Babe Kraus

Contact

Steve Caraher
Vice President for Advancement
Phone: (315) 781-3776
E-mail: caraher@hws.edu

The coaches of Hobart and William Smith make meaningful and lasting impacts on the lives of Statesmen and Heron student-athletes. The first in a long line of legendary coaches is Hall of Famer Francis L. “Babe” Kraus ’24. A versatile athlete, he played lacrosse, football and basketball at Hobart and, after graduation, played one season in the NFL. Kraus found his calling when he returned to his alma mater as a coach, primarily of lacrosse. He spent the next 40 years teaching life lessons through athletics. His influence on the game was so profound that he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1964. The annual National Coach of the Year Awards in Division II and Division III are both named in his honor.

Thanks to a generous lead gift from his grandson, Jim Kraus ’74, HWS has launched a fundraising effort to establish The Francis L. “Babe” Kraus 1924 Hobart Lacrosse Head Coach Endowment. This endowment will honor Babe Kraus’s long-standing dedication to lacrosse and his commitment to the education of young men of character.

To learn more about how to join Jim Kraus ’74 in honoring Babe Kraus ’24, contact Steve Caraher, Vice President for Advancement, at (315) 781-3776.

You can show your support of a legend and make a tangible difference in the future of the Hobart lacrosse program through an immediate gift.

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Hall of Famer Francis L. “Babe” Kraus ’24

A Life of Accomplishment: Francis L. “Babe” Kraus ’24

“Babe” Kraus led the Statesmen for 37 seasons between 1927 and 1966, compiling a 208-119-5 (.634) record. He mentored his Statesmen to 80 All-America awards and helped coach the North team in the annual North-South Senior All-Star Game in 1942, 1947 and 1954.

In 1938, Kraus guided Hobart to its first undefeated lacrosse season, posting a 6-0 record that included victories over Central New York rivals Cornell (9-4), Syracuse (9-7 in OT) and Colgate (18-5). Two years later, Kraus and the Statesmen again posted a perfect record, going 5-0 with victories over Penn State (14-9), Union (19-6), Colgate (19-4), Cornell (19-6) and Syracuse (14-8). Both the 1938 and 1940 teams were among the first four Hobart Teams of Distinction, honored on Nov. 3, 2006.

Over his final six seasons at the helm for Hobart, Kraus guided the Statesmen to a 61-16 (.792) record, including a then program record 12 wins against just one loss in 1961.

Kraus played a central role in the development of college lacrosse in the United States. He was a member of the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Executive Board (1932, 1933, 1960, 1961, 1962); Rules Committee (1945, 1946); Advisory Rules Committee (1963, 1964); Development of Lacrosse Committee (1939); All-American Committee (1941); All-American Advisory Committee (1952, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966); Nominating Committee (1962, 1963); and Man of the Year Award Committee (1963, 1964).

At Hobart, Kraus also coached football, basketball and baseball and served as Athletic Director from 1932 to 1963. Kraus was a distinguished student-athlete at Hobart as well. He was a three-time letterman in football and basketball and a two-year letterman in lacrosse, earning USILA All-America recognition both years.

Kraus, who died in 1966, was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1964, the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Geneva Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

The Hobart Athletics Senior Athlete of the Year award is named in his honor as is the USILA Division II Coach of the Year award and the USILA Division III Coach of the Year award. The winner of the annual Hobart-Syracuse lacrosse game is presented with the Kraus-Simmons Trophy, named in his honor.

Kraus' sons, Joe '50 and Jon '55, also graduated from Hobart and competed for the Statesmen. Jon was inducted into the Hobart Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. "Babe" Kraus' grandsons, Jim '74, Jerry '79 and Joe '79, also carried on the family tradition, competing for the Statesmen and graduating from Hobart.