J. B. Hildebrand
James Bell Hildebrand (c. 1873 – November 18, 1952) was an American college football player and coach and civil engineer. He served as the head football coach Mississippi Agricultural & Mechanical College—now known as Mississippi State University—for the 1896 season. Hildebrand was hired as the first full-time head coach at the school after the student body raised $300 ($10,987 in 2023 dollars) to hire him. During his one-season tenure, Hildebrand compiled a record of 0–4.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1873 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 1952 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1892–1895 | Vanderbilt |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1896 | Mississippi A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 0–4 |
Hildebrand was born in the Whitehaven neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Whitehaven High School in Memphis and The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. Hildebrand graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in civil engineering. He and Heiskell Weatherford had a civil engineering practice in Memphis. Hildebrand later worked in the oil industry in Little Rock, Arkansas. He died on November 18, 1952, at Cage Nursing Home in Memphis, following a long illness.