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Chief Muller

Charles Fred "Chief" Muller (March 7, 1885 – March 10, 1956) was an American basketball player and coach.

Playing

He had a long professional career for multiple teams, including Norwalk, South Side, Paterson, Gloversville, and Yonkers.[1][2][3][4] He, Ed Wachter, and Jack Inglis led the Troy club to multiple championships, but Muller quit the team in 1913 rather than pay a $10 fine.[5] He was the player-coach of Newburgh team the following season, but when club moved to Syracuse, New York in January 1914, he rejoined the Trojans for the remainder of the season.[6] He was the second leading scorer in the New York State League that season, scoring 481 points in 60 games.[7] He was a member of the Gloversville team for the 1914–15 season.[8] He later played for Jersey City, the Bronx Athletic Club, De Neri, Camden, and Wilkes-Barre.[9][10][11][12][13]

Muller started the 1919–20 season with the North Philadelphia Americans, but he and Andy Suils were sold to the Trenton Bengals in November 1919.[14] Muller also played for Troy and Ansonia that season.[15][16] In February 1920, he was suspended indefinitely by the Bengals for failure to report to certain games.[17] He spent his final seasons as a member of the Gloversville, Cohoes, Troy, Wilkes-Barre, and Hartford clubs.[18]

Coaching

Muller coached professional teams in Newburgh, New York, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Gloversville, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut.[19] From 1926 to 1928, he was the head coach at Manhattan College and compiled a 22–12 record.[20] He later coached at Xavier High School and Holy Trinity High School in Brooklyn.[21]

Death

On March 10, 1956, Muller died of a heart attack while taking a bus in the Bronx after a fishing trip on City Island. He was 71 years old.[21]

References

  1. ^ "Hard Battle Tonight For South Side". The Pittsburgh Press. December 29, 1906. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Basketball Activities". The Paterson Press. January 16, 1908. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Series Is "Tied Up"". The Paterson Press. March 10, 1908. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Beacons To Play Poughkeepsie Nine". Newburgh Daily Journal. April 30, 1910. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  5. ^ "State League Has Trouble". The Paterson Press. February 7, 1913. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Basketball Is Coming Along". The Paterson Press. October 6, 1913. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Sugarman Is Sweet Player". The Paterson Press. April 2, 1914. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  8. ^ "Trojans Are Coming Here". The Paterson Press. November 12, 1914. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  9. ^ "Jersey City Rough House Game Triumphs Over Crescents 16-11". The Sunday Chronicle. November 15, 1915. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Chief Muller Plays With Bronx Team of Yonkers". The Newburgh Daily News. October 23, 1917. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Trenton Suffers First Defeat Of The Season". Reading Eagle. November 18, 1917. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Easy For Bengals". Reading Eagle. December 13, 1917. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Eastern League Stars Are Heaviest Scorers". Reading Eagle. December 20, 1917. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  14. ^ "With Camden Stopped Race Takes New Aspect". Reading Eagle. November 24, 1919. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  15. ^ "League Stars May Be In Action Here". The Newburgh Daily News. December 9, 1919. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  16. ^ "Troy Rolls Up Record Score On Albanians". Schenectady Gazette. March 26, 1920. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Sport Comment". Reading Eagle. February 9, 1920. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Chief Muller". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Chief Muller". Pro Basketball Encyclopedia. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Chief Muller". SRCBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Charles F. Muller". The New York Times. March 12, 1956.