Howard Holt "Red" Blair (February 21, 1900 â November 30, 1947) was an American college football and college basketball player, coach, and athletics administrator in Ohio and Missouri. He served as the head football coach of the University of Akron from 1927 to 1935 and at Southwest Missouri State CollegeâÂÂnow known as Missouri State UniversityâÂÂfrom 1938 to 1946, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 82âÂÂ50âÂÂ12. Blair was also the head coach of Akron Zips men's basketball team from 1927 to 1936, tallying a mark of 89âÂÂ40. Blair grew up in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and played football and basketball at Ohio State University. He was a member of the 1920 Ohio State Buckeyes football team that played in the Rose Bowl. Blair died on November 30, 1947, at his farm near Springfield, Missouri.