Title: Glenn "Red" Jarrett Scrapbook, 1945, 1948-1949, 1953

ID: OGLMC1706

Primary Creator: Jarrett, Glenn "Red" (1907-1962)

Extent: 0.25 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 08/24/2012

Subjects: Sports and Recreation, University of North Dakota - Alumni, University of North Dakota - Athletics

Languages: English

The Glenn "Red" Jarrett Scrapbook consists mainly of newspaper clippings regarding Jarrett's coaching career at UND. Material within the scrapbook dates from 1945 until 1953, although a majority of the clippings are undated. In addition, a majority of the individual pages within the scrapbook were not used.

The scrapbook also contains artwork from and newspaper clippings regarding the youth football activities of Jimmy and Johnny Jarrett, sons of Glenn.

"Born Oct. 23, 1907, in Ligonier, Ind., Glenn Leroy Jarrett moved to the Grand Forks area as a young boy, where he earned the nickname, “Red,” for the color of his hair.

Jarrett attended Grand Forks Central High School, where he excelled in football, basketball and track and field, helping the school earn multiple state championships. From there, he enrolled at UND in 1927.

Jarrett competed in the same three sports from 1928 to 1931. He started at forward on the basketball team and halfback on the football team, where he drew national attention.

In 1930, UND went up against West Point’s Army team — a squad that hadn’t given up a touchdown all season. Jarrett changed that, as he ran one in from 32 yards out. However, in the end, Army, would hand UND their only loss that season.

Coverage of the Army matchup and Jarrett’s performance earned him the first selection to an All-American football team in UND’s history. It also earned him another nickname: “Red Rabbit.”

UND Football’s Head Coach Kyle “Bubba” Schweigert and Athletic Director Brian Faison also spoke of Jarrett’s lasting impact.

“It’s awesome — to be the first one to pave the way for UND Football — to get on that train, head out to Army and be the only person that scored against them,” said Schweigert. “It’s just awesome that our first All-American grew up here… Jarrett’s such a rich part of the tradition of UND Football.”

“Army was Alabama,” Faison said. “That’s how good Army and Navy were in those days; it was a truly remarkable situation. I think it really set the table for the program to start taking the next step in football. As an athlete, Jarrett was ahead of his time in a lot of ways.”

Jarrett lettered nine times, three in each sport in which he participated, and graduated in 1931 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. Desiring a position as a high school football coach, he headed to Minot. He remained there until 1938, when his former college coach, Charles “Jack” West, wanted Jarrett as his assistant on the football staff. He was the first alumnus hired to coach a varsity team at UND.

This launched a 20-year career as a coach. He eventually took head coaching roles in football, basketball and track and field. He became UND’s athletic director, upon West’s departure, in 1946.

Perhaps Jarrett’s crowning achievement as a UND Athletics leaders came from a sport he never played or coached.

In 1947, at the behest of student and hockey standout Cal Marvin, Jarrett set UND Hockey on a course from a club level to the D-I powerhouse of today. While Marvin gathered a roster, Jarrett worked with other directors to produce the framework for what’s now the WCHA (UND has since moved to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference).

By the time Jarrett retired in 1958 due to illness, UND had won the conference championship and was well on its way to national prominence. Today, the program has eight NCAA championships.

Jarrett passed away April 26, 1962."

Source: "Green at heart but ‘Red’ is the ‘Way’." Connor Murphy. UND Today. 24 October 2017.

Sports and Recreation
University of North Dakota - Alumni
University of North Dakota - Athletics

Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections

Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.

Acquisition Source: Jarrett family (via the UND Alumni Association)

Acquisition Method: Donation; 2022-3458

Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Glenn "Red" Jarrett Scrapbook. OGLMC 1706, Box #, Folder #. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Processing Information: Processed by Curt Hanson in March 2022.