Walter Frederic "Wally" Koppisch (
June 6,
1901 –
November 2,
1952) was an
American football halfback in the
National Football League for the
Buffalo Bisons and
New York Giants. He attended
Columbia University.
At 23 years old, Koppisch, a local celebrity and
high school football star, was named
the head coach of the Buffalo Bisons, making him among the youngest
head coaches in NFL history. Upon the retirement of
Tommy Hughitt after the 1924 season, there was
heavy pressure on him to continue Hughitt's winning ways. However,
the team lost several players from the 1924 title run, and Koppisch
(who was also the team's star offensive threat) was injured partway
through the season, causing the team to stumble to a 1-6-2 season.
Koppisch was fired after one season and ended up playing for the
Giants in 1926. When the mass contraction of pro football occurred
in 1927, Koppisch found himself out of football, never to return
again.
He is a
member of the College Football Hall of Fame
.