john sanders counselman was an american college football player and coach as well as a professor of mathematics. he played for virginia tech with hunter carpenter. he also attended the university of michigan. counselman coached cumberland in 1905, and for samford (then howard) from 1906 to 1908, finishing after just the first two games of the latter season. he is the first coach in samford history. counselman was selected as a substitute for the "washington post"<nowiki>'</nowiki>s all-southern team. he was once professor of mathematics at the college of william & mary.