Praised by General Robert Neyland for his toughness, Leonard Coffman was the fearless fullback on some of the best football teams that ever wore UT orange. Neyland, who judged fullbacks by the fervor with which they undertook their blocking assignments, was completely sold on Coffman, a Virginia native who enrolled at Tennessee in 1936. Leonard held down the fullback position during two storybook seasons for the Vols. In 1938 Tennessee was named national champion following an undefeated campaign capped by an Orange Bowl victory. A year later, the Volunteers pulled off the remarkable achievement of going through the season without surrendering a single point to the opposition, a feat that has remained unmatched. Coffman, a graduate of Greeneville High School, entered the Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain. He then returned home and became backfield coach at the University of Wisconsin. In 1951 Coffman was recalled to service during the Korean War, where he served in Wyoming for five years, before becoming principal at Hot Springs, North Carolina, for two years. His final head coaching position was at Greeneville High School during 1955-1959. For forty years, he was an official in both basketball and football for TSSAA. Coffman eventually retired from the school system in 1980 to raise beef cattle. A member of various halls of fame, including the East Tennessee Chapter of the Football Hall of Fame, Coffman holds a special place in the proud history of Volunteer football.
