Fritz Heisler

Fritz Heisler
	Heisler in 1946
Date of birth	May 18, 1915
Date of death	March 11, 1982 (aged 66)
Place of death	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Career history
As coach
1938–1940	Massillon Washington HS (assistant)
1941	Ohio State (freshmen)
1943	Depauw University (V-5)
1946–1971	Cleveland Browns (assistant)
1972–1976	Cleveland Browns (scout)

Frederick K. "Fritz" Heisler (May 18, 1915 – March 11, 1982) was a professional American football coach who was an assistant and scout for the Cleveland Browns for 30 years between 1946 and 1976. He was a long-time associate of Paul Brown, the first coach of the team.

Heisler played for Brown when Brown was head coach at Massillon Washington High School before attending Miami University, where he was a standout as a guard. After graduating, he returned to Massillon to serve as an assistant under Brown. Heisler followed Brown to Ohio State University in 1941 when Brown became head coach there, but left the following year for a stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, Brown was named head coach of the Browns and hired Heisler as an assistant. He retired from coaching in 1971 but remained a scout for the Browns until 1976. He died in 1982 during surgery in Cleveland. Heisler was inducted into Miami's athletics hall of fame in 2006 and Miami's Cradle of Coaches Association in 2016.

Early life and college

Heisler grew up in Ohio and attended Massillon Washington High School in Massillon, Ohio.^[1] He tried out for the school's football team in 1932 despite weighing only 135 pounds – undersized for a football player.^[1] He made the team under head coach Paul Brown, however, and was a regular starting in 1933, the first of a series of strong seasons.^[1] After graduating from Massillon, Heisler enrolled at Miami University in his home state.^[1] By then weighing 155 pounds, he won All-Ohio honors as a guard on the football team between 1935 and 1937.^[2]

Coaching career

After college, Heisler came back to Massillon as an assistant to Brown.^[1] When Brown became the head coach at Ohio State University, Heisler went with him, coaching the freshman football team in 1941.^[1] He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and coached a V-5 team at Depauw University in 1943.^[3]

When the war ended, Brown was hired to coach the Cleveland Browns, a team under formation in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC).^[4] Brown brought Heisler onto his staff as a guard coach, tutoring linemen on both offense and defense.^[5] Heisler coached players including Bill Willis and Weldon Humble as the Browns won all four of the AAFC's championships between 1946 and 1949.^[6] After the AAFC dissolved, the Browns moved to the more established National Football League starting in 1950. The team won NFL championships in 1950, 1954 and 1955.^[7] and 1964.

Heisler transitioned from coaching on offense and defense to working primarily with the team's offensive line in the 1950s.^[8] He stayed on after Brown was fired in 1963, and remained Cleveland's top offensive line coach until retiring in 1971.^[1] After serving as a scout for the team for another five years, he left football for good in 1976.^[1]

Later life and death

Heisler retired to Aurora, Ohio.^[1] He suffered a stroke in 1977 that limited him physically, and he died five years later at the Cleveland Clinic during brain surgery.^[1] He was married to Evelyn Heisler and had four sons.^[1] Heisler was inducted into Miami University's athletics hall of fame in 2006.^[2] Heisler was inducted into Miami University's Cradle of Coaches Association in 2016 ^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Fritz Heisler, helped coach Browns, OSU and Massillon". Cleveland Plain Dealer. March 13, 1982.
^ ^a ^b "Miami University Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class for 2006". Miami University. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
^ Piascik 2007, p. 18.
^ Piascik 2007, pp. 15–16.
^ Piascik 2007, pp. 18–19.
^ Piascik 2007, pp. 19, 64, 81, 121, 145.
^ Piascik 2007, pp. 141, 181, 325, 341.
^ Piascik 2007, p. 19.
^ "Seven to be Inducted into Cradle of Coaches Association Sept. 9-10". Retrieved September 13, 2016.

Bibliography

Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6.

[Heisler_PD_obit-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Fritz Heisler, helped coach Browns, OSU and Massillon". Cleveland Plain Dealer. March 13, 1982.

[Heisler_in_Miami_HOF-2] "Miami University Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Class for 2006". Miami University. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2012.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik200718-3] Piascik 2007, p. 18.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik200715–16-4] Piascik 2007, pp. 15–16.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik200718–19-5] Piascik 2007, pp. 18–19.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik200719,_64,_81,_121,_145-6] Piascik 2007, pp. 19, 64, 81, 121, 145.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik2007141,_181,_325,_341-7] Piascik 2007, pp. 141, 181, 325, 341.

[FOOTNOTEPiascik200719-8] Piascik 2007, p. 19.

[9] "Seven to be Inducted into Cradle of Coaches Association Sept. 9-10". Retrieved September 13, 2016.

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v t e Cleveland Browns 1946 AAFC champions (inaugural season roster)
20 Mike Scarry 22 Frank Gatski 24 Mel Maceau 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 George Cheroke 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Bob Kolesar 39 Alex Kapter 40 Jim Daniell 42 Chet Adams 44 Lou Rymkus 46 Lou Groza 48 Ernie Blandin 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 54 John Rokisky 55 John Harrington 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Al Coppage 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 64 Bud Schwenk 66 Lou Saban 70 Gene Fekete 74 Gaylon Smith 76 Marion Motley 80 Al Akins 82 Bill Lund 84 Ray Terrell 85 Don Greenwood 88 Bob Steuber 90 Edgar Jones 92 Tom Colella 99 Fred Evans
Head coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coaches: John Brickels Blanton Collier Red Conkright Fritz Heisler Creighton Miller Bob Voigts

v t e Cleveland Browns 1947 AAFC champions
20 Mike Scarry 22 Frank Gatski 24 Mel Maceau 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 Bob Gaudio 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Weldon Humble 39 Alex Kapter 42 Chet Adams 44 Lou Rymkus 45 Roman Piskor 46 Lou Groza 48 Ernie Blandin 49 Lenny Simonetti 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 53 Marshall Shurnas 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Horace Gillom 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 66 Ermal Allen 70 Spiro Dellerba 72 Lou Saban 74 Tony Adamle 76 Marion Motley 80 Bob Cowan 82 Bill Lund 84 Ray Terrell 85 Don Greenwood 86 Lew Mayne 90 Edgar Jones 92 Tommy Colella 94 Jim Dewar 99 Bill Boedeker
Head coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coaches: John Brickels Blanton Collier Bill Edwards Dick Gallagher Fritz Heisler

v t e Cleveland Browns 1948 AAFC champions
22 Frank Gatski 24 Mel Maceau 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 Bob Gaudio 35 Alex Agase 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Weldon Humble 42 Chet Adams 44 Lou Rymkus 45 Ben Pucci 46 Lou Groza 48 Chubby Grigg 49 Lenny Simonetti 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 53 Frank Kosikowski 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Horace Gillom 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 64 George Terlep 70 Ollie Cline 72 Lou Saban 74 Tony Adamle 76 Marion Motley 80 Bob Cowan 82 Tommy James 85 Ara Parseghian 90 Edgar Jones 92 Tommy Colella 94 Dean Sensanbaugher 96 Dub Jones 99 Bill Boedeker
Head coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coaches: John Brickels Blanton Collier Bill Edwards Dick Gallagher Fritz Heisler

v t e Cleveland Browns 1949 AAFC champions
22 Frank Gatski 23 Tommy Thompson 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 Bob Gaudio 35 Alex Agase 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Weldon Humble 42 Derrell Palmer 44 Lou Rymkus 46 Lou Groza 48 Chubby Grigg 49 Joe Spencer 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 53 Bill O'Connor 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Horace Gillom 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 70 Ed Sustersic 72 Lou Saban 74 Tony Adamle 76 Marion Motley 80 Warren Lahr 82 Tommy James 85 Ara Parseghian 90 Edgar Jones 92 Les Horvath 96 Dub Jones 99 Bill Boedeker
Head coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coaches: Blanton Collier Weeb Ewbank Dick Gallagher Fritz Heisler

v t e Cleveland Browns 1950 NFL champions
20 Hal Herring 22 Frank Gatski 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 Abe Gibron 35 Alex Agase 36 Tommy Thompson 38 Weldon Humble 45 John Kissell 42 Derrell Palmer 44 Lou Rymkus 46 Lou Groza 48 Chubby Grigg 49 John Sandusky 50 Jim Martin 52 George Young 53 Len Ford 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Horace Gillom 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 70 Emerson Cole 74 Tony Adamle 76 Marion Motley 80 Warren Lahr 82 Tommy James 84 Ken Carpenter 85 Ken Gorgal 86 Dub Jones 90 Rex Bumgardner 92 Dom Moselle 94 Don Phelps
Head coach: Paul Brown
Assistant coaches: Blanton Collier Weeb Ewbank Fritz Heisler Tim Temerario