Earl C. "Tuffy" Abell (May 29, 1892 – May 26, 1956) was an American college football player and coach. He played football as a tackle at Colgate University. He later returned to Colgate as an assistant coach in 1925, and took over the head coaching job in 1928. He spent the 1929 and 1930 football seasons as head football coach at the University of Virginia. Abell was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as player in 1973.

Early life

Abell attended Portage High School in Portage, Wisconsin.

Coaching career

VMI

Abell was the 13th head football coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, Virginia, serving for two seasons, from 1917 to 1918, and compiling a record of 7–7–1.

Colgate

Abell was the 22nd head football coach at Colgate University in the Hamilton New York, serving for the 1928 season, and compiling a record of 6–3.

Personal life

Born in Portage, Wisconsin, Abell attended Colgate University, where he became a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Abell was married and had three children. He worked for the American Can Company upon retiring from coaching. He died of a heart attack on May 26, 1956.

Head coaching record

Football

Note: In the 1918 season, Abell served as a co-coach alongside Mose Goodman.

Basketball