27 Facts About Ivy Williamson

Ivan B "Ivy" Williamson was a player and coach of American football and basketball, and a college athletics administrator.

Ivy Williamson played college football and basketball at the University of Michigan from 1930 to 1932 and was captain of the national champion 1932 Michigan football team.

Ivy Williamson served as the athletic director at Wisconsin from 1955 to 1969.

Ivy Williamson attended Bowling Green High School where he was a star athlete.

Ivy Williamson attended the University of Michigan, where he played basketball and football.

Ivy Williamson won two varsity letters in basketball and three in football.

Ivy Williamson was first-team All-Big Ten in football in 1931 and 1932 and was captain of the national champion 1932 Michigan football team.

Ivy Williamson led Roseville's football team to an undefeated season in 1933.

In 1934, Ivy Williamson was hired as an assistant football coach at Yale University.

Ivy Williamson remained an assistant coach under Ducky Pond from 1934 to 1940 and remained on the staff under head coach Spike Nelson in 1941.

In June 1942, Ivy Williamson was commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the United States Naval Reserve entered the US Navy.

Ivy Williamson was assigned to coach a Navy football team in 1942 with Potsy Clark at Pensacola, Florida.

Ivy Williamson remained in the Navy for three years and was discharged in 1945.

Ivy Williamson rejoined the Yale coaching staff in 1945 under head coach Howard Odell.

In 1947, Ivy Williamson was hired as the head coach at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania.

In January 1951, Ivy Williamson was approached by the University of Southern California about taking the head coaching job for the Trojans.

The University of Wisconsin offered Ivy Williamson a pay raise of $2,000, and raises of $1,500 to his four assistant coaches, in order to persuade him to stay.

Ivy Williamson never dramatizes himself, but somehow with him seems to get the feeling that here is a nice, honest fellow with a good head on his shoulders.

In November 1955, Ivy Williamson became Wisconsin's athletic director following the death of athletic director Guy Sundt.

Ivy Williamson was replaced as head football coach by Milt Bruhn.

In December 1957, Ivy Williamson was one of 25 former college football players chosen by Sports Illustrated for its silver anniversary All-American team honoring players with outstanding career and community service records.

In January 1963, Ivy Williamson was elected permanent chairman of the NCAA Football Rules Committee.

In January 1969, after five straight losing seasons and with the athletic department having a deficit, Ivy Williamson was fired as Wisconsin's athletic director at age 57.

Ivy Williamson was reassigned to a new position in the school of physical education with a reduction in salary from $23,000 to $18,800.

Ivy Williamson was described by those who knew him as "a man crushed in spirit" after his removal as athletic director.

Ivy Williamson was taken by ambulance to the University hospital in Madison, where he was pronounced dead.

Ivy Williamson was survived by his wife, Beulah, and twin sons, Jack and David.