Neil E. Putnam

Coach Neil E. Putnam, 90, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Football Coaches Association, passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Savannah, Georgia where he had made his home for the past several years. Born February 25, 1936, in Youngstown, Ohio, he was the last surviving child of the late Burl Lloyd and Audrey Marie (née Adams) Putnam, having been preceded in death by his siblings, James Fry, Audrey Albert, Margaret Altier, Patricia Walker, Jean Kauffman, John Putnam, Robert Putnam, and Mary Jo Battisfore.

On August 5, 1961, he married the love of his life, the former Shirley M. Perko, who survives him along with their son, Col. Neil E. (Shirley) Putnam II, USA (Ret.); grandsons, Neil E. (Allie) Putnam, III and William R. Putnam; and great-granddaughter, Valerie, as well as a large extended family which includes many nieces and nephews.

Neil grew up in Dennison, Ohio where he was a member of Immaculate Conception Church and a 1954 graduate of St. Mary’s High School where he was a standout multi-sport athlete. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1958. He was a four-year letter winner in football, playing Linebacker and Guard on three Mid-American Conference championship teams to include their undefeated 1955 season.

After a short stint coaching at his alma mater and as a teacher and coach at the high school level, he went on to a more than three decade long collegiate coaching career defined by tactical and technical excellence and a deep commitment to the personal development of young men.

During the 1960s, Neil established himself as one of the premier technical minds in the Ivy League, coaching multiple positions on both sides of the football and on special teams as well as coordinating scouting while at Dartmouth College and Yale University between 1965 and 1970. His tenure was defined by an unprecedented run of success, contributing to five Ivy League Championship teams and two undefeated seasons.

In 1971, he took the helm at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania as Head Football Coach. Over ten seasons, he guided the Leopards through one of the most transformative eras in program history, transitioning the team into NCAA Division 1-AA (FCS). Coach Putnam’s teams were known for their hard-nosed play on both sides of the ball and technical excellence in the kicking game. His tenure was marked by historic milestones, including the first victory over Rutgers in sixteen years, multiple victories over Ivy League opponents, and the program’s ascent in 1979 to a no. 7 national ranking – the highest standing for a Lafayette team in the modern polling era.

Following a brief hiatus in the corporate world, in 1982 he returned to his home state to serve as the Offensive Coordinator and Backfield Coach at Youngstown State University, helping the Penguins build the foundation of a program that would soon become a national powerhouse. Following a return to Dartmouth as Offensive Line coach in 1986, he transitioned his leadership to the private sector before lacing up his cleats for one more season in 1990, taking a leave of absence from his private sector role to serve as staff mentor and offensive coordinator at Cortland State University for a season that produced a Division III playoff run. Neil eventually retired as Executive Vice President of Ultramotive Corp. in Bethel, Vermont.

Father Jeff Coning will celebrate the funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison. Neil’s family will receive callers at the church from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., prior to the service.

Those wishing to honor his memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so with a gift made to Lafayette College Football. Checks made payable to Lafayette College Football (noting "in memory of Neil Putnam" in the memo section) can be mailed to Lafayette College, Box 3000, Easton, PA 18042. To give by credit card, please call 610-330-5037 or click the following link Leopard Link - LC Athletics Giving Page – Giving Information.