Fred M. Hatch

Fred M. Hatch
Hatch pictured in The Minneapolis Journal, 1904
Biographical details
Born(1877-10-28)October 28, 1877
Bureau County, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 1932(1932-12-24) (aged 55)
Oberlin, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1898–1901Oberlin
Track and field
1902Oberlin
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1902Alma
1903Waynesburg
1907–1908West HS (OH)
1909Oberlin HS (OH)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1904Valley City State
1907–1909West HS (OH)
Head coaching record
Overall8–4–1 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 MIAA (1902)

Frederick Milton Hatch (October 28, 1877 – December 24, 1932) was an American football coach, athletics administrator, and educator. He served as the head football at Alma College in 1902 and Waynesburg College—now known as Waynesburg University—in 1903.

Early life and education

Born October 28, 1877 in Bureau County, Illinois, Hatch grew up near Creston, Iowa. He attended the Oberlin Academy from 1896 to 1898. He enrolled at Oberlin College in 1898 and graduated in 1902. He was the captain of the football team in 1900 and of the track team in 1902. Hatch lettered for the football team four times, from 1898 to 1901, playing at end and halfback.[1][2]

Coaching career

Hatch was the head football coach at Alma College in Alma, Michigan for one season, in 1902. His 1902 Alma team went 5–1 and was declared conference champions for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.[3][4] In 1903, Hatch was hired at the athletic coach at Waynesburg College—now known as Waynesburg University—in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania.[5] In 1904, he was appointed as the athletic director at Valley City State Normal School—now known as Valley City State University—in Valley City, North Dakota.[6][7]

In 1907, Hatch became the football coach at West High School in Cleveland. He was also the school's athletic director for two years until returning to Oberlin, Ohio as Oberlin High School's football coach in 1909.[8] He gave up teaching in 1910, and became a railway postal clerk based in Oberlin, Ohio. He continued to coach in various local organizations for some years.[9]

Family and death

Hatch married his Oberlin College classmate, Ellen Hayden Birdseye, on September 28, 1905. Exactly one year after their marriage, their only son, George Birdseye, was born. Hatch died on December 24, 1932, in Oberlin, Ohio. His wife, Ellen, died in 1947.[10]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Alma Maroon and Cream (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1902)
1902 Alma 5–1 4–1 T–1st
Alma: 5–1 4–1
Waynesburg Yellow Jackets (Independent) (1903)
1903 Waynesburg 3–3–1
Waynesburg: 3–3–1
Total: 8–4–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

[11][12]

References

  1. ^ "Oberlin Team Improves". The Daily Inter Ocean. Chicago, Illinois. September 23, 1901. p. 5. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  2. ^ "Yeomen Football Record Book Through 2023" (PDF). Oberlin College. p. 17. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  3. ^ "All-time conference champions". Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original on November 27, 2009. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  4. ^ "Football Head Coaching Overall Records". Alma College. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  5. ^ "New Coach For Waynesburg College". The Waynesburg Republican. Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. September 3, 1903. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  6. ^ "Oberlin College Notes". Boston Evening Transcript. Boston, Massachusetts. September 23, 1904. p. 9. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  7. ^ "Valley City, N. D., Normal Adds A Department Of Manual Training and Several New Instuctors". The Minneapolis Journal. Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 22, 1904. p. 17. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  8. ^ "Fred Hatch Will Coach at O. H. S." The Evening Telegram. Elyria, Ohio. September 28, 1909. p. 5. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  9. ^ Oberlin Alumni Magazine. Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio. 1948.
  10. ^ "Death Records; Ellen Birdseye Hatch". The Chronicle-Telegram. Elyria, Ohio. July 5, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved January 3, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
  11. ^ "Football Head Coaching Year-by-Year Records". Alma College. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
  12. ^ "Year-by-Year W-L Record" (PDF). Waynesburg University. Retrieved January 3, 2026.