Two of the greatest coaches in collegiate athletic history signed this 9 ½ x 11 ¼ -inch “Rockne-Meanwell School For Coaches Football Basketball” certificate from their 90 hour course in the theory and practice of football, basketball, and the care of injuries held at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana in 1927. Knute Rockne, whose biography at the College Football Hall of Fame is recognized as “without question, American Football’s most-renowned coach” is credited with popularizing the forward pass in football. Rockne would spend 10 years as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, finishing his tenure with a record of 105-12-5 and three National Championships. Walter “Doc” Meanwell was the fourth basketball coach in the University of Wisconsin’s history, leading the Badgers from 1911-1917, 1920-1934, with a stint coaching for the University of Missouri from 1918-1920. Meanwell won 3 Helms National Championships, 3 Premo-Porretta Nationals, 2 Missouri Valley Conference championships, and 8 Western Conference/Big Ten Championships.

The certificate, for the “Rockne-Meanwell School For Coaches Football Basketball” certified that a G.M Ward completed his 90 hours of course training in the theory and practice of basketball and baseball and the care for injuries was signed by both Rockne and Meanwell in black ink. The signatures are bold, and the certificate is laminated and features a diagonal crease across the midsection of the certificate. There is an 11 x 7-inch black and white photograph labeled “Rockne-Meanwell Coaching School Notre Dame 1927” and features students of the class arrayed on bleachers. The photo features some elements of toning, cornering, and light brown stains across the top of the image. The Notre Dame certificate signed by legendary collegiate coaches Knute Rockne and Walter “Doc” Meanwell accompanied by a class photo from the course comes with a class photo and an LOA from Beckett Authentication for the signatures.

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