Stahley Is Made Backfield Coach; Boston Will Be Freshman Mentor

Skip Stahley will replace Johnnie Wood as backfield coach and Clarence E. "Chief" Boston will coach the Freshmen for the 1940 season, William J. Bingham '16, Director of Athletics, announced yesterday.

Other changes include the appointment of John J. Witherspoon '37 to succeed Stahley as head coach of lacrosse and Richard W. Snibbe to take Witherspoon's place as Freshman lacrosse coach.

Stahley, who came to Harvard with Dick Harlow from Western Mary and in the fall of 1935, has coached the Freshmen every year except 1936, when he was general assistant on the Varsity coaching staff. He has coached the lacrosse team and the Freshman basketball team since 1936.

Grounded in Harlow System

An exponent of the "Harlow system" he has been particularly successful in grounding inexperienced players in fundamentals and turning out fighting teams by the end of the season. Wood's status remains indefinite.

Since he graduated last year Boston has been at the University School at University Heights, Ohio, where his football team had a five and three record. In his three years on the Varsity he excelled at blocking back and was also an outstanding wrestler, winning the Eastern Intercollegiate Heavy-weight Title.

Of the appointment Harlow said, "I'm delighted the Chief is coming back to Harvard football." It is rumored that Alex Kevorkian who ended his career in 1937 will assist Boston with the Freshmen.

With the loss of Vernon Struck '38 who is going to Providence with the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, the Varsity coaching staff will consist of Wes Fesler, end coach, Lyle Clark, line coach, and Floyd Stahl, scout, in addition to Harlow and Stahley while Henry Lamarr remains in charge of the Junior Varsity.

At the same time it was announced that spring practice will begin in the Briggs Cage Friday at 4:30.