Photo: Sub Turri Staff of 1921 — Public domainSource
Luke Urban
baseball player · basketball coach · ice hockey player · American football player
- March 22, 1898 · Fall River
- December 7, 1980 · Somerset
- 82 years
About Luke Urban
Luke Urban, 82, American football and baseball player and coach.
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Full Biography
|Louis John "Luke" Urban (March 22, 1898 – December 7, 1980) was an American multi-sport athlete and coach. He played four seasons of professional football in the National Football League and two years of Major League Baseball with the Boston Braves. Urban was also a college football coach, a college and high school basketball coach, and a minor league baseball manager.
Playing career
College
Urban played football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles. He was a captain for the football, basketball and baseball teams. He was a member of the 1920 College Football All-America Team.
Football
Urban played end for the Buffalo All-Americans from 1921 to 1924. He was named to the Buffalo Evening News All-APFA Team in 1921, George Halas' All-NFL Team in 1922, and the Collyers Eye Magazine and Canton Daily News All-NFL Team in 1923.
Baseball
Urban signed with the New York Yankees and played for their minor league teams in Buffalo and Columbus. He made the Major Leagues in 1927 with the Boston Braves. He appeared in 35 games for the Braves that season. Urban refused to report to spring training in 1928 as part of a contract holdout. He eventually reported to camp late. On June 22, 1928, he was traded with Jimmy Cooney and Johnny Werts for Bonnie Hollingsworth. He played for Buffalo from 1928 to 1930 and the Springfield Ponies in 1931, and the Hartford Senators from 1931 to 1932.
Basketball
Urban played basketball for Worcester Five of the Inter-State Basketball League in 1921.
Coaching career
Urban served as Boston College's head basketball coach during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Following his graduation, Urban was offered the position of head football coach at Creighton University, but turned down the offer in order to play professional football. From 1921 to 1930, he was the head basketball and football coach at Canisius College. His football teams had a record of 46–27–7 record, with of his eight clubs having a record of .500 or better. He was the school's winningest football coach until he was passed by Tom Hersey in 1990.
Urban was the head basketball coach at Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts from 1940 to 1960. He had a 247–91 record with the Hilltoppers and won two New England championships.
Urban was the manager of the Fall River Indians of the New England League from 1948 to 1950.
Honors
Urban was inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame in 1965, the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976. Durfee High's gymnasium was named the Luke Urban Field House in honor of Urban.
Head coaching record
College football
College basketball
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Urban
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Luke Urban's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth for Luke Urban?
- A.December 7, 1898
- B.March 22, 1898correct
- C.March 22, 1900
- D.December 7, 1980
The biography states that Luke Urban was born on March 22, 1898.
Source: Biography introduction
2.For which college did Luke Urban play football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey?
- A.Canisius College
- B.Creighton University
- C.Boston Collegecorrect
- D.Buffalo University
Luke Urban played football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles.
Source: College playing career
3.In which major league baseball team did Luke Urban make his debut in 1927?
- A.Boston Bravescorrect
- B.New York Yankees
- C.Springfield Ponies
- D.Buffalo Bisons
Luke Urban made the Major Leagues in 1927 playing for the Boston Braves.
Source: Baseball career section
4.How many seasons did Luke Urban play professional football in the NFL?
- A.Four seasonscorrect
- B.Two seasons
- C.Six seasons
- D.Eight seasons
Luke Urban played four seasons of professional football in the National Football League.
Source: Biography introduction
5.What professional football team did Luke Urban play for from 1921 to 1924?
- A.Buffalo All-Americanscorrect
- B.Hartford Senators
- C.Fall River Indians
- D.Boston Braves
Luke Urban played end for the Buffalo All-Americans from 1921 to 1924.
Source: Football playing career
6.Which position did Luke Urban hold at Canisius College from 1921 to 1930?
- A.Minor league baseball manager
- B.Athletic Director
- C.Head basketball and football coachcorrect
- D.Baseball team captain
From 1921 to 1930, Luke Urban was the head basketball and football coach at Canisius College.
Source: Coaching career section
7.What sports accomplishment did Luke Urban achieve in 1920?
- A.Named to the All-NFL Team
- B.Member of the College Football All-America Teamcorrect
- C.Won a New England championship
- D.Inducted into the MBCA Hall of Fame
Luke Urban was a member of the 1920 College Football All-America Team.
Source: College playing career
8.In what year was Luke Urban inducted into the Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame?
- A.1965
- B.1976correct
- C.1990
- D.1970
Luke Urban was inducted into the Canisius College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976.
Source: Honors section
9.Which high school basketball team did Luke Urban coach from 1940 to 1960?
- A.Hartford High School
- B.Boston College High School
- C.Canisius High School
- D.Durfee High Schoolcorrect
Luke Urban was the head basketball coach at Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts from 1940 to 1960.
Source: Coaching career section
10.What was the final coaching record of Luke Urban at Durfee High School?
- A.247–91correct
- B.35–0
- C.100–50
- D.46–27–7
Luke Urban had a 247–91 record with the Hilltoppers at Durfee High School.
Source: Coaching career section
11.Which professional baseball team manager position did Luke Urban hold from 1948 to 1950?
- A.Fall River Indianscorrect
- B.Buffalo Bisons
- C.Boston Braves
- D.Springfield Ponies
Luke Urban was the manager of the Fall River Indians of the New England League from 1948 to 1950.
Source: Coaching career section
12.Who passed Luke Urban's record as the winningest football coach at Canisius College in 1990?
- A.Tom Herseycorrect
- B.Bonnie Hollingsworth
- C.Johnny Werts
- D.Jimmy Cooney
Luke Urban was the school's winningest football coach until he was passed by Tom Hersey in 1990.
Source: Coaching career section
13.What led to Luke Urban reporting late to the Boston Braves training camp in 1928?
- A.A commitment to Canisius College
- B.A contract holdoutcorrect
- C.An injury during the off-season
- D.A trade to the Buffalo team
Luke Urban refused to report to spring training in 1928 as part of a contract holdout.
Source: Baseball career section
14.Which university offered Luke Urban a head football coaching position that he declined?
- A.Boston College
- B.Creighton Universitycorrect
- C.Canisius College
- D.Durfee High School
Following his graduation, Luke Urban was offered the head football coach position at Creighton University but turned it down to play professional football.
Source: Coaching career section
15.What is the name of the gymnasium named in honor of Luke Urban?
- A.Urban Memorial Stadium
- B.Luke Urban Field Housecorrect
- C.Boston College Arena
- D.Hilltopper Sports Complex
Durfee High's gymnasium was named the Luke Urban Field House in honor of Luke Urban.
Source: Honors section
16.What date did Luke Urban die?
- A.December 7, 1980correct
- B.June 22, 1928
- C.March 22, 1965
- D.December 7, 1990
Luke Urban died on December 7, 1980.
Source: Biography introduction
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