Chalmers William (Bump) Elliott

Chalmers William (Bump) Elliott

U of M Football Player (1946 - 1947)
U of M Football Coach (1959 - 1968)

Bump Elliott was born in Detroit, Michigan but grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. While still a senior in high school, Elliott enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He enrolled at Purdue and received varsity letters in football, baseball and basketball. He was called into active duty in late 1944 with the Marines in China. After his release in 1946, he enrolled at the University of Michigan and resumed his outstanding athletic career. In 1947, he helped the U of M to an undefeated season, while earning All-American honors and was the Big Ten Conference Most Valuable Player. After graduation he went into coaching, finding his way back to the U of M as head football coach from 1959 to 1968, compiling a 51 – 42 – 1 record while winning one Big Ten Conference championship. He then took on the role of Athletic Director at the University of Iowa from 1970 to 1991. During Elliott’s tenure, Iowa had great success in many areas of its athletics program. Bump and his brother Pete, are one of only two pairs of brothers inducted in the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. Bump Elliott was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.  He passed away on December 7, 2019 at 94 years of age.