 |
Stephen "Babe" Dimancheff was born on September 6, 1922 in Indianapolis, Indiana and attended George Washington Community High School, where he lettered in football, basketball and track and was captain of both his football and basketball teams. In 1940, he received the Dyer Medal Award for the Best Athlete and most Character in the city of Indianapolis and was named All-State and All-City in both football and basketball in his senior year. After graduation he played football for the Butler University and was named captain of his freshman team in 1941. In his sophomore year he received All-Conference honors before World War II interrupted his college career. He returned to play at Purdue during 1943 and 1944 and in 1943 he led his team to an undefeated season in the Big Ten Conference. In his senior year he was named team captain and named as an All-American and All-Big Ten, as well as earning team MVP honors and being considered for the Heisman Trophy. He ended his college career by playing in the 1944 East-West Shrine Game. In his two seasons at Purdue, he totaled 1399 yards averaging 4.9 yards per carry. He was next drafted in the 3rd round by the Boston Yanks in the 1944 NFL Draft. For the Yanks, he played defensive back and halfback, rushing 30 times for 69 yards in 1945. In 1946, he rushed for 238 yards and caught five passes for 121 yards. He also returned punts and kickoffs for the Yanks. He then signed with the Chicago Cardinals, where he played from 1947 thru 1950, and led them to the NFL Championship in 1947. The following year the Cardinals lost the NFL Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished his career with the Chicago Bears in 1952. He played in 65 games during his pro career, rushing for 802 yards and catching 61 passes for 1086 yards, scoring 15 touchdowns. Following his retirement from pro football, he coached at Butler University in 1951 and for Purdue in 1953. From 1954 thru 1956 he became the head coach at Hamtramack High School in Hamtramack, Michigan, leading them to two state titles. In 1957 he returned to the NFL, accepting a job as a backfield and receivers' coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and stayed in that position thru 1959. He then joined Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys for their first season in 1960, as their backfield coach. After two years he moved on to take the offensive coordinator coaching job at Wake Forest University. In 1964, he left to become the head coach and general manager of the Canton Bulldogs in the newly formed United Football League. In 1965 he moved with the franchise to Philadelphia and coached them for another season in the now, Continental Football League. He came back to the NFL in 1966, as the receivers' coach and Director of Player Personnel for George Halas and the Chicago Bears. He spent seven seasons in Chicago before accepting the position of offensive coordinator for the Southern California Sun football team in the World Football League and stayed with them until the league folded in 1976. After football, he sold real estate in southern California until he retired. He was inducted into the Indiana football Hall of Fame in 2007 and in 2009 he elected to the Purdue Hall of Fame. Coach Babe Dimancheff died on October 17, 2008 at age 86, in Los Angeles. |
