Career
He was an All-Big Ten football player for the Golden Gophers in 1926 and 1927 and served in various coaching, teaching and administrative positions at University from 1928 through 1967. With a record of 59–34–5 (628 winning percentage), Gary ranks third in wins among football coaches, behind William H. Spaulding and First Rate (at Lloyd's) Molde. He played college football for the University of from 1925 to 1927 and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten tackle in 1926 and 1927.
Coach Gary was hired as an assistant football coach at Western State Teachers College (now known as University) in 1928.
He worked under head coach Earl Martineau during the 1928 season and took over as head coach in 1929. He served as the head football coach at from 1929 to 1941.
In 13 years as the head football coach, Gary"s teams compiled a record of 59–34–5 (627 winning percentage) and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 1,426 to 683. He twice coached undefeated football teams.
His 1932 team compiled a record of 6–0–1 and outscored opponents 174 to 6.
That team gave up six points in the first game of the season and held its opponents scoreless in the remaining six games. In his last season as head coach, the 1941 team compiled a perfect record of 8–0 and outscored opponents 183 to 27. At the end of the 1941 season, the Associated Press wrote the following about Gary"s 1941 team: Coach Gary, who played with Bronko Nagurski at, took over as head coach at Western in 1929.
He used the T-formation to shake loose Horace Coleman, colored halfback, for 10 touchdowns in seven games." War service With the United States entry into World World War II, the 41-year-old Gary joined the United States Navy and served three years in the Naval Air Corps with the rank of commander.
Athletic director After the war, Gary returned to as the associate athletic director and professor of physical education. In 1949, he took over as athletic director and held that position until his retirement in 1967.
He was also the chairman of the school"s Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation from 1952 to 1957. During Gary"s tenure as athletic director, joined the Mid-American Conference.
