1947 Michigan Single Wing Offense – Fritz Crisler

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The coach of the 1947 Michigan football team that utilized the single-wing offense was Fritz Crisler.

Fritz Crisler was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Michigan from 1938 to 1947, where he introduced the innovative two-platoon system and the winged helmet that is now an iconic symbol of Michigan football. He is also credited with introducing the term "offensive lineman" into the football lexicon.

Under Fritz Crisler's leadership, the 1947 Michigan football team went undefeated and won the national championship. The team was known for its strong defense and its effective use of the single-wing offense. The 1947 team is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football teams of all time. In addition to the national championship, Crisler led Michigan to two Big Ten Conference championships and a 71-16-3 overall record during his tenure as head coach from 1938 to 1947.

While the 1947 Michigan team utilized the single-wing offense, Fritz Crisler is also known for developing the "pro style" offense, which emphasizes a balanced formation and a mix of running and passing plays. The pro style offense is designed to give the offense the ability to attack the defense in a variety of ways and is characterized by a quarterback who lines up under center, a balanced formation with two wide receivers, and a strong running game. Crisler's pro style offense at Michigan was successful and helped to establish a template for modern football offenses. It has been widely adopted by many football teams at all levels of the sport.