Tommy Prothro
From BG-pedia
Sons of Westwood: Bruin Legends
JAMES THOMPSON "TOMMY" PROTHRO, JR
COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
- Head coach from 1965 to 1970. (He left in January 1971 to become heac coach of the NFL's LA Rams.)
- His Bruins compiled a record of 41-18-3
- Prior to UCLA, he also coached Oregon State from 1955 to 1964.
- Was an assistant (as the backfields coach to the Bruins single-wing attack) to Red Sanders during the 1954 National Championship season. Was assistant to Sanders back when Sanders coached Vanderbilt.
- It was during his tenure that the team earned their moniker as the "Gutty Little Bruins". That term was coined for the 1965 team that went to the 1966 Rose Bowl as 14 1/2 underdogs to Michigan State and upset them.
- In 1967, helped quarterback Gary Beban capture the Hiesman Trophy.
- Another eventual Bruin hall-of-fame head coach, Dick Vermeil served under him udring the 1970 season.
ACCOLADES
- Inducted into UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
- Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1991.
- National Coach of the Year in 1965.
MISCELLAENOUS
- Read the LA84Foundation.org's article, A Coaching Legend: Tommy Prothro
