Temple University Athletics
FORMER TEMPLE FOOTBALL COACH GEORGE MAKRIS PASSES AWAY AT THE AGE OF 85
10.18.05 | Football
PHILADELPHIA - Former Temple head football coach George Makris passed away Sunday, October 16, at his home in Medford Lakes, N.J., at the age of 85. Makris coached the Owls from 1960-69, posting a 45-44-4 overall record.
Hired on February 12, 1960, Makris arrived on North Broad Street by way of the Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. The 1967 season proved his best year directing the Cherry & White, when he led the team to a 7-2 overall record and the Middle Atlantic Conference University Division championship. Makris guided Temple to five consecutive non-losing seasons from 1963-67, including a 5-3-1 mark in 1963, Temple's first winning season since 1951. He also led the Owls to a 7-2 record in 1964, the team's best record since 1945.
Future Temple Hall of Fame players under Makris' direction during his tenure in Owl Country were Jim Callahan, Don Council (Dhamiri Abayomi), Bill Cosby, and John Waller. Future NFL linebackers Wayne Colman and Mike Stromberg also played under Makris.
While at Bolling, Makris served as the head football coach and Director of Athletics. During his five-year tenure, he posted a 47-4-2 overall record while outscoring opponents 1,417 to 391.
Prior to his head coaching stint at Bolling, Makris served as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin in 1946 before joining Michigan State's coaching staff in 1947. While in Madison, Makris coached under Harry Stuhldreher, a former member of Notre Dame's historic Four Horsemen backfield. At Michigan State, he was an assistant to Biggie Munn and also served as the Spartans head boxing coach.
As a player, Makris earned three varsity letters as a right guard at Wisconsin. In 1942, as a junior, he was named the Harland P. Rogers Scholarship award-winner, which is based on athletic accomplishments, scholastic achievement and leadership. Makris, a two-time NCAA boxing champion for the Badgers, graduated from Wisconsin in 1943 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.
Born in Ironwood, Wisc., Makris is a member of the Rhinelander High School Hall of Fame.
A viewing will take place on Friday, Oct. 21, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at The Mathis Funeral Home of Medford, located at 58 North Main Street. A funeral service will follow at the Funeral Home at 10:30. Internment will be at Arneytown (N.J.) Veterans Cemetary.
