Oberlin College Athletics

Thomas Nelson "Nellie" Metcalf was born September 21, 1890, in Elyria, Ohio, to Isaac Stevens Metcalf and Harriet Howes Metcalf. He attended Elyria and Oberlin public schools. He received an A.B. and an A.M. in hygiene and physical education from Oberlin College in 1912. Metcalf took graduate study at Harvard University during the Summer of 1912, at Columbia University during the Summers of 1914 to 1916, and at New York University during the summer of 1938. He married Helen Margaret Wallar, also an Oberlin graduate, on December 23, 1915. They had two children, Jean Frances and Alan Wilder (Classes of 1940 and 1943, respectively). While attending Oberlin, Metcalf earned three varsity letters as a member of the track team. As a senior, he established an Ohio Conference and Western Conference record in the two-mile run. He was also a member of the football and basketball teams his senior year. In addition, Metcalf distinguished himself as a member of the Phi Delta Literary Society, editor of Hi-O-Hi, a member of the Men's Senate, and class officer. After graduation in 1912, Metcalf was employed as a teacher of physical education and coach of football and track at Oberlin College for two years. He moved on to Columbia University in 1915. Metcalf returned to Oberlin College in 1918 and stayed until 1922, when he left for the University of Minnesota. During four seasons as head coach of the Oberlin College football team, Metcalf compiled an impressive 25-4-2 win-loss record. Metcalf became professor, chairman of physical education, and director of athletics at Iowa State College in 1924 and remained there until 1933. He then moved to the University of Chicago and spent the next 23 years as director of athletics there. He retired June 1956 and moved to Santa Barbara, California. He lived there until his death on January 17, 1982. He was 91 years old. Through the years Metcalf was involved with a number of athletic organizations: the NCAA Track and Field Rules Committee (chairman); the NCAA Tennis Committee (chairman); the Central Association Amateur Athletic Union (president); the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Games Committee (secretary); the U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Board. He also was chief administrative officer for the U.S. Olympic teams in 1948, 1952, and 1956; technical director of the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago; and team coordinator for the 1960 Winter Olympic Team. The one distinction for which Oberlinians will always remember Metcalf, however, is the 7-6 Oberlin College football victory over Ohio State University in 1921.