January 3, 1954

Charles Emile (Gus) Dorais

January 3, 1954
U of D Football
University of Detroit Football, Basketball Coach, Athletic Director (1925 – 1942)
College Football Hall of Fame
Detroit Lions Coach (1943 - 1947)

Charles Emile “Gus” Dorais

University of Detroit Football, Basketball Coach, Athletic Director (1925 – 1942)
Detroit Lions Coach (1943 – 1947)

Gus Dorais was born in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and attended Chippewa Falls High School where he was a captain and helped his team win a state championship in football. He was recruited to play at the University of Notre Dame where as a quarterback he led the Fighting Irish to three consecutive undefeated seasons compiling a 20 – 0 – 2 record earning All-American honors in his senior season. He went on to play some professional football before the advent of the NFL. Dorais then went into coaching football, basketball and baseball at several colleges before settling in at the University of Detroit, where he stayed for 18 seasons, serving as Athletic Director and football coach with a four-year stint as basketball coach. He had the Titan football program among the country’s elite during his eighteen years with a 113 – 48 – 7 record. Dorais resigned at the end of 1942 to become the head coach, general manager and part owner of the Detroit Lions, a position he held for five seasons. Gus Dorais was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954, was inducted into the Detroit Titans Hall of Fame in 1987 and was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1958. He passed away on January 3, 1954 at 62 years of age.