Holy Cross: a football coaching history
See Holy Cross’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 1936–1981
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead.
1976–1980
Neil Wheelwright Steady
Neil Wheelwright moved Holy Cross from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 5 seasons.
+0.6 pts over 5 seasons · top 31% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Lou Tepper’s Illinois run (1992–1996)
4th-best Holy Cross tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Edward Doherty (1971–1975).
+0.6
20-35
1971–1975
Edward Doherty Steady
Edward Doherty slid the Crusaders from Regional Program IV to Regional Program V in 5 seasons.
−0.8 pts over 5 seasons · top 36% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Brad Scott’s South Carolina run (1994–1998)
3rd-best Holy Cross tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Neil Wheelwright (1976–1980).
1 NFL Draft pick: Bill Adams (1972)
−0.8
20-31-2
1938, 1950–1964
Edward Anderson Steady≈
Edward Anderson moved Holy Cross from National Program II to Power Program III in 16 seasons.
+10.9 pts over 16 seasons · bottom 46% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jeff Bower’s Southern Miss run (1990–2007)
1st-best Holy Cross tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Succeeded by Joseph Sheeketski (1939–1941) · returned in 1950.
+10.9
90-61-4
1939–1941
Joseph Sheeketski Steady
Joseph Sheeketski slid the Crusaders from Power Program III to National Program I in 3 seasons.
−5.9 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 31% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jim Strong’s UNLV run (1990–1993)
2nd-best Holy Cross tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Edward Anderson (1938).
−5.9
15-11-3