Career
Drew University
After graduating from Drew University and spending some time in the private sector, Backstrom returned to Drew to first be the assistant and later head baseball coach. Minor league baseball
Backstrom played in minor league baseball as a pitcher. In 1940 he was with the Akron Yankees in the Middle Atlantic League.
Later that year and also in 1941 he played for Amsterdam Rugmakers in the Canadian–American League.
Kansas Wesleyan
Backstrom was the 14th head football coach for the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes located in Salina, Kansas and he held that position for the 1962 season. As of the conclusion of the 2009 season, this ranks him 15th at Kansas Wesleyan in total wins and 16th at the school in winning percentage (167).
While at Kansas Wesleyan, Backstrom taught classes for the history department. In 1996, the school inducted him into their "Athletic Hall of Fame" for his coaching success.
He was active as a coach and or administrator at the school from 1954 through 1963.
