Wayne State University Athletics

Joseph G. Gembis was head football coach and associate professor of health and physical education for Wayne State University. He was on the staff for 37 years before his death in 1969. Gembis coached football for 14 years, the longest tenure of any WSU grid coach. He posted a career mark of 42-51-8 before stopping down in 1946. Gembis' finest season was 1934 when his team posted a 7-1 mark while outscoring opponents 179-26. He coached his younger brother George, a 1977 Hall of Fame inductee, from 1936-1938. Gembis also coached one season of semi-professional football in Huntington, West Virginia. Born in Vicksburg, MI, Gembis graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1926, then went on to star as a fullback and place kicker at the University of Michigan where he graduated in 1930. He won eight games with his placekicking in 1928-1929. The former WSU coach was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Health and Physical Education Association and the National Camping Association. He wrote a book, Camping for Crippled Children, which was published by the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Gembis also began a summer camp program for youths called the Hazawitka camp in Mayfield, MI. He died of a heart attack while working at the camp, July 5, 1969.

The following information was provided by Jim Ridgeway of Ironton, Ohio:

Following college, Gembis was recruited to Ironton, Ohio to play professional football for the Ironton Tanks and to teach/coach at an area high school.   Gembis was a fullback on the 1930 Tanks coached by Earle 'Greasy' Neale, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   In 1930, the legendary Ironton Tanks defeated three NFL squads- Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Portsmouth Spartans.  Nicknamed "Dynamite Joe" Gembis, he played in the Dixie Classic all-star game following his senior year.