Eugene L. Dersnah
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1888 Farwell, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 3, 1938 (aged 49) Bay City, Michigan, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1907 | Central Michigan |
| Positions | End, quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1919 | Washington HS (WI) |
| 1920 | Eureka |
| Basketball | |
| 1920–1921 | Eureka |
| Baseball | |
| 1921 | Eureka |
| Track and field | |
| 1920–1921 | Eureka |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 5–2–1 (college football) |
Eugene Louis Dersnah Sr. (November 20, 1888 – May 3, 1938) was an American football, basketball, baseball, and track and field coach and educator. He served as the head football coach at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois for one season, in 1920, compiling a record of 5–2–1.
Dersnah attended Central Michigan Normal School—now known as Central Michigan University—where he played football as an end and quarterback. He coached football at a high school in Stambaugh, Michigan and then at Washington High School in Milwaukee before he was hired at Eureka in 1920.[1][2] Dersnah also coached basketball, baseball, and track and field at Eureka during the 1920–21 school year.[3][4] He left Eureka in 1921 to head the athletic department at Eastern High School in Bay City, Michigan.[5] He was succeeded at Eureka by Ralph McKinzie.[6]
Dersnah later taught mathematics at Bay City Junior College. He died on May 3, 1938, in Bay City.[7]
Head coaching record
College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Red Devils (Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1920) | |||||||||
| 1920 | Eureka | 5–2–1 | |||||||
| Eureka: | 5–2–1 | ||||||||
| Total: | 5–2–1 | ||||||||
References
- ^ "Eureka's New Coach Has A Fine Record". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. August 11, 1920. p. 10. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Some Changes In College Faculty". Woodford County Journal. Eureka, Illinois. August 12, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Augustana Five Hard Hard Games". Moline Daily Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. January 12, 1921. p. 14. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Wesleyan Track And Ball Teams To Eureka". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. April 29, 1921. p. 12. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Eastern and Western Grid Squads Practicing Daily For Hard Football Season". The Bay City Times. Bay City, Michigan. September 20, 1921. p. 11. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "It's Coach McKenzie". Woodford County Journal. Eureka, Illinois. May 19, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Funeral Rites Held For Eugene Dersnah". The Bay City Times. Bay City, Michigan. May 6, 1938. p. 4. Retrieved January 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Eureka Football Record Book" (PDF). Eureka College. p. 74. Retrieved January 12, 2026.