TN Writers | TN Stories: Robert Neyland—The West Point Engineer Who Built Tennessee Football

Historian Timothy D. Johnson discusses his biography of Robert Neyland, whose careers as a West Point-trained Army officer and University of Tennessee football coach repeatedly intersected. Drawing on interviews with surviving Neyland-era players and material from the Neyland family papers, the program considers his discipline, defensive strategy, military service, and 173–31–12 coaching record. The book arrives during the centennial of Neyland’s first season as Tennessee’s head coach.

Johnson, a Lipscomb University history professor and author or editor of nine books, appears with veteran Tennessee journalist Demetria Kalodimos. The program is part of the museum’s author-talk series and includes an opportunity to buy the book and have it signed. Showing the Eventbrite ticket at the Museum Store provides a 10% book discount.