Kohawk Marv Levy: Iowa Time Machine November 8, 1948

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On November 8, 1948, Marv Levy debuted at fullback for the Coe College Kohawks. Long before his days leading the Buffalo Bills to four Super Bowl appearances, Levy’s playing days at a small liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids were the first, foundational step in a coaching career that would eventually span five decades.

Levy's arrival in Iowa in the late 1940s placed him squarely in the post-World War II athletic boom. Levy was initially recruited to the Wyoming Cowboys football team as a defensive back. The coach who recruited Levy left Wyoming, and Levy was displeased and exhausted by the following coach's round-the-clock training regimen. He transferred to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, following a single semester. At Coe College, Levy earned varsity letters in football, track, and basketball. He obtained a degree in English literature, was granted membership in Phi Beta Kappa society, and was twice voted student council president. He was also a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Leavy went on to earn his Master's degree from Harvard, an academic achievement that stood out in the coaching profession. Levy was ready to apply his intellectual approach to the game. Levy's first coaching job was at St. Louis Country Day School, where he coached both football and basketball; he led the school's basketball team to a championship. Two years later, Levy returned to Coe College as an assistant football coach (1953–1954). In his second stint as a head coach, he also won a championship in basketball, with future NBA Coach Bill Fitch as one of his players.

Marv Levy’s trajectory from the quiet fields of Cedar Rapids to the monumental pressure of the Super Bowl is a testament to the power of a strong beginning. The principles he applied at Coe, emphasizing smart play, meticulous preparation, and resilience, were the same ones that sustained him through a storied career, from New Mexico and Cal to the Montreal Alouettes and, finally, the Buffalo Bills. The head coach who would coin the famous mantra "Where else would you rather be?" found his very first answer on that inaugural day with the Kohawks in the heart of the Midwest. #Iowa #OTD #CollegeFootball #NFL #History