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Bill Gutteron
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 Gutteron, c. 1925 | |||||
| Profile | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | November 26, 1899 British Honduras | ||||
| Died | May 30, 1987 (aged 87) Middleton, Wisconsin, U.S. | ||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | ||||
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | San Diego (San Diego, California) | ||||
| College | Nevada (1921–1925) | ||||
| Career history | |||||
Playing | |||||
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Coaching | |||||
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| Career statistics | |||||
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William Alexander Gutteron (November 26, 1899 – May 30, 1987) was a Belizean-born American professional football player and coach. After moving to the U.S. from what was then British Honduras, he played college football as a quarterback for the Nevada Sagebrushers. He then played one season for the Los Angeles Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) in 1926. After his playing career, Gutteron served as a coach in multiple sports. He worked from 1943 to 1965 at Penn State University as a swimming teacher.
Early life
[edit]William Alexander Gutteron was born on November 26, 1899, in British Honduras, now Belize.[1] The youngest of 13 children, he later moved to the U.S., where he attended San Diego High School in California.[1][2] At San Diego High School, he played football as a quarterback.[3] He then served as a coach at the San Diego Army and Navy Academy before attending the University of Nevada from 1921 to 1925.[2][4]
Gutteron played multiple sports at Nevada and received a total of 12 varsity letters in college.[2] He was a four-time letterman in football and served as the team's starting quarterback from 1922 to 1925.[2][5] In addition to football, Gutteron also competed in baseball and swimming, becoming Nevada's first player to win 12 letters.[6] Standing at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) and weighing 155 pounds (70 kg), he was nicknamed "Little Bill" or the "Little Giant".[1][7] In the 1923 season, he quarterbacked and captained[8] a Nevada team that faced off against the heavily favored and undefeated California Golden Bears, who were known as the "Wonder Team" and ultimately won that year's national championship.[5][9] Gutteron led Nevada to an "outstanding performance" and a 0–0 tie against the Golden Bears, which was the only time the "Wonder Team" did not score during the season as well as the only game they did not win.[5][9] Gutteron nearly scored a touchdown in the game, but was tackled shortly before the end zone and fractured his leg.[5] He remained with Nevada in 1924 and 1925, though he missed part of the latter season after breaking his leg again.[1][10] According to the Nevada State Journal, Gutteron was regarded as one of the best quarterbacks on the Pacific coast during his collegiate career.[11]
Professional career
[edit]In August 1926, Gutteron signed to play professional football for the Los Angeles Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL), run by Harold Muller.[11] He appeared in two games for the Buccaneers, one as a starter, at quarterback.[1] He became the NFL's first Belizean-born player, and remains one of only two as of 2025.[12] However, he had been released by the start of November due to being "too small for the big league stuff of the east".[13]
Coaching career and later life
[edit]Gutteron opened a cafe in Venice, Los Angeles, in 1927.[14] That year, he also worked as an assistant coach at Alhambra High School, before becoming head coach at San Diego High School in 1928.[15] In 1931, he became athletic director at Bellefonte Academy in Pennsylvania.[16] There, he coached football, basketball, baseball and boxing.[2] He worked at Bellefonte from 1931 to 1935 until the school went bankrupt.[6] Afterwards, he was hired by Muhlenberg College in 1935 and served as the football team's backfield coach.[17][18] He also served as head coach of the baseball team.[19]
Gutteron joined Clearfield High School in 1937 and served until 1943 as football and basketball coach.[2] His 1939 football team was undefeated until the last game of the season.[20] During World War II, he was asked by Penn State University to supervise a water survival program.[6] He started working on Penn State's faculty in 1943 and while there, earned a master's degree in 1948.[2][21] He was one of the organizers for an instructional program at a local pool in 1946; he served as manager and later general supervisor for the program, which had taught swimming classes to around 15,000 youth by 1963.[6] Gutteron served as the head coach of Penn State's swimming team from 1947 until it was discontinued in 1951, then remained teaching swimming there until retiring in 1965.[2][21] According to the Centre Daily Times, Gutteron estimated that he helped over 50,000 youth learn how to swim.[6]
Gutteron returned to California in 1973, moving to Oceanside.[22] He received an award from the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975 honoring his service.[22] He later moved to Wisconsin in 1982.[2] He was married and had a son who served as a pilot.[2][5] Gutteron suffered from Parkinson's disease in his last years and died in Middleton, Wisconsin, on May 30, 1987, at the age of 87.[1][2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Bill Gutteron Stats". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fedon, Laurie (June 3, 1987). "Gutteron coached swimming in State College for 30 years". Centre Daily Times. pp. B-1, B-2 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Diego To Play Angels". The San Diego Sun. October 11, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bill Gutteron Back Home for Holidays". The San Diego Sun. December 29, 1922. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Nevada Quarterback Gutteron Returns for '71 Homecoming". Nevada State Journal. October 23, 1971. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Weld, John (July 17, 1963). "Gutteron Inaugurates, Leads Swim Activities". Centre Daily Times. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Greenwalt, E. J. (November 4, 1923). "Wolf Pack Humbles California". Nevada State Journal. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Billy Gutteron Is in San Diego on Short Visit". The San Diego Sun. June 13, 1924. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "1923 California Golden Bears Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ^ Peeke, Carroll (October 4, 1925). "Bear Triumph Over Wolves Show Power". Oakland Tribune. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Bill Gutteron In Pro Grid Squad". Nevada State Journal. August 26, 1926. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "List of all NFL Players Born in Belize". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ "Nevada Stars Join Pro Teams". Nevada State Journal. November 4, 1926. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Nevada Men Open Cafe at Venice". Nevada State Journal. September 7, 1927. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fisher, Nelson (September 3, 1928). "Bill Gutteron To Be Named Hilltop Coach". The San Diego Sun. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gutteron Takes 'Syl' Pauxtis' Place At Bellefonte Prep". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. January 13, 1931. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gutteron Gets Post". The Plain Speaker. May 31, 1935. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Mule' Coach Has Close Call". The Morning Call. October 15, 1935. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Muhlenberg Starts Baseball With First Practice Today". The Morning Call. March 25, 1936. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cobb, Ty (December 11, 1939). "Inside Stuff". Nevada State Journal. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Bill Gutteron Retires After Long Service". Centre Daily Times. July 24, 1965. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Persia, Marke (April 19, 1975). "Gutteron Honored at Swimming Luncheon". Centre Daily Times. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
