Ermal Allen

Ermal Allen was one of the most accomplished multi-sport athletes in University of Kentucky history and later became a highly respected football coach at both the collegiate and professional levels.

A standout athlete at Morristown (Tennessee) High School, Allen enrolled at the University of Kentucky in 1938, where he earned nine varsity letters in football, basketball, golf, and track over the next four years.

Playing quarterback and tailback for the Wildcats football team, Allen developed a reputation as a premier “triple-threat” player because of his ability to pass, run and kick. On the basketball court, he starred for legendary coach Adolph Rupp and earned All-Southeastern Conference honors in 1942. Allen also excelled in golf, helping lead Kentucky to undefeated seasons in 1941 and 1942 after losing only one collegiate match in 1940. He later won the Kentucky State Amateur Golf Championship in 1955 and 1958 and was runner-up for the title in 1956.

Allen’s collegiate career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served four years in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of major. Following his military service, he played one season of professional football with the Cleveland Browns under Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown and was a member of the Browns’ 1947 All-America Football Conference championship team.

In 1948, Allen returned to the University of Kentucky as an assistant coach under coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, serving as offensive coordinator through 1953. During his tenure under Bryant, the Wildcats capped the 1950 season with a historic victory over the top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma Sooners in the 1951 Sugar Bowl, a game widely regarded as one of the greatest wins in program history. After Bryant’s departure, Allen remained at Kentucky under coach Blanton Collier, serving as defensive coordinator from 1954 through 1961.

In 1962, Allen joined the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff under future Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry. He initially served as offensive backfield coach before assuming leadership of the Cowboys’ research and development department in 1970, where he gained recognition for his innovative scouting methods and opponent analysis. Allen is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s first “quality control” coaches. During his 22 seasons in Dallas, the Cowboys compiled a 230-114-4 record and had 18 consecutive winning seasons. Dallas appeared in five Super Bowls during his tenure and won two championship titles in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII.

Allen retired from the Cowboys following the 1983 season and passed away in 1988 at the age of 69.

Hero image from si.com. Biography by Chris Aldridge,