The "Gene Carpenter: Soldier, Family Man & Coach" Story

Gene Carpenter, Head coach of the Millersville
University team as of March 28, 1970.

It was an ordinary day.  March 28, 1970 and Millersville State College had just held a press conference to introduce their new head football coach Dr. Gene Carpenter.  At the time Gene was 30 years old and finishing up his obligation to the University of Utah as assistant coach.  While at Millersville that day, he told the members of the press that, "If I can't cut the cookie here, I don't want the job.  All I want is enough time to produce.  I want a fair chance."  Well, Gene got that chance and built the Millersville Marauders into a powerhouse football program in NCAA Division II.  His team record during his 31 years as head coach was 212 wins, 89 losses and 6 ties with 10 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division titles and winning records in 28 of his 31 seasons at the helm.  

The logo for the Millersville Marauders

The Marauders made the NCAA Division III playoffs in 1979 and the Division II playoffs in 1988, 1995 and 1999.  His 1988 team captured the ECAC Lambert-Meadow- lands Cup Champion- ship and 49 of his players were named All-American.  Gene was inducted into the Millersville University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006 and into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, just months after his death on December 10, 2009.  He was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana in 2012.  He was named the PSAC Coach of the Year two times.  But, Gene was more than just a football coach.  He was a proud Veteran who had served in the United States Marine Corps  in Okinawa, Japan before earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Huron University in South Dakota and a Masters of Administration from Adams State College and a Doctoral Degree from the University of Utah.  He retired in 2001 after 31 years of teaching, advising, coaching and serving as the Director of Men's Athletics and Head Football Coach.  As Director of Men's Athletics, Coach Carpenter administered a strong, nine-sport intercollegiate program that made its mark on regional and national scenes.  Team and individual post-season qualifiers were a yearly norm, as was the selection of All-Americans in several sports.  His efforts to improve the facilities and scholarship support was significant as well as his involvement in the NCAA, the Maxwell Football Club and the American Football Coaches Council.  

The Gene that I had a chance to know!

He garnered many awards with his being PSAC Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1981 and the Lancaster County prestigous George W. Kirchner Award.  I got to know Gene in a somewhat different light since he had twin sons, Scott and Steve, who were in my daughter's class at Manheim Township High School.  Both his sons, as well as my daughter Brynn, were active in athletics at MT and I often got to talk to him about his teams at Millersville.  Gene died December 10, 2009 at the age of 70.  Many spoke of his accomplishments at his funeral but the one comment that fit him best, at least to me, was..."When he was in the room, he had your attention," said Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin who was a defensive tackle for Carpenter from 1990-93 at Millersville University.  "He was that kind of person!"  Scott also said, "Even if he was coming down on you, in the end, you felt like he still loved you.  There's a way of doing that and that's why so many of the guys feel the same way about him.  He had such a commitment of service to his country, his family and to young men and Millersville University.  He gave his heart to Millersville, its tradition and the young men he was trying to mold."  Gene's sons followed in his footsteps with son Scott becoming a Captain in the Marines and son Steve becoming a Major.  His success on the football field was a direct result of his success in life.  I'm proud to say I knew him!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.