Lorin F. Deland
American football coach
Lorin Fuller Deland (October 11, 1855 – May 2, 1917) was an American college football coach and theater manager. He was the head coach of the Harvard Crimson football team for three games in 1895, after having been a football "adviser" to the team beginning in 1892. He invented the "flying wedge" formation, which was unveiled in a 6–0 loss to Yale in the championship game of 1892. Later, Deland collaborated with former Yale Bulldogs football coach Walter Camp on the seminal book titled Football, published in 1896.
Background
Deland was born on October 11, 1855, and grew up in Boston's South End. He graduated from The English High School in 1872 and upset his family by rejecting an opportunity to attend Harvard College in order to become an actor. He performed for the Boston Museum company until 1877, when he co-founded the Park Dramatic Club. During his acting career, Deland worked for his father’s publishing business, which he took over following his father’s death.
On May 12, 1880, he married Margaret Deland, who later gained fame as a novelist, short story writer, and poet. Deland sold father's publishing company in 1886 to go into advertising, as well as opening a greeting card business.
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