L. Theo Bellmont ((1881-09-24)September 24, 1881 – (1967-12-27)December 27, 1967) was an Athletic Director, Professor and Director of Physical Training, and men's basketball head coach at The University of Texas at Austin.
He attended schools in Rochester before studying at the University of Tennessee, where he earned his LL.B.
As UT athletic director, Bellmont co-founded the Texas Relays with Clyde Littlefield in 1925; began the tradition of playing the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game in the Cotton Bowl at the State Fair of Texas; founded the UT Intramural Sports program; introduced the idea of a prepayment plan for UT athletics, securing a stable annual income for the athletics program; and designed and implemented the funding program for Memorial Stadium, which was built in 1924.
[1][2][3][4] While athletic director, Bellmont coached the Texas men's basketball team for two two-year periods (1914–15 and 1921–22), finishing with an overall record of 58-9.
[5][6] Bellmont was dismissed as the UT Director of Athletics in 1929, having been undermined by a protracted power struggle following the controversial firing of popular football and basketball head coach E. J.