Coach Nolting

University of Cincinnati Head Coach

1945 – 1948

Nolting was hired to revive the University of Cincinnati football program after the conclusion of World War II. Manned with many veterans of the armed services, he quickly put the program back together. In four seasons, they compiled a 23-15-1 record.

Nolting had his own style; fairly fundamental with strong offensive play combined with a hard-nosed defense like the Bears.

Of Nolting, the team captain of the 1946 Bearcats, Elbie Nickel, said, "He was a tough coach and insisted on long practices and repetitive drills, but he wasn't above getting into the action with his team. He wasn't much older than we were... so he could show us what to do. He was a young coach and he did a great job for us. Of course, he had a bit of a temper and he gets excited on the sideline."

The 1946 team has been ranked as one of the university’s best ever with victories over Big Ten Champion Indiana (15-7) and Michigan State while compiling an 8-2 record.

The 1946 Bearcats were league champions and appeared in UC’s first bowl game. At that time, there were only five bowl games. UC played in the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, defeating Virginia Tech 18-6.

Nolting’s four successful years produced the most financially profitable years (at that time) in the school’s history and built the foundation of a program that would go 50-13-1 over the next six seasons.