on to serve in the position through 1950, besides the 1943–1945 seasons which were cancelled due to World War II. His 1947 team went undefeated and played for the black college national championship. Among notable football players he coached or recruited included Marion Motley and Deacon Jones, both of whom went on to be Pro Football Hall of Famers. Described as being one of the most "versatile" coaches, Dawson also served as the head basketball coach from 1936 to 1947, winning the school's first ever SIAC title in 1943 in any sport. For seven years, he coached tennis, leading the team to four conference championships; among the players he coached was George Stewart, a national champion in the American Tennis Association (ATA). Dawson also coached the golf team for six seasons and led them to four conference titles. He was head athletic director for 16 years and also served as a professor at the school, initiating in 1947 the health and physical education program while serving as its chairman for 30 years. He retired from South Carolina State in 1976. Honors and death Dawson was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974, the first black person ever to receive the honor. He was inducted into the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, as a charter member. Oliver C. Dawson Stadium, South Carolina State's home football venue, was renamed in his honor in 1984. Dawson died on February 9, 1989, at the age of 78. Head coaching record Football References Notes Citations External links 1910 births 1989 deaths American football fullbacks Guards (basketball) John Carroll Blue Streaks football players John Carroll Blue Streaks men's basketball players South Carolina State Bulldogs football coaches South Carolina State Bulldogs basketball coaches College golf coaches in the United States College men's tennis players in the United States College tennis coaches in the United States College track and field coaches in the United States People from Hampton, Georgia Coaches of American football from Ohio Players of American football from Cleveland Basketball players from Cleveland Tennis people from Ohio Track and field athletes from Ohio African-American college athletic directors in the United States African-American coaches of American football African-American players of American football African-American basketball coaches African-American basketball players African-American male tennis players African-American male track and field athletes 20th-century African-American sportspeople