Head coach · Illinois · belt games 1919–1940

Robert Zuppke

357Days with the belt

1Reign started

5–1Defending it

1–3–1Challenging for it

Coached Illinois (1919–1940) in seasons with a belt game. 11 belt games in all: 6 with the belt in hand, 5 trying to take it.

Robert Zuppke was on a sideline for 11 belt games between 1919 and 1940, at Illinois. He took the belt once and held it for 357 days across one reign.

He won it on November 22, 1919, Illinois 9–7 over Ohio State.

His longest reign ran 357 days with Illinois, beginning November 22, 1919, and was defended five times along the way.

Across his career he coached five successful defenses, and the belt changed hands under him once, when Wisconsin won 14–9 on November 13, 1920.

He also coached three games with the belt on the other sideline and came away without it. The closest was 13–7 to USC on October 12, 1940.

Reigns

Started under this coach

Illinois · November 22, 1919 – November 13, 1920357 days · 5 def.

Every belt game

11 games, newest first

October 12, 1940 · Illinois vs. USC 7–13 as challengerlost October 9, 1937 · Illinois at Notre Dame 0–0 as challengertie, holder kept it October 24, 1936 · Illinois vs. Northwestern 2–13 as challengerlost October 22, 1921 · Illinois vs. Wisconsin 0–20 as challengerlost November 13, 1920 · Illinois at Wisconsin 9–14 as holderlost the belt November 6, 1920 · Illinois at Chicago 3–0 as holderdefended October 30, 1920 · Illinois vs. Minnesota 17–7 as holderdefended October 23, 1920 · Illinois at Michigan 7–6 as holderdefended October 16, 1920 · Illinois vs. Iowa 20–3 as holderdefended October 9, 1920 · Illinois vs. Drake 41–0 as holderdefended November 22, 1919 · Illinois at Ohio State 9–7 as challengertook the belt

Head coaches from the College Football Data API’s coaching records, matched by team and season. A reign counts for the coach in charge the season it began; a mid-season change isn’t split.