By Don Brewington

In 1940, Elvan George was named head coach of the Ada Cougars and the football program was on the way to success unheard of for a high school program.  Under the leadership of George, the Ada Cougars had a record of 161-46-8, a 77% winning average over 18 years. George transformed the Ada football program to a winning tradition that still prevails today.

All-American-Tackle, Dr. Henry Wells of Chickasaw Heritage, says this about George, “Elvan George did more to instill values in the community than anyone ever has, he was the moral the compass of the town.”

There was reluctance by Ada school board to hire George because of his stoic demeanor, all thought he was a good man, but having him as a head football coach might be a stretch. Hugh Warren was his brother-in-law and in 1940 had won Ada the first and only state basketball championship, so he was instrumental in getting George hire.  George’s ambition really was to be principal of Ada High School, but was rejected mainly because of his stoic demeanor by the school board.  It is at that time George re-dedicated himself to be as good as coach for Ada as he could be.

Hugh Warren, who pushed George for job, was named assistant coach and he was not pleased by all accounts, his idea was to be AD and head basketball coach, it seems the Ada school board thought otherwise.

The first staff in 1940 consisted of Elvan George, Hugh Warren and Leland Newton, three totals.

It is important to note that all this success of 6 State Championships in 1951-52-54-55-56-57 came at a time when no one was even coming close to that dominance and George was able to navigate and adjust to the changing times from Big Band music to Rock and Roll.

George never raised his voice to players although he could “cut you to bone” with his soft spoken demeanor.

Joe Lee Walker says, “All our players would go thru a brick wall to please him because if he said it must have been right thing to do.”

In 1951, Jay O’Neal, quarterback of first state championship team, got a lesson from George after throwing five interceptions against Ardmore in first half.  George calmly walked the sideline, walked by O’Neal and said, “Are you aiming at them?” George had a way of delivering words in a calm way that got your attention. The Cougars won the game despite the five interceptions from O’Neal.

The turn of program did not come easy to winning championships from 1940 to 1949.  Ada won about half their games until 1950 with Pat O’Neal at quarterback.  Half way through the season George switched to “Split-T” offense.  This is where the success began.  Bud Wilkinson was having great success at OU with the “Split-T” at that time.  This switch ushered in a success never equaled in high school football.  In 1951, Ada won their first state high school football championship and in 1952, the Cougars repeated.  They were the first team in Oklahoma high school history to win back to back championships.

The innovations of Elvan George were remarkable; one example was Ada was first team to use weights when no one else was doing it.  With help of weightlifting guru Ralph “Fireball” Evans, a program was set up to help players develop muscle.  George and Evans penned a book called, “Weightlifting for Football” that was widely read.  In 1959, George wrote a book called, “Split-T in High School Football.”

Elvan George is gone but not forgotten.  You can hear Elvan George stories to this day.  His statue stands proudly at Norris Field in front of the building named in his honor, ensuring his legacy lives forever.

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