Mel Taube
American athlete, coach, and administrator (1904–1979)
title: "Mel Taube" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1904-births", "1979-deaths", "american-football-quarterbacks", "american-men's-basketball-players", "united-states-navy-personnel-of-world-war-ii", "basketball-coaches-from-michigan", "basketball-players-from-detroit", "carleton-knights-athletic-directors", "carleton-knights-baseball-coaches", "carleton-knights-football-coaches", "carleton-knights-men's-basketball-coaches", "indiana-university-alumni", "purdue-boilermakers-baseball-coaches", "purdue-boilermakers-baseball-players", "purdue-boilermakers-football-coaches", "purdue-boilermakers-football-players", "purdue-boilermakers-men's-basketball-coaches", "purdue-boilermakers-men's-basketball-players", "players-of-american-football-from-detroit", "umass-minutemen-baseball-coaches", "umass-minutemen-basketball-coaches", "umass-minutemen-football-coaches", "united-states-navy-officers", "20th-century-american-sportsmen"] description: "American athlete, coach, and administrator (1904–1979)" topic_path: "history" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Taube" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American athlete, coach, and administrator (1904–1979) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox college coach"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Mel Taube |
| image | Mel Taube.png |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| death_date | |
| death_place | Clearwater, Florida, U.S. |
| player_sport1 | Football |
| player_years2 | 1923–1925 |
| player_team2 | Purdue |
| player_sport3 | Basketball |
| player_years4 | 1924–1926 |
| player_team4 | Purdue |
| player_sport5 | Baseball |
| player_years6 | 1924–1926 |
| player_team6 | Purdue |
| player_positions | Quarterback (football) |
| coach_sport1 | Football |
| coach_years2 | 1926–1927 |
| coach_team2 | Purdue (assistant) |
| coach_years3 | 1931–1935 |
| coach_team3 | Massachusetts State |
| coach_years4 | 1936–1942 |
| coach_team4 | Purdue (assistant) |
| coach_years5 | 1946 |
| coach_team5 | Purdue (assistant) |
| coach_years6 | 1950–1959 |
| coach_team6 | Carleton (assistant) |
| coach_years7 | 1960–1969 |
| coach_team7 | Carleton |
| coach_sport8 | Basketball |
| coach_years9 | 1933–1936 |
| coach_team9 | Massachusetts State |
| coach_years10 | 1936–1942 |
| coach_team10 | Purdue (assistant) |
| coach_years11 | 1945–1950 |
| coach_team11 | Purdue |
| coach_years12 | 1950–1960 |
| coach_team12 | Carleton |
| coach_sport13 | Baseball |
| coach_years14 | 1932–1935 |
| coach_team14 | Massachusetts State |
| coach_years15 | 1947–1950 |
| coach_team15 | Purdue |
| coach_years16 | 1951–1970 |
| coach_team16 | Carleton |
| admin_years1 | 1959–1970 |
| admin_team1 | Carleton |
| overall_record | 62–58–5 (football) |
| 201–142 (basketball) | |
| championships | Basketball |
| 4 MWC (1952–1954, 1958) |
Baseball 3 MWC (1953, 1957, 1964) | ::
| name = Mel Taube | image = Mel Taube.png | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Clearwater, Florida, U.S. | alma_mater = | player_sport1 = Football | player_years2 = 1923–1925 | player_team2 = Purdue | player_sport3 = Basketball | player_years4 = 1924–1926 | player_team4 = Purdue | player_sport5 = Baseball | player_years6 = 1924–1926 | player_team6 = Purdue | player_positions = Quarterback (football) | coach_sport1 = Football | coach_years2 = 1926–1927 | coach_team2 = Purdue (assistant) | coach_years3 = 1931–1935 | coach_team3 = Massachusetts State | coach_years4 = 1936–1942 | coach_team4 = Purdue (assistant) | coach_years5 = 1946 | coach_team5 = Purdue (assistant) | coach_years6 = 1950–1959 | coach_team6 = Carleton (assistant) | coach_years7 = 1960–1969 | coach_team7 = Carleton | coach_sport8 = Basketball | coach_years9 = 1933–1936 | coach_team9 = Massachusetts State | coach_years10 = 1936–1942 | coach_team10 = Purdue (assistant) | coach_years11 = 1945–1950 | coach_team11 = Purdue | coach_years12 = 1950–1960 | coach_team12 = Carleton | coach_sport13 = Baseball | coach_years14 = 1932–1935 | coach_team14 = Massachusetts State | coach_years15 = 1947–1950 | coach_team15 = Purdue | coach_years16 = 1951–1970 | coach_team16 = Carleton | admin_years1 = 1959–1970 | admin_team1 = Carleton | overall_record = 62–58–5 (football) 201–142 (basketball) | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = Basketball 4 MWC (1952–1954, 1958)
Baseball 3 MWC (1953, 1957, 1964) | awards = | coaching_records = Melvin Henry Taube (December 20, 1904 – June 15, 1979) was an American college football, college basketball, and college baseball player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Massachusetts State College, from 1931 to 1935 and at Carleton College from 1960 to 1969, compiling a career college football head coaching record of 62–58–5. Taube was also the head basketball coach at Massachusetts State College (1933–1936), Purdue University (1945–1950), and Carleton (1950–1960), amassing a career college basketball head coaching mark of 201–142 and winning four Midwest Conference championships. He was the head baseball coach at Massachusetts State (1932–1935), Purdue (1947–1950), and Carleton (1951–1970), tallying a career college baseball head coaching record of 93–74–3. A three-sport letterman, Taube played football, basketball, and baseball at Purdue.
Coaching career
Taube spent 20 seasons at Carleton College, arriving in the summer of 1950 as the head basketball and head baseball coach. He was also an assistant football coach until assuming the role of head football coach in 1960, following the death of Warren Beson. Taube served as Carleton's head football coach, head baseball coach, and athletic director until his retirement in 1970.
In his honor, Carleton annually awards the Mel Taube Award to a varsity athlete for "dedication, loyalty, competitive spirit, and excellence in athletics." In 2008, the Carleton baseball field was named for Taube.
Early life, education and military service
Taube received a bachelor degree from Purdue University in 1926 and a Master of Science from Indiana University in 1933. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 and became a lieutenant.
Death
Taube died on June 15, 1979, at Morton Plant Hospital in Morton Plant Hospital.
Head coaching record
Football
| name = Massachusetts State Aggies | conf = Independent | startyear = 1931 | endyear = 1935 | championship = | year = 1931 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 7–1–1 | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no | championship = | year = 1932 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 7–2 | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1933 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 5–3 | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1934 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 5–3–1 | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1935 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 5–4 | conference = | confstanding = | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 29–13–2 | confrecord = }} | name = Carleton Knights | conf = Midwest Conference | startyear = 1960 | endyear = 1969}} | championship = | year = 1960 | name = Carleton | overall = 5–3 | conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1961 | name = Carleton | overall = 5–2–1 | conference = 5–2–1 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1962 | name = Carleton | overall = 4–4 | conference = 4–4 | confstanding = 6th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1963 | name = Carleton | overall = 5–2–1 | conference = 5–2–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1964 | name = Carleton | overall = 0–8 | conference = 0–8 | confstanding = 10th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1965 | name = Carleton | overall = 3–5 | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = 7th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1966 | name = Carleton | overall = 3–5 | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = T–5th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1967 | name = Carleton | overall = 2–5–1 | conference = 2–5–1 | confstanding = 8th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1968 | name = Carleton | overall = 3–5 | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = T–6th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | championship = | year = 1969 | name = Carleton | overall = 3–6 | conference = 3–6 | confstanding = 8th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no}} | name = Carleton | overall = 33–45–3 | confrecord = 33–45–3}} | overall = 62–58–5 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = | legend = no}}
Basketball
| name = Massachusetts State Aggies | conference = Independent | startyear = 1933 | endyear = 1936}} | championship = | season = 1933–34 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 12–0 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1934–35 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 6–6 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1935–36 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 2–12 | conference = | confstanding = | postseason = }} | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 20–18 | confrecord = }} | name = Purdue Boilermakers | conference = Big Ten Conference | startyear = 1945 | endyear = 1950}} | championship = | season = 1945–46 | name = Purdue | overall = 3–4 | conference = 2–4 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1946–47 | name = Purdue | overall = 9–11 | conference = 4–8 | confstanding = 8th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1947–48 | name = Purdue | overall = 11–9 | conference = 6–6 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1948–49 | name = Purdue | overall = 13–9 | conference = 6–6 | confstanding = T–4th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1949–50 | name = Purdue | overall = 9–13 | conference = 3–9 | confstanding = T–8th | postseason = }} | name = Purdue | overall = 45–46 | confrecord = 21–33}} | name = Carleton Carls/Knights | conference = Midwest Conference | startyear = 1950 | endyear = 1960}} | championship = | season = 1950–51 | name = Carleton | overall = 13–7 | conference = 7–3 | confstanding = 3rd | postseason = }} | championship = conference | season = 1951–52 | name = Carleton | overall = 18–4 | conference = 10–0 | confstanding = 1st | postseason = }} | championship = conference | season = 1952–53 | name = Carleton | overall = 18–4 | conference = 10–2 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} | championship = conference | season = 1953–54 | name = Carleton | overall = 17–5 | conference = 9–3 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1954–55 | name = Carleton | overall = 16–6 | conference = 10–2 | confstanding = 2nd | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1955–56 | name = Carleton | overall = 7–15 | conference = 6–10 | confstanding = 6th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1956–57 | name = Carleton | overall = 12–10 | conference = 9–7 | confstanding = 4th | postseason = }} | championship = conference | season = 1957–58 | name = Carleton | overall = 16–5 | conference = 12–4 | confstanding = T–1st | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1958–59 | name = Carleton | overall = 9–12 | conference = 8–8 | confstanding = 5th | postseason = }} | championship = | season = 1959–60 | name = Carleton | overall = 10–12 | conference = 9–9 | confstanding = T–5th | postseason = }} | name = Carleton | overall = 136–80 | confrecord = 83–45}} | overall = 201–142}}
Baseball
| name = Massachusetts State Aggies | conference = Independent | startyear = 1932 | endyear = 1935}} | championship = | season = 1932 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 9–6 | conference = | confstanding = }} | championship = | season = 1933 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 7–5 | conference = | confstanding = }} | championship = | season = 1934 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 8–5 | conference = | confstanding = }} | championship = | season = 1935 | name = Massachusetts State | overall = 7–6 | conference = | confstanding = }} | name = Massachusetts State Aggies | overall = 31–22 | confrecord = }} | name = Purdue Boilermakers | conference = Big Ten Conference | startyear = 1947 | endyear = 1950|}} | championship = | season = 1947 | name = Purdue | overall = 13–10 | conference = 4–9 | confstanding = 8th}} | championship = | season = 1948 | name = Purdue | overall = 14–7–1 | conference = 8–6 | confstanding = 4th}} | championship = | season = 1949 | name = Purdue | overall = 14–9–2 | conference = 7–5 | confstanding = 3rd}} | championship = | season = 1950 | name = Purdue | overall = 11–14 | conference = 2–8 | confstanding = 8th}} | name = Purdue | overall = 52–40–3 | confrecord = 21–28}} | name = Carleton Knights | conference = Midwest Conference | startyear = 1951 | endyear = 1970}} | championship = | season = 1951 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = | confstanding = }} | championship = | season = 1952 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = | confstanding = }} | championship = conference | season = 1953 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 6–2 | confstanding = 1st}} | championship = | season = 1954 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = T–4th}} | championship = | season = 1955 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 1–2 | confstanding = T–4th}} | championship = | season = 1956 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 1–4 | confstanding = 3rd (North)}} | championship = conference | season = 1957 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 4–2 | confstanding = 1st (North)}} | championship = division | season = 1958 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 2–1 | confstanding = 1st (Minnesota)}} | championship = | season = 1959 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 2nd (North)}} | championship = | season = 1960 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 3–4 | confstanding = T–2nd (North)}} | championship = | season = 1961 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 0–2 | confstanding = 5th (North)}} | championship = | season = 1962 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = 4th (North)}} | championship = | season = 1963 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 2–6 | confstanding = 5th (North)}} | championship = conference | season = 1964 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 7–1 | confstanding = 1st (North)}} | championship = | season = 1965 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 4–4 | confstanding = 3rd (North)}} | championship = | season = 1966 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 2–4 | confstanding = 3rd (North)}} | championship = | season = 1967 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 4–4 | confstanding = T–2nd (North)}} | championship = | season = 1968 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 0–6 | confstanding = T–4th (North)}} | championship = | season = 1969 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 3–5 | confstanding = 4th (North)}} | championship = | season = 1970 | name = Carleton | overall = | conference = 5–3 | confstanding = 2nd (North)}} | name = Carleton | overall = | confrecord = }} | overall = }}
References
References
- [https://digital.bentley.umich.edu/midaily/mdp.39015071756188/375 "Cage Coach at Purdue Resigns; Lambert Succeeded by Mel Taube"], ''The Michigan Daily'', volume 56, issue 58, January 23, 1946, page 3.
- "Mel Taube". Carleton College.
- "Lamb, Hansen, Taube, and Beson Award Winners Named for 2014-15". Carleton College.
- "Baseball Field Named in Long-Time Coach Mel Taube's Honor". Carleton College.
- . (July 19, 1979). ["Obituaries; Melvin Taube"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/chronicle-tribune-obituary-for-melvin-ta/158727871/). *[[Chronicle-Tribune]]*.
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