Harry Rockafeller
 |
|
| Sport(s) | Football, basketball, track and field |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
August 26, 1894 Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Died | April 5, 1978 (aged 83) New Jersey |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1912–1915 | Rutgers |
| Basketball | |
| 1913–1916 | Rutgers |
| Position(s) |
End (football) Guard (basketball) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1927–1930 | Rutgers |
| 1942–1945 | Rutgers |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1952–1956 | Rutgers (acting AD) |
| 1956–1961 | Rutgers |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 33–26–1 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 3 Middle Three (1929, 1943, 1945) | |
Harry Joseph "Rocky" Rockafeller, Jr. (August 26, 1894 – April 5, 1978) was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator at Rutgers University. He was the head football coach for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team for eight years from 1927 to 1930 and from 1942 to 1945. He was also the athletic director until 1961.
Rockafeller was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey in 1894. His father, Harry J. Rockafeller, Sr., was a hotel keeper and, later, a theater manager. He attended Asbury Park High School.
Rockafeller attended Rutgers University where he played at the end position for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team for four years from 1912 to 1915. According to Rutgers University records, Rockafeller was selected as an All-American in 1915. He was a teammate of Paul Robeson on the football team. He also played at the guard position for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball team and competed for the track team. He graduated from Rutgers in 1916 and is a member of the Cap & Skull Senior Honor Society.
Rockafeller served in the military during World War I. As of June 1917 he was a first lieutenant in the infantry assigned as a student at the Fort Myer Camp in Virginia. At the time of the 1920 U.S. Census, Rockafeller was living with his parents in Asbury Park.
Rockafeller was hired as Rutgers' graduate manager of athletics in 1925. In February 1927 the Rutgers Council of Athletics announced that Rockafeller would serve as the head football coach of the 1927 football team. He remained as the head football coach from 1927 to 1930. During those seasons, the Rutgers football team compiled a record of 19–16. In December 1930, Rockafeller asked the Council of Athletics to release him from consideration as the head coach for the 1931 team. Rockafeller chose to return to his position as Rutgers' graduate manager of athletics.
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