Walter Meadowfield Rheinschild (September 26, 1884 – October 3, 1960),[1] known also by the nicknames "Rheiny" and "Rhino", was an American football player and coach.

With Rheinschild playing fullback, the Stars won what the Los Angeles Times called "the 'scrub' championship of this city.

[2] At the time, USC was not a major football program, and Rheinschild reportedly wanted "nothing but the big league stuff.

"[2] Rheinschild later told the Los Angeles Times that Dartmouth had offered him $2,200 for a year's work on the football team.

[2] Rheinschild settled on Fielding Yost's team at Michigan and later told the Times that "he swears by all that is swearable that he never received a cent from his Alma Mater for his athletic contributions.

[7] However, when he rejected Dartmouth's offer of $2,200, eastern newspapers insinuated that Rheinschild had signed for "a Ty Cobb salary at Ann Arbor.

At one time, 'Rhiney' was rated as the highest salaried amateur athlete in the business, and he had standing offers from a number of those colleges where football reigns, of sweet sums for his services.

According to reports of the game Reinschild hit the opposing line low and hard and his work was a factor in winning a decisive victory for 'Hurry Up' Yost's team.

In response to the controversy, the faculty at Michigan ruled Rheinschild and two other football players, Germany Schulz and Henry Schulte, academically ineligible.

"[2] Upon returning to the United States, he got a job "escorting a flock of prisoners across the continent to Mare Island" in Northern California.

[13] In his first and only season as coach at Washington State, his football team compiled a record of 4 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties.

"[17] In 1909, Rheinschild returned to Los Angeles to become head football coach at St. Vincent's College (now known as Loyola Marymount University).

[18][19][20] He led St. Vincent's to an undefeated season and the football championship of Southern California in his one year as head coach.

[26] In April 1916 Rheinschild was endorsed to serve as the football coach at Occidental College, replacing Joseph Pipal.

[29] On Christmas Day 1917, Rheinschild coached and played for a college all-star football team in a match against athletes from the San Pedro Submarine Base.

[34] In September 1919, Rheinschild was suspended from the practice of law for 18 months after being accused of unethical conduct in representing both parties in a loan transaction.

The Los Angeles Times reported that "tears of mortification" came into his eyes when the suspension was announced, and "his young and attractive wife ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck and tenderly kissed him.

[35] The following month, a different judge ordered Rheinschild disbarred, stating that the action was needed to set an example for other lawyers to restrain from similar conflicts of interest.