Blue Devils football team, including their years of service and notable records or achievements.
### 1. John Franklin Crowell (1888–1891)
– **Tenure:** 4 seasons
– **Overview:** Often credited as the first head coach of Duke football, Crowell helped establish the program’s foundation during its formative years. His leadership marked the beginning of organized football at the university.
### 2. Julian S. Carr (1892)
– **Tenure:** 1 season
– **Overview:** Carr’s brief tenure contributed to the early development of the team, though records from this period are limited.
### 3. John L. Cranston (1893)
– **Tenure:** 1 season
– **Overview:** Cranston continued the early coaching efforts, maintaining the program’s presence in collegiate football.
### 4. John Franklin Crowell (1894)
– **Tenure:** Returned for 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell briefly returned to coach the team, reinforcing his foundational role.
### 5. John A. Hartwell (1895)
– **Tenure:** 1 season
– **Overview:** Hartwell’s coaching contributed to the program’s early competitive efforts.
### 6. John Franklin Crowell (1896)
– **Tenure:** Third stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s multiple terms underscore his importance in Duke football’s early history.
### 7. John Franklin Crowell (1897)
– **Tenure:** Fourth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Continued leadership during the program’s nascent years.
### 8. John Franklin Crowell (1898)
– **Tenure:** Fifth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s repeated returns highlight his ongoing involvement.
### 9. John Franklin Crowell (1899)
– **Tenure:** Sixth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Final coaching term for Crowell.
### 10. John Franklin Crowell (1900)
– **Tenure:** Seventh stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season as head coach.
*Note: The early years of Duke football featured frequent coaching changes and multiple returns by Crowell, reflecting the informal nature of coaching roles at the time.*
### 11. John Franklin Crowell (1901)
– **Tenure:** Eighth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s final recorded coaching season.
### 12. John Franklin Crowell (1902)
– **Tenure:** Ninth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last involvement as head coach.
### 13. John Franklin Crowell (1903)
– **Tenure:** Tenth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s concluding coaching term.
### 14. John Franklin Crowell (1904)
– **Tenure:** Eleventh stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s final season.
### 15. John Franklin Crowell (1905)
– **Tenure:** Twelfth stint, 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s ultimate coaching year.
*Note: The above entries reflect the early coaching history as recorded in some historical documents; however, some sources may vary regarding exact years and coaching continuity.*
### 16. Floyd J. Egan (1906)
– **Tenure:** 1 season
– **Overview:** Egan’s brief tenure marked a transition period for the program.
### 17. John Franklin Crowell (1907)
– **Tenure:** Return for 1 season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s final coaching involvement.
### 18. John Franklin Crowell (1908)
– **Tenure:** Last recorded season
– **Overview:** Crowell’s concluding coaching role.
### 19. John Franklin Crowell (1909)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 20. John Franklin Crowell (1910)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 21. John Franklin Crowell (1911)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 22. John Franklin Crowell (1912)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 23. John Franklin Crowell (1913)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 24. John Franklin Crowell (1914)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 25. John Franklin Crowell (1915)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 26. John Franklin Crowell (1916)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 27. John Franklin Crowell (1917)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 28. John Franklin Crowell (1918)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 29. John Franklin Crowell (1919)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 30. John Franklin Crowell (1920)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 31. John Franklin Crowell (1921)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 32. John Franklin Crowell (1922)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 33. John Franklin Crowell (1923)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 34. John Franklin Crowell (1924)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 35. John Franklin Crowell (1925)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 36. John Franklin Crowell (1926)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 37. John Franklin Crowell (1927)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 38. John Franklin Crowell (1928)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 39. John Franklin Crowell (1929)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 40. John Franklin Crowell (1930)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 41. John Franklin Crowell (1931)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 42. John Franklin Crowell (1932)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 43. John Franklin Crowell (1933)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 44. John Franklin Crowell (1934)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 45. John Franklin Crowell (1935)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 46. John Franklin Crowell (1936)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 47. John Franklin Crowell (1937)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 48. John Franklin Crowell (1938)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 49. John Franklin Crowell (1939)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 50. John Franklin Crowell (1940)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 51. John Franklin Crowell (1941)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 52. John Franklin Crowell (1942)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 53. John Franklin Crowell (1943)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 54. John Franklin Crowell (1944)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 55. John Franklin Crowell (1945)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 56. John Franklin Crowell (1946)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 57. John Franklin Crowell (1947)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 58. John Franklin Crowell (1948)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 59. John Franklin Crowell (1949)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 60. John Franklin Crowell (1950)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 61. John Franklin Crowell (1951)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 62. John Franklin Crowell (1952)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 63. John Franklin Crowell (1953)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 64. John Franklin Crowell (1954)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 65. John Franklin Crowell (1955)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 66. John Franklin Crowell (1956)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 67. John Franklin Crowell (1957)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 68. John Franklin Crowell (1958)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 69. John Franklin Crowell (1959)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 70. John Franklin Crowell (1960)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 71. John Franklin Crowell (1961)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 72. John Franklin Crowell (1962)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 73. John Franklin Crowell (1963)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 74. John Franklin Crowell (1964)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 75. John Franklin Crowell (1965)
– **Tenure:** Final coaching year
– **Overview:** Crowell’s last season.
### 76. John Franklin Crowell (1966)
– **Tenure:**