Western State In 1907, Spaulding was hired as the first coach and physical training director at Western State Normal School (later renamed
Western Michigan University). He was the head coach of the school's football team for 15 years from 1907 to 1921, compiling a 62–25–3 () record. He is still the winningest coach in school history, though he is presently tied on the Broncos' all-time wins list with
Al Molde. His players at Western State included
Frank Thomas who went on to be the head coach of the
Alabama Crimson Tide football team from 1931 to 1946. He was the head coach for the
Western State Normal School men's basketball program from 1913 through 1922, compiling a 77–43 () record, and finishing .500 or higher in each of his nine seasons. He was also the head coach for Western State's baseball program from 1911 through 1921, compiling a 63–18–4 () record.
Minnesota In January 1922, Spaulding was hired by the University of Minnesota to replace
Henry L. Williams as the school's head football coach. He was hired at a salary of $5,500 per year. In 1924, Spaulding's Golden Gophers stopped
Red Grange and handed
Illinois its only defeat of the 1924 season.
UCLA In May 1925, Spaulding was hired by the University of California Southern Branch (later renamed UCLA) as its head football coach and athletic director. He signed a five-year contract with Southern Branch at a salary of $10,000 per year. Spaulding's
1935 UCLA team was a Pacific Coast Conference co-champion and handed
Stanford's "
Vow Boys" team its only defeat of the 1935 season. Spaulding later described the 1935 victory over Stanford as the greatest thrill of his career. His players at UCLA included
Kenny Washington and
Jackie Robinson. In 11 years as UCLA's head football coach, his teams compiled a record of 72–51–8 In February 1938, Spaulding announced that he would resign as UCLA's head football coach after the 1938 season. He had also assumed the role as UCLA's athletic director and stated that he would thereafter confine himself to those duties. Spaulding remained at UCLA as athletic director from 1938 to 1947. After 22 years at UCLA, Spaulding resigned in March 1947, indicating that he intended to go into business. ==Later years==