George Huff was the head baseball coach at the University of Illinois from 1896 to 1919, tallying a mark of 317–97–4. He also coached the Illini football team for five seasons and was the manager for the Boston Americans at the start of the 1907 Major League baseball season.
As the Illini’s baseball coach for 24 years, Huff enjoyed much success, winning 12 conference championships and never finishing lower than second.
Huff also served as Illinois' Athletic Director from 1901 to 1935, during a time in which the Fighting Illini athletic programs enjoyed unparalleled success. He was instrumental in establishing the Western Conference, the forerunner of the Big Ten, insisting that participating institutions vow to uphold ethical and academic standards.
Huff Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign is named in his honor.
