What football coach first used helmet decals?

Answer 1

Leo E. Strang was the first football coach to use helmet decals. He did so using a "leaping tiger" decal as Massillon (Ohio) Washington High School Head Coach from 1958-1963, during which he won two national championships and three state title. Photos of the helmet can be seen on the Massillon Proud web site, and on a new 4 story banner depicting Strang and his players that hangs from the west end of Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Strang got his inspiration for the decal from a TV advertisement. He did not trademark the decal or the idea.

Leo was a art major as Ashland College (now Ashland University) and he brought a sense of "artistry" to his players uniforms, which featured white shoes and interchangeable tops and bottoms so that every game could feature a different look. He introduced "tear away" jerseys that utilized snaps.

Massillon is where Paul Brown first coached. Lee Tressel--father of OSU's Jim--preceeded Strang at Massillon and Earl Bruce--who went on to a great career at OSU--replaced Strang when he went to Kent State as its Head Football Coach.