Robert Wales Emmons II (December 28, 1872 – April 18, 1928) was an American football player, coach, yachtsman, and millionaire. He played and coached college football for Harvard University from 1891 to 1895. He later had a successful career in the banking and stock brokerage business. He was an avid yachtsman who was the managing owner of the Resolute in its successful defense of the America's Cup in 1920.
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Early life
Emmons was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1872. He was the son of Nathaniel H. Emmons and Eleanor G. (Bacon) Emmons. He attended preparatory school at Groton School.
Harvard
Emmons enrolled at Harvard University where he played college football as an end for the Harvard Crimson football team from 1891 to 1894. He was elected by his teammates to serve as captain of the 1894 Harvard football team. He was president of his class at Harvard as a junior, and The New York Times wrote that "[h]is popularity depends mostly upon the great enthusiasm with which he has clung to football at Harvard during four steady years of defeat." He graduated from Harvard in 1895 but returned on October 21, 1895, as the Harvard Crimson football team's head coach. He was replaced by Lorin F. Deland following a 12–4 loss to Princeton.