John William Fuhrer (April 11, 1880 â July 24, 1972) was an American college football and college basketball coach. He served as the head football coach at Doane College from 1904 to 1907 and Kansas State Teachers College of PittsburgâÂÂreferred to commonly at the time as Pittsburg Normal and now known as Pittsburg State UniversityâÂÂfrom 1909 to 1914 and again in 1918, compiling a career college football coaching record of 39âÂÂ33âÂÂ2. Fuhrer was also the head basketball coach at Pittsburg Normal from 1909 to 1914, tallying a mark of 21âÂÂ20. He also competed at the 1904 Summer Olympics.
Fuhrer competed in the men's triple jump at the 1904 Summer Olympics, where he placed fourth.
Fuhrer was the tenth head football coach at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska and he held that position for four seasons, from 1904 until 1907. His coaching record at Doane was 13âÂÂ11.
In 1971, a gymnasium at Doane College was named after Fuhrer, with him present at the dedication.
Fuhrer was the second head football coach at Kansas State Teachers College of PittsburgâÂÂreferred to commonly at the time as Pittsburg Normal and now known as Pittsburg State UniversityâÂÂin Pittsburg, Kansas. He coached from 1909 through 1914, and then returned for the 1918 season for a total of seven seasons. His teams posted a record of 26âÂÂ22âÂÂ2.
On November 27, 1913 in a game against the Southwestern Moundbuilders coached by Fred Clapp, Fuhrer officially launched a formal protest against the appearance of an African American player.
Fuhrer moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1919 to serve as physical director of the Lincoln Y.M.C.A.
Fuhrer died on July 24, 1972, aged 92.