Wilson David
Matthews (July 18, 1921
– May 13, 2002) was an American football coach. He became a high school
coaching legend in the state of Arkansas after winning 10
state championships and producing a 33-win streak in 11 years
at Little Rock Central High School. He later became an
assistant to Frank Broyles at the University of
Arkansas. The Broyles Award Trophy, depicts Matthews standing
next to Broyles.
Born and raised in
rural Atkins, Arkansas, Matthews attended Atkins High School,
where he played varsity football under coach Raymond Burnett
and was a two-time All-State selection. Matthews went on to
play at Arkansas Tech University, where he was an All-AIC
honoree from 1940-41. He continued his playing career at the
University of Arkansas for one year under George Cole. In 1943, Matthews was drafted for military
service and assigned to the Monticello A&M V-12 Program, where he played with the
Monticello Marine-Navy team. He earned his bachelor's degree
and his master's in education from University of Arkansas. Matthews also
served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War
II.
In 1944, Matthews became
head coach at Rogers High School in Rogers, Arkansas. After a single season, finished with a
7-3 record. Matthews left Rogers for Little Rock High
School, where he became an assistant to
his former high school coach Raymond Burnett. As Burnett moved
on to coach Arkansas Tech University, Matthews was named head coach,
taking over one of the premier high school football programs
in the nation. The Little Rock High Tigers had won the
mythical national championship in 1946.
Matthew's first Tiger
teams went 12-0-1, in 1947 and 9-1-1 in 1948. His next two
teams finished 10-1 and 10-2. In 1951, his team was 9-3 but a
one-point loss to North Little Rock that season was the last
defeat a Matthews-coached Tiger team had against competition from
Arkansas. The Tigers were undefeated in the state for the next six
years. Matthews led the Tigers to unbeaten seasons in 1956 and
1957, and left the school with a 33-game winning streak. His
1957 team won the schools second mythical national
championship.
Matthews joined the
University of Arkansas Razorbacks in January 1958, coaching
the defensive ends and
linebackers at Arkansas before taking administrative
duties in 1969. He continued to coach the freshmen until being
named assistant athletic director in 1973. As a varsity coach,
Matthews coached two All-Americans and eight All-Southwest
Conference players. During his tenure the Hogs appeared in
eight bowl games. Matthews served as an assistant and then
associate athletic director until 1992 when he assumed the
title of associate athletic director emeritus. Matthews was
inducted to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.
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